LibraryCamp: Ed Tech edition Lightning Talks Part 2

And here’s part of the lightning talks from the library camp ed tech edition.

Software Tutorials with Animated GIFs

Alison Trumble @atrumbled

Documentation

  • there were many outdated video tutorials
  • big drawback is that it’s very hard to skip with long intro that is irrelevant
  • best to do something 30-60 seconds
  • break into really short chunks using some text and animated gifs
  • needed to be easily replicated for people in future, so needed free software that did not required downloading: Screener, onlinecovert.com
  • many of the gifts 7-12 seconds
  • drawbacks:
    ** gifts can be problematic because distracting
    ** no voiceover on what you’re pressing
    ** video might be better because some prefer to listen to instructions (need text version to make it accessible for screen reader)
    ** better to have blank frames to make it obvious where the start/end is

## XML Parsing Service

Alex Garnett @axfelix

  • working on automatic tool to smartly parse into NLM3XML (pubmed format), XML, HTML, PDF
  • XMLPS API – one feature: pull all the references from document

Easy as Pi! Computer Programming for Kids at the Public Library

Danielle Wing @DanielleJanineW

  • barriers: limited to library resources/research, technology, cost
  • created a toolkit to run program in a library, did a pilot to run at west vancouver public (may, july)
  • wanted to change how children think about and use computers, break away from traditional program models
  • emphasis on educational side with transferable skills
  • looked at educational frameworks and used P21: Framework for 21st century learning
    ** learning and innovation skills: creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving
    ** communication and collaboration (would always work in partners)
    ** information, media and technology skills (
  • 4 1.5 hr session through May; 12 participants (9-12 yrs), 2 instructors, 1 volunteer; 6 Raspberry Pi kits; registration filled up within 1 hr
  • session plans: Sonic Pi (create music, which was a huge hit), introduction to scratch, scratch continued, group projects (python) – didn’t use half of it
  • does it really fit within the library’s model? e.g. encourage reading/writing, but don’t teach reading/writing. Should we teach coding or just have space to encourage kids to play with it?

Creating a Readers’ Advisory Device (RAD)

Krista Parham, Anna Ferri, Stephanie Fan, Matthew Murray, Rebecca Lahr, Ekatarina Grugric, and Monica Swamira

  • database of books that will randomly choose one when pressing a button
  • very easy once got through some of the issues (e.g. bought the wrong pieces)
  • worked with others e.g. UBC Rapids: created the box
  • will provide documentation for hardware, code
  • pulls from external file with title, author, short description
  • took it to mini-makerfaire, ALA
  • continuing process, where might have multiple buttons or touchscreen where you can pick based on genre or age group

Check the ASIS&T blog for more information and updates.