Tech Tool Review: Microsoft Teams

 

What is it?

Microsoft teams is a team collaboration app that allows team members to chat, conference call, store files, and so much more! There is an education side to Microsoft teams that allows teachers to create classes with their students in order to collaborate on one platform. 

Pros:

• easy to use
• allows collaboration
• keeps things in one place
• Can be used as a communication tool when team/class is in different locations

Cons: 

• The app is used exclusively with Microsoft--not available to use if your school district doesn't participate.

Overall: 

I was able to use Microsoft teams this past school year as a school librarian in order to increase my communication with high school students. High school students tend to have a busy schedule and they don't have a lot of time to come into the library. Using Microsoft teams, I was able to communicate with them about new books in the library and I was even able to send out surveys to them about what books they'd like me to purchase and how to improve the library. The surveys had great success when I did this. I was also able to share with the high school students the days I would be in the library since I was working 50/50 between two school districts.

I highly recommend using Microsoft Teams!

Tech Tool Review: MagicSchoolAI

 

What Is It? 

MagicSchoolAI is an AI platform that provides educators with a wide variety of tools that helps personalize student learning and streamlines the process. With MagicSchoolAI, educators can create lesson plans, e-mail responses, text questions, word problems, a class newsletter, and so much more! 

In fact, there is even a student side to this platform where students can use artificial intelligence in a responsible manner. Students may use it to receive feedback on their writing, track their progress, generate ideas, talk with historical figures, and so much more! 

Pros:

• Easy to use, user friendly
• Free version-purchase not necessary
• Time saver
• Helps generate ideas
• Everything you create is customizable
• Can customize lesson plans to specific standards and/or relate it to the library
• There's a teacher side and a student side to this platform

Cons:

• Can only do so much with free version
• Must read through and ensure what it creates makes sense/is accurate
• Might not be EdLaw2D compliant--have to check into that

Overall:

I love using MagicSchoolAI to help me come up with new ideas for lesson plans and activities to do in my library classes, especially since I can connect it to standards. It has been very easy for me to use and I love that I can continue to personalize it until it's what I need/ to what my students need. I haven't had students use the platform yet, but I imagine that they could come up with some fun ideas and it could be a great way to show them how to use AI responsibly. 

I highly recommend to use MagicSchool AI, it has been a huge time saver for me as a school librarian!

Tech Tool Review: Canva

 

What is it?

Canva is a design website where you can create all sorts of different things such as flyers, posters, infographics, presentations, work resumes, lesson plans, and much, much more! It has a lot of design options and templates that you can customize to however you'd like. Recently, there has been AI features added to it where it will create something that you suggest. 

Pros:

• the designs that are customizable. 
• I don't have to start my projects from scratch.
• It's user friendly.
• Can create something beautiful in a short amount of time.
• I can re-size my project easily.
• Ex: Changing a flyer to poster size
• Free--can also get free pro account if you work in a school.

Cons:

• not as many editing features that I'm used to from Microsoft Word.
• Ex: Words in each text box are edited rather than being able to just edit a sentence or a few words within the text box.
• I end up having too many text boxes on one project.

Overall: 

I love using Canva for my projects because I don't get hung up on the design aspect. I've used Canva a few times in the library I work for because I've had to make some signs, handouts, and posters. The posters I created for my Book Fest event were a huge hit with teachers and students. In fact, teachers now come to me to help with creating posters for their classrooms. This has helped strengthen my relationships with the teachers. Pictures of the posters I used for Book Fest are below. 

Students can also easily use Canva during library classes by creating presentations or flyers after conducting research. Canva saves all of their work and students can easily come back to what their working on. In the schools I work for, I know that students are already using Canva in their main content classrooms.

I highly recommend to use Canva!