Inserting Gifs into Blogger. How Hard Can it Be?

Well, I wouldn't say the task is particularly difficult, but it is slightly an-noy-ing when you have not previously used this technology.  So, for those who are novice bloggers like I am, here are some things to keep in mind while trying to give your blog a personality. (See the cute animated object at the top right corner and at the bottom of this post.)

1. Adding a gif to your HTML/Java Script gadget from a hosting site like Photobucket is pretty straight forward until you notice that the animated gif you uploaded is doing the "jig" outside of the boundaries of your blog page. Meaning, the gif is too big. O.K. You are thinking that this is a simple problem to solve while forgetting that YOU ARE a novice.  Humming one of your favorite songs, you go back to the Photobucket website and decrease the size of the gif and re-upload it to Blogger. That should take care of the problem. Right? Wrong! It is smaller and fits in the confines of the blog, but it is not entertaining like it is getting paid to do. Meaning, it doesn't move. Are you kidding me? So, you go back and consult your tech specialist-Google-to find out how to remedy this problem. Go figure. You have to use a program such as www.ezgif.com/resize to ensure that your resized gif earns its pay. Meaning, it performs the "jig" where and how it should.

2. Adding an animated gif to your blog post is straight forward, also; unless it wipes out all of your text, not just a couple of sentences, but paragraphs of text, and because the post was not "published," it is lost forever and ever and ever according to the experts and the people who have experienced the same unfortunate incident.

With this not-so-simple task, I have learned a lot. I now know to make sure I save my unpublished posts in another location. Additionally, photo hosting sites like Photobucket may not keep the integrity of the resized animated gif. Lastly, complexity may derive from a simple task. Shocking, isn't it? But, now I know, and as the saying goes, "Knowing is half the battle." But what do you do when you are going to war? Next Opponent-Screencasting.

Note:  Writing about my experience of working with animated gifs in second person is my therapy. It helps to avoid reliving the "horror!"

Steps to adding an animated gif to Blogger's  HTML/Java Gadget:
1. Find an animated gif
2. Upload the gif to a photo hosting site like Photbucket
3. Copy the link to the HTML/Java Gadget
4. If the animated gif is too big or small, copy the direct link from Photobucket to a gif resize site
5. Copy the resized gif back to Photobucket.
6. Get the "new" HTML link
7. Paste the HTML link to the HTML/Java Gadget on Blogger

Steps to adding an animated gif to a Blogger's post:
1. Find an animated gif
2. Upload the gif to a photo hosting site like Photobucket
3. Copy the HTML link
4. Open your blog post
5. Click on HTML
6. Paste your link in the post where you want your animated gif to appear
7. Click save
8. Click Compose
                                              

Google, Google Everywhere

 

What can't you do with Google? Apparently, not much! And that's a good thing for educators. Check out the websites below to be amazed and perhaps even inspired to integrate these applications in your classroom.

Google in Education: http://www.google.com/edu/teachers/

Google Applications List: http://www.google.com/options/

100+ Google Tricks for Teachers - http://www.teachhub.com/100-google-tricks-teachers

Google Apps in the Classrooom (from Google): http://bit.ly/hby9jO

Google Apps Education Edition vs. Google Tools and Products: https://sites.google.com/site/colettecassinelli/apps

7 Google Tools You Don’t Know About…Yet!: http://blog.simplek12.com/education/7-google-tools-you-dont-know-about/

New World Order

I just finished reading an article posted on eSchool News titled School Librarians Are Rising School Leaders (October 18, 2013). I am grateful that many educational entities are recognizing the importance of a school librarian/media specialist in the digital age. School librarians have the on-going task of  proving to stakeholders their importance to students' academic success and the school community. Librarians are reinventing themselves dispelling the stereotypical myths that are generally associated with them.

The following quotes from the article are worth noting:

“School librarians have the unique position, in school, of being school-wide and curriculum-wide—that really makes for a powerful partnership with school administrators,” said Gail Dickinson, AASL’s current president.

“I think there are a lot of people who view the digital shift as a threat to librarians, and I really just think it’s a call for reinvention,” said Mark Ray, the 2012 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

“I think there’s a high degree of agreement that school libraries need to be digital learning spaces and fully take advantage of the kinds of opportunities offered by digital learning,” Dickinson said.

This means “maximizing the strength of library programs to reach and teach each child,” Dickinson said.

"An investment in teacher librarians, who help students and teachers use digital technologies and resources to their fullest, is essential," Ray said.

"In addition, teacher librarians are in the unique position of having leadership skills while being able to work openly with teachers, receiving honest feedback, which enables librarians to empower teachers and maintain strong working relationships with teachers."

“Great school librarians can empower a school, and forward-thinking school districts really maximize that,” Dickinson said.

Ray added: “More and more people are saying that if you want to be a successful 21st century school, you need to think long and hard about what you do in your school libraries and what role your libraries play.”

Infographic created by Jennifer LaGarde

Now I See the Light

In the past, I only associated networking as being a "buzz word" in the corporate America arena. I did not realize the impact networking can have on my profession because I am not a part of that world. However, this Personal Learning Network (PLN) class has been an eye-opener to the many ways PLNs can greatly affect my personal and professional life.  Now I see the light! If I am to be an innovative, 21^st century educator, PLNs are essential. Hence, I am now basking in the light of being a connected educator. My PLN has gone from my local school district to world-wide. Using Edmodo, I presently get ideas and advice from people as far as the Middle East. I have always used Twitter socially. Currently, it is my lifeline to what is trending in education, specifically in the integrating technology area. Daily I read tweets from experts which I investigate further on the Internet. Without scouring the Internet for hours, I use RSS Feeds to get relevant information that I can pass on to my colleagues. Podcasts give me another avenue for sharing information with teachers and students.  Finally, a blog provides a platform where I can incorporate all my information in one location and share it in different formats (video, audio, picture, written word, links, etc.). Nevertheless, my quest continues. To expand my PLN, I will continue the blog, post tweets, comment on sites such as Classroom 2.0 and the Educator’s PLN, attend and present at workshops, upload technology demonstrations on Youtude, and utilize LinkedIn.  To contribute to my colleagues’ PLN, I have set-up a Professional Learning Community (PLC) on Edmodo and posted on my blog PLN and blog websites. In short, my desire to learn, share, and incorporate technology has been rejuvenated, and I thirst for more.

3 Ways to Encourage Higher Order Thinking with Technology

 Here are three ways for teachers to prepare to design learning experiences that encourage higher order thinking through the use of technology as a tool for learning.

 Source: gettingsmart.com -

Edmodo was one of AASL’s Best Websites for Teaching and Learning in 2011.

  Source:  From www.aasl.ala.org -   

               

Copyright 2009 LCISD

321 Free Tools for Teachers

                              

Would you be interested in the ultimate list of free tools for teachers? At the following post you will found 321 Free Tools for Teachers separated in 18 educational technology categories. Enjoy!

Source: From elearningindustry.com                                      

 

Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners: 10 Terrific Tools in My Toolkit

                             

Susan Oxnevad says, "The key to successful technology integration is the efficient use of digital tools that are appropriate for the task. Technology provides us all with the ability to develop our own toolkit of flexible resources for use when needed. Here is a toolkit I assembled that is filled with tools I frequently use for designing flexible student-driven learning experiences. Starting with a good toolkit is essential."

Source: From d97cooltools.blogspot.com                                        

Who Should Be The First Person on Your Common Core Dream Team? Your Librarian

In a March 30, 2012 School Library Journal article titled Aboard!: Implementing Common Core offers school librarians an opportunity to take the lead, Rebecca Hill wrote these words:

  "OK, so school librarians weren’t invited to the party. When members of the National Educational Association, the National Council for Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, and the American Federation of Teachers met in 2010 to draft new benchmarks for language arts and literacy for our nation’s K–12 schools—the Common Core Curriculum State Standards (www.corestandards.org)—there weren’t any media specialists at the table. Even though school librarians have been longtime champions of information literacy, reading, and critical thinking—all prime pieces of Common Core—we weren’t asked for our input. And two years later, things still aren’t looking up for many of us."
 

  It is a constant battle proving to the public the true value of a librarian. It is one of few educational positions that must prove its "worth," especially in this Digital Age. Nevertheless, the Common Core Standards provide a great opportunity to show that librarians are more than capable as teachers and leaders by assisting with the implementation of these standards and being an integral component in increasing students' literacy.


Essentially, librarians are experts in information literacy. The Standards of the 21st Century Learner published by the American Association of School Librarians has been guiding librarians and the library program for many years which places major emphasis on critical thinking skills, reading, collaboration, technology integration, and literacy skills via multiple sources, Now with the combining of the Standards of the 21st Century Learner and Common Core State Standards (Crosswalk), librarians are in an even better position to help teachers implement an inquiry-based-cross curriculum-higher-order thinking skills curriculum. So, there is no question that a librarian should be on any school's Common Core Dream Team. Librarians are ready! Are you?

Credits: Crosswalk graphic (ala.org); Librarians graphic (pnla.memberclicks.net)