Monday, April 10, 2017

QR Codes

This semester, we have been hyperlinking web addresses in many digital publications.  But often you will actually print hardcopies.  In addition to listing the web address, include QR codes that your audience can scan with a smart phone.  Ever so much easier than typing a long addy.

Here is a flier I sent home to all parents for my annual Florida Storytelling Festival.  Download a free QR code reader and try it out.  Click on each image to make them bigger and more readable.





If the book keeping system would allow it, I would also have created a link to order the book online.  However, the process in Palm Beach County was too cumbersome so cash/checks are easiest.

QR codes are super simple and free to make.  Here is one of many websites you can use.
http://www.qrstuff.com/

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Three Ways to Add Sound to a Power Point

There are three ways to add sound to your PowerPoint:

  1. Adding a sound effect to an existing animation (this is what I showed you)
  1. Inserting sound to a slide
  1. Inserting an action 

Since we are removing the opportunity to click on anything except hyperlinked buttons (anything can be hyperlinked: shapes, textboxes, images), you will NOT want to attach sound to individual multiple choice unless you insert an action (option 3). Options 1 & 2 will need to be timed automatically to play when a slide opens.

Adding Sound to an Animation - Good for titles and decorations

1.  Choose an object (textbox, picture, shape) and add an animation for it to appear or emphasis.  Do not do exit effect.
2.  Click start on the menu bar and choose either with or after previous
3.  Open the animation pane.  Select the animation.  Scroll down to effect options and add the sound.

Inserting Sound to a Slide - Good for theme music (or your voice)

1.  On the insert tab, choose audio.

2.  Audio from file or browser - Insert
3.  On the playback tab,  choose to start automatically and hide the icon during the show.

Inserting an Action to an Object - Good for sound effect (or other action) to items in your multiple choice list (or any object)

1.  Make each answer a separate text box.  Select one text box.
2.  On the insert tab, choose action.  You can add sound and/or hyperlink to another slide.  For example, incorrect answers you may want to just may an incorrect sound (action none). 

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Your Online Presence

You can assume many roles online.  You may just poke around or you may have a deliberate plan.

These are the main roles that I have identified in my research. Yes, it says "school librarian."  That's because I use this in my research survey "School Librarian Use of Social Media for Professional Development."  But ignore the school librarian part.  And ignore the professional part.  Consider your social media use for any purpose.



Take the poll to the right about the role with which you primarily identify.

How to increase your social presence

Sometimes we feel like our social media posts are floating out in cyberspace.  Did anyone view my stuff?  Don't people know how great my ideas are?  Why didn't anyone comment?

The problem may not be your content, it may be social.  The official term is "The Law of Reciprocity."

There are a lot of business articles about the Law of Reciprocity, but the concept applies to school and personal social media as well.

Skim over this article to see how you may be able to improve your hit/comment rate by being a better friend.


Monday, March 20, 2017

Assistive Technology Vids

Here are the videos I promised that extend our field trip to the assistive technology lab:

Disability Led Innovations for the Masses



Light Scribe


Reading Assistance


Visual Assistance (Braille Writer)