Tech Adventures: Final Week!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you guys! We are finally in the last week of Tech Adventures.

We got behind with the extra week for eReaders and I'd hate to have this run into May and SRP busy season. So this week, make note of the different things here to explore at your leisure (or spare moments) in the future. Use your blog post to discuss any of these you've looked at, anything you missed talking about in past units, and/or to sum up your thoughts of the entire program.

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Webinar: A webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar shown online - often a cheap alternative, and easy to attend from your desk. Publishers offer webinars to show off upcoming books, ALA recently had a graphics tutorial, and Syracuse offered gaming class on YouTube – free to anyone, or pay to get credit and additional lecture/discussion. Some are live, others archived for downloading whenever you have time.

Here are some webinar archives:
CCBC Shorts
Downloadable from Nebraska
TechSoup Archive

You can also see what is coming up for library topic webinars. Find something interesting and listen to some of it. Would you attend another?

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Video hosting: YouTube is obviously the most popular platform, but there are other options. You can browse around at Vimeo and Veoh to see how they all compare, and share others that you’ve used.

The Library has an account with YouTube and Rebecca wants to start uploading program highlights. There are a few up right now. Other libraries upload tours, storytimes, collection highlights, etc. How can we use it?

St Paul tour
YouMedia ad
RCPL Storytime
Addison Public Library Children's Dept Tour

These can also be done as audio only podcasts.

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Book Trailer: These can be basic or these can rival what you see in movie theaters, but they all try to drum up interest in a book. Sort of a book talk on steroids. Here are some cool ones:
Shiver
Mockingjay
Hush Hush
100 Cupboards
Mr. Schu finds and makes good ones, as well.

Are there others you like? Link ‘em.

Try to make your own book trailer or podcast. We have the software you need on the iMac: iMovie or GarageBand. Use stock photos and videos, and royalty free music. Or use the Flip camera from the IT Tool Kit to make your own visuals. Or use XtraNormal - that’s what ATS used to make their printing adventures video for staff day. There are many options, so have fun! This is also something that JVs might like to do. We can upload them to the Library's YouTube site and also display them on our site.

Public Domain Images and Media, for teachers, librarians and students
Wikimedia Commons
Royalty Free Sound Effects
Open Music Archive

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Don’t forget to do your final blog. What are some of your favorite videos? (Professional development or just plain fun.) What did you like learning about the most over this whole project? What do you think you’ll want to use in the future? Here's a quiz for you: What kind of digital user are you?

Thanks for participating!