Why I Went on Cultural Tours at #AASL17

Why I Went on Cultural Tours during AASL17 | Cultural tours can be valuable learning and networking experiences during conferences.

When it comes to conferences, justifying going to sessions, keynotes and workshops doesn’t seem too hard.  The learning benefits from such experiences are obvious.  But what about cultural tours, school tours and similar networking events?  These may look like simple touristy or sightseeing experiences, but there’s a lot of benefit to them. This year, I … Read more

Make Your Own Creature Workshop #AASL17

Make Your Own Creature Workshop #AASL17 | I led a Make Your Own Creature workshop at AASL and it was a blast. Here's how to host one.

(Note: Post contains affiliate links.  Actions taken may result in commissions for Renovated Learning) A Creature Workshop Towards the end of last school year, one of my students came up with one of my favorite design challenges:  Make a creature that does something.  That’s it.  This prompt wins for simplicity and the designs that people come up … Read more

AASL Post: How to Get Ready for a New Year at Your New School

How to Get Ready for a New Year at Your New School | Starting off a new year at a new-to-you school can be daunting, but it's also an exciting opportunity. Here's five tips to help you prepare.

Starting at a new school can be overwhelming, so it’s good to have a plan. I’ve shared this on social media, but not in an official blog post here.  This year, I will be the new media specialist at Tampa Preparatory, an independent 6-12 school.  It’s my first time at a new-to-me school since I started … Read more

AASL Post: How to Make a Game Plan for Your Next Conference

How to Make a Game Plan for Your Next Conference | Going to a major conference is exciting and thrilling, but it's easy to get overwhelmed and exhausted. If you plan ahead and make a game plan, you're much more likely to have an awesome and successful conference.

Click on over to AASL Knowledge Quest to read the full post, or scroll down to get the summary: Going to a national conference can be exciting and thrilling. Unfortunately, it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. I’ve been to ISTE three times, AASL once, and FETC seven times, so I’ve had to time to … Read more

The Best Stuff to Pack for Big Education Conferences

The Best Stuff to Pack for Big Education Conferences | It can be daunting to figure out what to bring with you for a big conference. Here's my tips on what stuff you should pack.

Big education conferences like ISTE, ALA, AASL and FETC can be fun, exciting and thrilling.  But they can often be overwhelming, especially for first-timers.  I’ve been going to big conferences like these for seven years, so I’ve been working on tweaking and perfecting my conference gear to make it 1) not too heavy and 2) … Read more

AASL Post: How to Create a More Flexible Seating Environment

How to Create a More Flexible Seating Environment | Creating a diverse array of flexible seating options in our libraries improves student learning. Here's some advice on how to get started.

“[I]magine how your students feel when they walk into your learning space. Are there comfortable seating options available? Is there a good variety to support both groups and individuals? Or are all the chairs uncomfortable and crammed tightly together?” In my post for AASL Knowledge Quest, I share the stories of two different airport experiences. … Read more

AASL Post: 3 Reasons Why Making and Literacy Aren’t Mutually Exclusive

AASL Post: 3 Reasons Why Making and Literacy Aren't Mutually Exclusive: Starting a makerspace in a school library does not mean abandoning literacy. Here are three ways that making supports literacy in a school library

My post last month on Why a Makerspace isn’t a Magic Cure-all for Your Problems gained a lot of notice.  I’ve seen a vibrant social media conversation take off since then.  I have heard many people say in the conversation about making and libraries that they have reservations.  Many are worried about sacrificing literacy or reading when they … Read more

AASL Post: Why a Makerspace is Not a Magic Cure-all For Your Problems

AASL Post: Why a Makerspace is Not a Magic Cure-all for Your Problems | Starting a makerspace can be a wonderful thing for your school library. But sometimes, there are problems in place that need to be dealt with first.

I realize that this title is going so upset some people. That some might accuse me of click-bait. But I think this is a topic that is often being left out in the discussion about makerspaces. Many school librarians have beautiful visions of putting out some arts and crafts supplies or LEGOs or robots and … Read more

AASL Post: 3 Reasons Why You Need to Attend Your State Conference

AASL Post: 3 Reasons Why You Need to Attend Your State Conference | It's easy to get caught up in the hype and glamour of national conferences. But there's many vital reasons for us to be attending our state conferences as well.

The very first conference I ever attended was my state conference, FAME (Florida Association for Media in Education) back in 2010. I was a brand new librarian and soaked up all the new information, ideas, and connections. It only took one conference to get me hooked. Since then, I’ve attended and presented at conferences all … Read more

AASL Post: How to Connect Students to the World with the Cardboard Challenge

How to Connect Students to the World With the Cardboard Challenge | In my AASL post, I talk about how maker projects and makerspaces are fantastic for connecting your students globally. Here's how you can use the Global Cardboard Challenge and Skype.

Connecting Students to the World Through the Cardboard Challenge Makerspaces and maker projects can be amazing catalysts for connecting your students with others. The Imagination Foundation’s Global Cardboard Challenge is one of my favorite maker activities to help my students feel connected to the world and see the power of making. Combine that with a Skype … Read more