Printing to the WEPA Print Kiosk From the iPad

School is well under way and some of you might have started thinking, "How am I going to print from my iPad?"  Good question!  First, you will need to download the WEPA Print App. Second, you will need to set up a WEPA account.  Third, you will need to purchase a $5.00 WEPA Print card or add $5.00 to your WEPA account online through https://www.wepanow.com/.

Once you have set up your WEPA account you will next need to decide whether you are going to print from Dropbox, Google Drive, and Notability.  If you need to print from another app please ask for assistance. Not every app has printing as an option.

If  you choose to print to the WEPA Kiosk using your Dropbox app you will need to follow these directions:

If you prefer written directions click HERE.

If  you choose to print to the WEPA Kiosk using Google Drive you will need to follow these directions:

If you prefer written directions click HERE.

Written directions for printing from Notability can be accessed HERE.

If you have any questions regarding how to print from your iPad to the WEPA Prink Kiosks, please come see Ms. Robertson, Ms. Camp, Ms. Michaels, or Ms. Latta in The Library@HHS.

HHSiBucs Learning During the Day: Google Hangouts

One thing I love about my new school are the numerous opportunities for teachers to learn and grow professionally.

This past Thursday teachers has an HHSiBucs Learning During the Day that focused on learning how to use various aspects of Google during their planning time. The decision as to the focus for the day of learning was generated via a teacher survey of their professional development needs.

I presented a session during 4th period about using Google Hangouts as a tool for flipping your classroom.

The teachers who attended my session and I carried on a lively philosophical debate regarding The Traditional Classroom vs. The Flipped Classroom. This was a lively, spirited yet friendly discussion that I think was well worth our time.  I did not record this part of our session as I felt is was more important for session participants to feel as if they could speak freely.

Near the end of the session we got down to business and the video below is the end result of our session together.

The Alabama Virtual Library-The One Stop Shop For Your Research Needs

Today I had the opportunity to teach Mr. Ware's Social Studies classes about free databases available through the Alabama Virtual Library.  

Mr. Ware's students needed at least two book sources for their project.  We pulled books from our shelves for the students to use, but we also wanted to show the students how to find book sources online through the Alabama Virtual Library.  The two databases I share with Mr. Ware's students were Book Collection: Non Fiction and Student Research Center.  Both of these databases are helpful for finding book sources online.

Below is the Google Hangout I recorded during one of the classes:

GISL: Developing Your PLN at an Exponential Rate...with Twitter!

Click on pic above to access Google Presentation

Tomorrow (9/26/2013) at around 10:30 ET I have the great pleasure of  meeting the Georgia Independent School Librarians (GISL)  virtually and sharing how to build a Professional Learning Network (PLN) with Twitter.

I will be meeting with the members of GISL via Google Hangouts On Air.  The LIVE broadcast and subsequent recording will appear below:

We lost our signal during the original broadcast, but no worries...we started over! Part 2 is below.

.

How To Turn in an Assignment to a Shared Google Drive Folder from Your iPad

Today a teacher asked me how students could turn assignments into her using their iPads.  Up until this point she was having students email their work to her.  This had become an inbox nightmare!

This is the solution we liked best for several reasons:

1. Google Drive and Google Chrome are FREE
2. Our students and teachers all have a school Google account
3. Moving assignments in Google Drive is quick and easy
4. Creating assignments inside a shared folder in Google Drive is quick and easy
5. Moving documents from Dropbox, Notability, or other writing apps to Google Drive is quick and easy

Now you can say goodbye to that overflowing inbox!

TL News Night Premiere = SUCCESS

Logo designed by Matthew Winner

The idea of TL News Night started with a direct tweet from Michelle Cooper, moderator of the Texas Librarians Chat (#txlchat) two weeks before the first show aired.

Eighty-seven tweets, several phone calls, and a few Google Hangouts later TL News Night was formed.  The first order of business was to come up with a name and/purpose/mission for the show. Michelle and I knew that we wanted the show to be different from anything else going on currently in the TL Community. We quickly decided we wanted "The View" style format that provided in depth discussions of relevant school library topics as well as information about upcoming school library events.  

Next up was getting other school librarians on board.  Michelle and I started brainstorming people in our PLN but also wanted to be sure we gave Teacher-Librarians not as well know in the TL Community an opportunity to step forward as leaders. We also wanted to be sure that each grade level was represented.  It didn't take long before we had assembled a stellar team.

Michelle Cooper - High School Librarian

Nikki D Robertson- High School Librarian
Elissa Malespina - Middle Grades Librarian
Tamara Cox - Middle Grades Librarian
Sue Levine - Elementary School Librarian
Shannon Miller- Elementary School Librarian

The name for the show, as many of you who have started blogs will relate, was one of the hardest things to decide. We tossed several names around but it was ultimately Gwyneth Jones who helped us settle on TL News Night. The name was decided on just hours before the TL Virtual Cafe announced the premiere of TL News Night! Whew!

I have to give a warm shout out to my favorite librarian from beautiful Hawaii, Linda Lindsay, who blogged about TL News Night before it ever aired. XOXO

The next order of business was to develop a basic structural outline for the show.  A few tweaks here and there gave us the following format:

• Introduction (5 minutes)
  • The news team
  • The Show's purpose/mission
  • How to participate LIVE
  • Official Show Hashtag: #tlchat 

• A topical "HOT" library issue decided upon by guest experts from a state library association (25 minutes)

• A wrap up of “This Month in School Libraries” (10 minutes)
  • The News Team review
    • TL Virtual Cafe Webinar review
    • #TLChat LIVE review & highlights
    • News you submit (see Google Form)

• Highlight a state library association (10 minutes)

• Title | Tool | Takeaway- This segment features a book, an app or web tool & a takeaway (10 minutes)
  • Guest presenters needed

For our first show we wanted to address the drastic cuts affecting school libraries across the nation.  This lead us to the New York Library Association.  Sara Kelly Johns, Stephanie Rosalia, and Sue Kowalski were a delight. We practiced using Google Hangouts and had fun getting to know each other and generating ideas for the upcoming show. Stephanie did not have a webcam or microphone but managed to get one the day before we aired despite recovering from a recent surgery.

The night before the show the TL News Night anchors did a dry run through through a private Google Hangout just to work through any questions anyone on the team had with how to use Google Hangouts and to review the script one last time.

When I woke up the morning of the TL News Night Premiere I checked my Facebook account and saw this post from Vicki Davis (aka: Cool Cat Teacher) and knew that it was perfect for our inaugural show.

Getting more nervous by the hour as I went about my many library duties I was relieved when the time finally arrived to get "on air".  I started the Google Hangout about 15 minutes before show time and the team as well as our special guest experts from New York were set and ready to go.  About 5 minutes before the start of the show we realized we all had a faulty connection.  We crossed our fingers, ENDED the Google Hangout, and a new Google Hangout invite was sent to all participants.  Two minutes before air time we were all back on, "suited up" and ready to go.  

Those watching the LIVE broadcast could comment and ask questions several ways.  They could tweet using the hashtag #tlchat, use the new Q&A GHO feature, or comment on the Google Events page.  

In preparation for our first show I made an little tutorial instructing viewers how to participate LIVE during the show:

The show was lively, fun and informative. The back channel on Twitter was exciting to read as the show progressed and reaffirming after the show was over.  You can read the back channel comments HERE.

Here are some of my personal favorite tweets:

Doug Alichwer ‏@dalichwer

2hJust watched TLNewsNight http://tlvirtualcafe.wikispaces.com/TL+News+Night  w/ @NikkiDRobertson @shannonmmiller @_MichelleCooper &others. WORTH IT #tlchat

Joachim CohenChecking in from Syd Australia!! Very excited to be listening to this panel of experts

Joachim Cohen ‏@JoachimCohen1231hListening to @spkowalski leading and advocating about school libraries on #tlnewsnight @ 10am in Aus!

Heidi Neltner ‏@heidinelt21m#tlchat thanks for a great #tlnewsnight! As always #tlchat has given me a lot to think about and act on!

Susan Grigsby ‏@sksgrigsby1h#tlchat NYC has 1500 schools and about 300 certified school librarian with more disappearing every day.

Joachim Cohen ‏@JoachimCohen12348mLibraries the One Stop Shop for all students and staff .. how do we make others realise they are indispensable? #slansw#tlchat#oztlnet

James Allen ‏@jallenphotos45mneed to share more thank you notes?http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesallen/2528382736/ …#tlchat

Matthew C. Winner ‏@MatthewWinner15mGreat first outing of the TL News Night news team! #TLchat Catch the archive athttp://tlvirtualcafe.wikispaces.com/TL+News+Night  Loved seeing my pal @shannonmmiller!

Linda Lindsay ‏@mauilibrarian215mFantastic inaugural TL Night Live, everyone. Bravisimas! #tlchat

jamie camp ‏@connect2jamie9mFirst ever TL News Night was great! TLs watch the archive if you missed it tonight! Next month TX libraries spotlighted! #tlchat#txlchat

Our baby was a success and we have already started planning the script for October with special guests from the Texas Library Association.

We can't wait to see everyone again in October!  

Bonus Feature:

Want to learn how to conduct your own Google Hangouts?  Click HERE to learn more!

This Week at The Library@HHS September 16th - 20th

This week The Library@HHS was technically closed to accommodate students taking the Graduation Exam.  I say technically because we would never allow the library to actually be closed!  We love our students and teachers too much to ever do that!

Here is how we dealt with no access to the library.

1. We set up a cart and desk outside the library doors to assist students and teachers.
2. We assisted students and teachers with iPad issues at the door.
3. We assisted students and teachers with checking out book through our ebook program (OverDrive) 
4. We assisted students and teachers with checking out physical books from the library by showing them how to place a book on hold using our Destiny card catalog
5. We pulled physical books requested by students and teachers from the shelves and delivered them to classrooms.
6. We taught classes (Ms. Gannon) how to use our ebook site and Destiny to check out books from the library.
7. We checked out iPad chargers and cords from the cart.
8. We pulled books and provided them for browsing and check out (Ms.Gannon)

While outside the library we were able to finalize plans for Teen Read Week.  We are fortunate to have the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile coming to our school for Teen Read Week this year!  Only 12 classes can visit the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile, so we have devised a contest to determine what classes each period will win a visit to the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile.  

Here are the details that we came up with:

These 2 Weeks at The Library@HHS September 2-13, 2013

Sept. 2-13, a set on Flickr.

My goal this year was to write up a blog post at the end of each week highlighting the activities at The Library@HHS.  Oh well!

Our BIG activity these past two weeks at The Library@HHS has been Library Orientation with the incoming 9th graders.  For the last 8 years I have done Library Orientations using a fun scavenger hunt activity (http://www.nikkidrobertson.com/2012/08/library-orientation-scavenger-hunt-2012.html).  This method worked well in a block schedule and in schools not implementing a 1:1 program.

This year I am at a brand new school that operates on an eight period system and just implemented a 1:1 iPad initiative school wide.  Our focus with Library Orientation focused on assisting students in setting up important apps to make printing, searching the library catalog, and checking out our eBooks a smooth process.

Library Orientation Selfie! 

Of course Library Orientation was just one of the many things going on in The Library@HHS.  Some people fear that libraries will become obsolete as schools move to eBooks and 1:1 programs, but check out our calendar below and you will see THIS library is in NO danger of being obsolete!

One fun things going on in The Library@HHS was happening in our computer lab was the Forensic Classes using the FACES program to make composite sketches.  Students went to the Hoover High School website, pulled up pictures of teachers and worked on composite sketches of teachers.  Some of the results were a HOOT!

Ms. Camp, my wonderful co librarian, taught several classes on OverDrive and WEPA in addition to teaching Library Orientation classes.

WEPA is one of my most awesome discoveries here at The Library@HHS.  WEPA is how students print from their iPads.  Maintaining the WEPA Printers is also one of the many duties of the librarians (me & Ms.Camp). 

During the week I also took a little time (lunch) to do a presentation for SimpleK12, Facilitate Easy Communication with Students and Parents.  My presentation focused on Cel.ly. Click here for a link to my PPT.

I also assisted two of my assistant principals, Dr. Sutherland and Ms. Hogan, to join a Google Hangout as guest speakers to the Fulton County Georgia School District Superintendent and Central Office staff as a favor to EdCamp Atlanta and EduVue tech star, Jaime Vandergrift. 

Student ID badges continue to be made with a big push for IDs right before the big game.  Peer Helpers also came in to make special badges for their group.

I also learned what can happen when you ask a student to use your iPad to take a picture! LOL!

The week ended with an inspirational visit from Principal EL.  His dedication to and love for students is contagious.  

Whew!  The hustle and bustle didn't come to an end for me as I ran straight from Birmingham at the end of the week to Atlanta to host EdCamp Atlanta.