A Second Look - Ten Things A Teacher Should Know About Technology

 

As I reflect back on this list that I created at the start of this course, I decided that I am going to stick with it.  The ten things that I found important at the start of this course, still ring true for me on a personal level.  The exception to this is that I can now carry on and move through the list with a more developed skill set and confidence in my ability to find my way through the technological world ahead!

*** UPDATED ***

Ten Things A Teacher Should Know About Technology

1.  Be Brave - This is hard for me.  Just dive in!  MOST things can be undone if not done correctly!

2.  Use your Resources ChatGPT - I just had to Google how to do this!  Watch others and learn from them.

3.  Ask Your Kids - They know SO MUCH about technology that I don't.  This is how they are learning every day, we are the ones catching on!

4.  Do a Trail Run - Before attempting to use technology to teach with students, try it out on your own first.  May save some stressful moments!  

5.  YouTube It - You can find a video on many things that may give you tips for creating new multimedia materials or avoiding common errors.  

6.  Be Prepared - Sometimes (especially in schools), technology doesn't work.  Always give some thought to what you will if your technology does not work!

7.  Explore - Poke around different programs, apps, or websites to find something that you think would be interesting and educationally valuable for your students.  

8.  Devote Time - Learning how to do something new takes time.  Make sure you take the stress of a time constraint out of the equation.  Maybe use the summer or school vacation week to dive into something new!

9.  Have Fun - Students know when we are (or are not) excited about what we are doing.  

10.  Go! - JUST DO IT!  

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OPAC - What Works for You and Your School?

This week my partner and I researched two different OPAC systems: OPALS and Destiny.  After researching both, we decided to present our findings on OPALS.  OPALS (Open-source Automated Library System) is a free and open-source library management system that helps libraries manage their collections, helps students find resources, and assists with various other library functions. It provides a wide range of features, including an online public access catalog, circulation management, inventory control, and book recommendations for students. OPALS is used by various types of libraries, including school libraries, academic libraries, public libraries, and more. 

Below you will find the highlights of OPALS:

OPALS - The What and Why

Catalog It!

 Catalog It!  A User’s Guide for Cataloging

AACR - The standard in the US, Canada, and UK for cataloging.

LC - Library of Congress cataloging tool.

ISBD - International Standard Bibliographic Description : Responsible for the rules regarding: dashes, slashes, colons, semi-colons, and periods.

ISBN - International Standard Book Number: The 10-13 digit number assigned to published titles for efficient organization of books.

MARC - Machine Readable Cataloging.  Codes used to communicate information about information packages.  

OPAC -  Online Public Access Catalog - online database that allows users to search and access information about the library's holdings. 

The Ten Main Classes of the Dewey Decimal Classification

000  Generalities

100  Philosophy, paranormal phenomena, psychology

200  Religion

300  Social Sciences

400  Languages

500  Natural Sciences and Mathematics

600  Technology  (Applied Sciences)

700  The arts  Fine & Decorative arts

800  Literature (Belles-lettres) & Rhetoric

900  Geography, history, and auxiliary disciplines

Library cataloging software programs:

CASPR

COMPanion Co.

Follett Software Company

Sagebrush

SIRSI

Surpass

Finally, it’s okay to change a number for ease of use in your library setting as long as you follow the protocol that is already in use where you are.