November 2017
Displays
Displays
We "mustache" you to come check out our displays!
We "mustache" you to come check out our displays!
This month we supported No-Shave November. As you know, many cancer patients lose their hair due to treatment. No Shave November is a month-long campaign to raise awareness and funding for cancer prevention, research and education. To show awareness many people do not shave in the month of November. If this is not an option for you, you can still donate to raise funds for cancer prevention, research, and education.
This month we supported No-Shave November. As you know, many cancer patients lose their hair due to treatment. No Shave November is a month-long campaign to raise awareness and funding for cancer prevention, research and education. To show awareness many people do not shave in the month of November. If this is not an option for you, you can still donate to raise funds for cancer prevention, research, and education.
Get Graphic at the Library
Get Graphic at the Library
Believe it or not, we have quite a few students at Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School that prefer to read graphic novels over anything else. This month we decided to show off our graphic novel collection!
Believe it or not, we have quite a few students at Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School that prefer to read graphic novels over anything else. This month we decided to show off our graphic novel collection!
Classes in the Library
Classes in the Library
At the beginning of the month Ms. Leonard brought one of her 8th grade English classes to the library to complete a library scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt was created to help students get use to where materials are located within the library as well as how to search for materials using OPALS.
At the beginning of the month Ms. Leonard brought one of her 8th grade English classes to the library to complete a library scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt was created to help students get use to where materials are located within the library as well as how to search for materials using OPALS.
The 10th grade students also came to the library for a lesson having to do with mind mapping and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This lesson helped prepare the students for a powerpoint presentation that they would create for Mrs. Steck. The students conducted basic research and created a mind map on their topics using coggle.it.
The 10th grade students also came to the library for a lesson having to do with mind mapping and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This lesson helped prepare the students for a powerpoint presentation that they would create for Mrs. Steck. The students conducted basic research and created a mind map on their topics using coggle.it.
Resource
Resource
Coggle.it is a free online tool in which you can create mind maps, concept maps, and outlines. This is a great resource if students are brainstorming a new topic, researching a more complex topic, or even just organizing notes. Coggle.it allows the user to create these diagrams individually or collaboratively by sharing the diagrams right through your Google account. When you sign up for coggle.it you are able to create 3 diagrams for free before being asked to upgrade. Don't want to upgrade? Just delete one of the diagrams from your account. Not sure you want to delete it just yet? Save it to your computer. You won't be able to edit it anymore but you will still be able to access it for future reference.
Coggle.it is a free online tool in which you can create mind maps, concept maps, and outlines. This is a great resource if students are brainstorming a new topic, researching a more complex topic, or even just organizing notes. Coggle.it allows the user to create these diagrams individually or collaboratively by sharing the diagrams right through your Google account. When you sign up for coggle.it you are able to create 3 diagrams for free before being asked to upgrade. Don't want to upgrade? Just delete one of the diagrams from your account. Not sure you want to delete it just yet? Save it to your computer. You won't be able to edit it anymore but you will still be able to access it for future reference.
Overall, this is a simple tool to use and it can be used for many things. If you would like to take a few minutes to go over coggle.it please let me know and I will be more than happy to assist you.
Overall, this is a simple tool to use and it can be used for many things. If you would like to take a few minutes to go over coggle.it please let me know and I will be more than happy to assist you.
Ozobots are here!
Ozobots are here!
Some of you may remember from last year that we borrowed Ozobots, small programmable robots, from Questar III SLS. Well, they're back! We have the Ozobots until the end of December.
Some of you may remember from last year that we borrowed Ozobots, small programmable robots, from Questar III SLS. Well, they're back! We have the Ozobots until the end of December.
These robots read color codes created by the user to perform certain functions. Users can either use them freely or they can be presented a task to try and solve using the codes. For example, given a preset map, students are challenged to get from one end to the other the quickest while making required stops and avoiding obstacles along the way. Students not only learn about the basics of Ozobots and coding but they also use problem solving skills and collaboration skills as well!
These robots read color codes created by the user to perform certain functions. Users can either use them freely or they can be presented a task to try and solve using the codes. For example, given a preset map, students are challenged to get from one end to the other the quickest while making required stops and avoiding obstacles along the way. Students not only learn about the basics of Ozobots and coding but they also use problem solving skills and collaboration skills as well!
So, if you want to set up a day or two to have your class come experiment with Ozobots let me know! I will be more than happy to conduct a lesson or provide support for those teachers that may know more about them than I do. They will also be available in the library for students to use during their free time.
So, if you want to set up a day or two to have your class come experiment with Ozobots let me know! I will be more than happy to conduct a lesson or provide support for those teachers that may know more about them than I do. They will also be available in the library for students to use during their free time.
Littlebits
Littlebits
We are also borrowing a Littlebits kit for the month of December. Littlebits is a platform for easy to use electronic building blocks. They allow the user to invent almost anything they can imaging. They snap together with magnets so there is no soldering, wiring, or programming needed. They just require some brain power and a little bit of imagination. See below for a little bit more information.
We are also borrowing a Littlebits kit for the month of December. Littlebits is a platform for easy to use electronic building blocks. They allow the user to invent almost anything they can imaging. They snap together with magnets so there is no soldering, wiring, or programming needed. They just require some brain power and a little bit of imagination. See below for a little bit more information.
Breakout EDU
Breakout EDU
In January we will be borrowing a Breakout EDU box from Questar III SLS. More information to come in the December newsletter but for now I'm going to try and get you hooked before we even get it! Check out the videos and information below.
In January we will be borrowing a Breakout EDU box from Questar III SLS. More information to come in the December newsletter but for now I'm going to try and get you hooked before we even get it! Check out the videos and information below.