A Library of Trinkets

When you work in an academic library, you are constantly thinking of new ideas and ways to improve your library. Ways to keep your students engaged and on track for academic success. One way is to ensure they have up-to-date technology they can rely on. Often, when it comes to technology, academic libraries tend to stick to what they are familiar with. What they know is being 20-year-old printers that make your scanned PDFs look like they were scanned in a moving car. When most of the technology is older than the target demographic of students, you know that something needs to change. I am proposing a KIC Bookeye 4 V2 Scanner because it directly addresses student needs and will enhance daily experiences for students, library staff, and faculty. As Carrie Spector states in the Stanford Report, "Technology is a game-changer for education – it offers the prospect of universal access to high-quality learning experiences, and it creates fundamentally new ways of teaching" (Spector...

 The first thing I learned in this course is that there is so much I do not know about the inner workings of a website/database. Every YouTube video I watched about the inner workings of apps like Uber, Twitter, and Ticketmaster astounded me by the sheer amount of work that goes into making sure it runs smoothly. In my future work as a librarian, I consider this when it comes to using apps and helping patrons navigate websites. I do not plan to enter the marketing/database side of librarianship, but I have a new greater appreciation for the work that goes into maintaining a database. If I were to create an app that I learned about in this course I would need to take a lot more coding courses to make sure that it is user-friendly. One of the most important aspects of any app is the usability. Users and patrons do not want to use apps that constantly lag and share incorrect information. I would need to make sure that all the data and routes that go on in the background of the app are...

What a Whirlwind! This course has truly tested me. Being someone who does not like to use social media for personal posts, having a dedicated blog to tend to each week has not been easy. However, I will say even though it was not easy it was fun! I was able to test my limits and extend myself past my comfort zone. That is not something I can say I have done too many times before.  When it comes to technology in education, while I am not a teacher, I think that there are so many interesting tools out there for educators to utilize. The world is ever changing and our dependency on technology only increases. Educators must prepare future generations to be ready for an education, life, and workforce that is heavily influenced by technology. It is also important that the future generation is taught how to interact with technology safely and responsibly. Children younger and younger are being exposed to social media, and with that comes the good and the bad. What you see and post on ther...

What Do You Know About AI? When it comes to Artificial Intelligence I can say that my knowledge of this area is not very developed. I know that many people are against AI. For the most part, given the reasons many people object to AI, I agree with a healthy wariness. I think AI can too easily be used for malicious intent and even the less malicious intentions it still does not sit right with me. That being said, I do not think it has no place in our society. There are very useful tools that are provided with AI for teachers to use in their classrooms. However, just like with any technological tool you use, I believe it is important that educators fully understand it before they use it in instruction.  I think about AI sort of like how movies use CGI or Computer-Generated Imagery. If I go to see a film that is all Computer-Generated Imagery I will not enjoy it, there does not seem to be as much heart or emotions put into it (at least in my opinion). I far more enjoy movies that use ...

What Is a Digital Tattoo? Have you ever heard the term “digital footprint?” It is a term that is used to refer to a person’s data presence online. While it is a useful term, footprints tend to be something that can disappear with time. However, a “digital tattoo” is a little more immortalizing. A digital tattoo is a similar concept, only more accurate in name when referring to the longevity of you data online. Child of the Internet As someone who has grown up a child of the internet , I have made it a fairly conscious choice to put as little of myself on the internet as possible. As someone who does not like the idea of a stranger, or even people I know, having any information I have not given freely is concerning. I do not personally post any photos of myself across any of my social media accounts and most, if not all of my accounts, do not include any version of my government name in the username or about page. However, I know that just because I try not to put my information out the...

Always Stay Networking When it comes to working in libraries, one of the biggest things I always hear about is networking. Depending on what library you belong to, public, academic, specialty, and so on, there are always dedicated conferences that allow you to work on your networking skills. The connections you make at these conferences can greatly enhance your professional career and library growth. A Professional Learning Network (PLN) goes a step above the networking you experience at conferences. It extends to conferences, online groups, social media, your coworkers, and any other places/people who can advance your professional learning. According to Let's Grown Learners , when it comes to seeking out this kind of networking there are four major traits to find in your peer relationships. Encourager: This is someone you can rely on to give you words of encouragement and a pep talk when you need it. They help you to realize your value and importance. Challenger: This is someone w...