Thing 22: Create a Resource Guide
After reading the material on the Cool Tools post, I decided that I would try to do this using a tool that I had not worked much with before ~ that eliminated ScoopIt and Pinterest where I already have curated lots of materials and continue to gather great stuff for my teachers (the links go to my boards). Both of those collections are very general and for any and all teachers.
Here is how things went.
Step 1: Audience
It took me a while to decide for whom I should create a resource guide. I thought my ELA people, who are good library users and quite open-minded about trying new things, would be a good choice. I am focusing on the middle school/high school teachers for now (that is grades 5-12).
Step 2: Tool for sharing
I ended up deciding to set up a Google+ Community. We are a Google school; and even within my small ELA group there is a wide range of comfort levels as far as technology. I decided to go with what they know (or know better). Another factor is that it is easier to find information that we read.. First, there are not as many posts to deal with and to try to recall. Second, the community's posts are searchable. That little tidbit I didn't even know about until Polly mentioned it to me ~ thanks for that!! :) And, third,with Google+ it is easy for us to comment on each others posts, if the members choose to do that. The members of the group can also share,too. It does not all have to come from me. Right now, the community is a private one, but I am planning to change it to public community just to see what the difference is.
Step 3: Resource Gathering
I am constantly watching Facebook and Twitter posts for educational resources for all of my staff. I have professional accounts for both to make it easier to find and follow what I want. For the past few weeks, I have been more conscientious about keeping an eye out for ELA materials. Although I found some, I ended up going to Edutopia and Educational Technology and Mobile Learning and even Googling some resources to start. Once you find some, then BOOM - off you go and there are lots!
Step 4: Share, Promote, Maintain!
Once I made my decision about the tool to use, I emailed the people and asked them if they would be willing to do this. With Google Communities, people are invited to be members. Next, I set up the community called Engaging ELA and invited the participants to join. All have done so. Twice, I have sent out an email with a message about adding some new resources. We are now on a mid-winter break and I may not hear much. With most of the blogs and other such things I follow, there are "share" buttons to quickly and easily share information to Google (or Facebook or Twitter). Once there, I just click the Community that I want to share it with (as opposed to sharing it with one of my Circles) and the resource is posted. I am trying to remember to add hashtags to the posts so they are even more easily searchable. That takes practice! :) I will invite you, Polly, to the group so that you can see what I have shared so far.
Hooray, I am done with this blog post and now will just be maintaining my Engaging ELA guide!
Here is how things went.
Step 1: Audience
It took me a while to decide for whom I should create a resource guide. I thought my ELA people, who are good library users and quite open-minded about trying new things, would be a good choice. I am focusing on the middle school/high school teachers for now (that is grades 5-12).
Step 2: Tool for sharing
I ended up deciding to set up a Google+ Community. We are a Google school; and even within my small ELA group there is a wide range of comfort levels as far as technology. I decided to go with what they know (or know better). Another factor is that it is easier to find information that we read.. First, there are not as many posts to deal with and to try to recall. Second, the community's posts are searchable. That little tidbit I didn't even know about until Polly mentioned it to me ~ thanks for that!! :) And, third,with Google+ it is easy for us to comment on each others posts, if the members choose to do that. The members of the group can also share,too. It does not all have to come from me. Right now, the community is a private one, but I am planning to change it to public community just to see what the difference is.
Step 3: Resource Gathering
I am constantly watching Facebook and Twitter posts for educational resources for all of my staff. I have professional accounts for both to make it easier to find and follow what I want. For the past few weeks, I have been more conscientious about keeping an eye out for ELA materials. Although I found some, I ended up going to Edutopia and Educational Technology and Mobile Learning and even Googling some resources to start. Once you find some, then BOOM - off you go and there are lots!
Step 4: Share, Promote, Maintain!
Once I made my decision about the tool to use, I emailed the people and asked them if they would be willing to do this. With Google Communities, people are invited to be members. Next, I set up the community called Engaging ELA and invited the participants to join. All have done so. Twice, I have sent out an email with a message about adding some new resources. We are now on a mid-winter break and I may not hear much. With most of the blogs and other such things I follow, there are "share" buttons to quickly and easily share information to Google (or Facebook or Twitter). Once there, I just click the Community that I want to share it with (as opposed to sharing it with one of my Circles) and the resource is posted. I am trying to remember to add hashtags to the posts so they are even more easily searchable. That takes practice! :) I will invite you, Polly, to the group so that you can see what I have shared so far.
Hooray, I am done with this blog post and now will just be maintaining my Engaging ELA guide!
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