Hello everyone and welcome to today's webinar
personalizing learning through digital
reading platforms brought to you
by School Library Journal and
sponsored by overdrive education.
My name is Rebecca Joswick and
I will be your moderate are
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And I'm pleased to welcome our speakers.
Today we have K Capital Benning,
director of library services for the
Elmbrook School District and Edwin
Tucker account manager at overdrive
education and without any further ado,
I'd like to pass the floor over to K.
Thank you so much for Becca.
I have the privilege to serve as
director of library services for
Elmbrook schools and the pleasure
to tell our our overtime story.
Anne are literacy journey and it's
representative of of the work of
many people in the district and the
hard work of our library Department
so figure leaders remind us often
that literacy is our Top priority.
And this is every librarian
stream work environment.
We are passionate about researching
and advocating for young readers.
So bottom line literacy is important so
little bit about background of our district.
We have 7000 students,
515 teachers.
We are in southeastern Wisconsin suburb of
the Milwaukee area and we have very high.
Expectations in our community our
parents place a high value on education
are very involved in supportive.
We've been fortunate to be a
tough to your district with AC
T composite consistently placing
our high schools among the Top 5
in this state and year over year.
We've seen AC T scores increase so we
just want to keep that trend rolling.
So how do we do that?
We we have challenges opportunities
for improvement to be sure,
and one of the things we saw
in our learners is while they
were very compliant learners,
not always engaged and so we
wanted to see how we could take
them to be more engaged active
learners and the way we tackle
this with through the four seas.
So creativity collaboration
communication and critical thinking
and we did this through a personalized
learning approach and so you know,
personalized learning.
We still of course have our
framework in our standards to
address is I think a misconception
of personalized learning is that as
a free for all that is not the case,
we of course have more student
voice and choice in their learning.
And that is one of the vehicles of course,
that keeps them engaged with
all of us and learning.
So this graphic gives you a little bit of a
picture of our personalized learning journey.
In.
So we took a really good look at
our our learners and one of the
ways that we wanted to engage them,
then was through through digital
learning and in.
So 2013 we began by implementing
readers and Writers Workshop developed
by Columbia Teachers College.
We had 20. Trailblazing edukators
ranging from 2nd grade to AP English,
who took on the challenge of
rethinking their instructional delivery
models and then so from there.
We continue to scale out
personalized learning.
We put out an all call for personalized
learning action plans and we selected
35 additional teachers interested in
transforming instructional practices.
They were supported by the canvas
learning management system and
Chrome books and then if we further
scaled out to 400 classrooms.
We implemented overdrive
districtwide in 2015.
Sixteen and we continue to build and are
now one to one in grades two through
12 and R overdrive implementation has
expanded overdrive resources down now.
Part of both are reading and social
studies curriculum in grades K through 8.
So we feel 2 Keys,
who are successful integration
of overdrive with scaling and
implementing this service because it
supported our goals of personalized
are learning and increase student
engagement and you can see in 20.
Eighteen 2019,
then we moved to focus on re
designing our large group spaces.
We've brought in data driven you know,
we look at the data.
One of the ways that we have one of
the tools that we have learned to
leverage to help us with our data data.
Analytics that measures movement through
our large group and specifically
our library environments so.
That is that is proven Top full
and that was new this past year.
And so will look at expanding that
tool this year disclosure as well.
And so one of the models that we
go back to for scaling innovation
is this curve used in the industry
and we We feel we're probably the
expansion part of the program.
We want to keep expanding and the
risk is you know to say OK.
We're really doing well,
we're in a comfortable spot and
then sliding back.
So we want to keep looking at how can
we take our digital tools and keep
expanding and increasing student engagement?
So these are the ways that we are
working to continue expanding the
strengthening our assessment practices
again custom redesign and we moved
again this past school year to the
large group learning spaces in our
libraries and we've seen great success.
When we rethink our learning spaces
just if it's like a magnet for a
learners are attracted to to our spaces.
We also have used.
Career, based design,
we have a launch cohort in the
district and we engage launch
students into analyzing risk.
Analytics data,
and helping us drive decisions
in our library,
so one of the things one of the
connections with overdrive is they
recommended a new location for
overdrive media station that really.
Can students attention when they
walk through the library door
and we believe that that some
also helps with increasing the
visibility of the overdrive tool.
How did we land on the selection of
over drivers are ebook and audiobook
provider so our library services
team began the ebook and audiobook
discussion back in January 2009.
We realize them. It was a tool.
We wanted to leverage to enhance the
educational experience of our students,
but one challenge.
We had was reaching consensus on the
approach each level high school wanted
to go in One Direction Middle School in
another in the elementary in its 3rd so.
We all dug in our heels with the
vendor we thought would work best.
In 2011, we were given the green
light to pursue the 3 different paths
unable to come to a consensus and
even though this was time consuming
for our text services Department
to support things that you know,
let's give it a go,
and see which platform works,
the best the middle schools
implemented overdrive.
In December of 2012 and we were
pleased to learn it would sync with
our Active Directory user names and
passwords would be updated seamlessly.
Overdrive with the leader in the
industry dominating the Public Library
market and we have a very strong
partnership with our public libraries.
We could see strong Public
Library overdrive stats.
It appeared to be the most technologically
stable platform and that proved out
overtime has the largest selection
of materials available for purchase.
So the middle schools,
assistant was to go with overdriving
it paid off.
This expense of the overdrive platform
spoke for itself through our customer
feedback and circulation step.
Inventory consultant shared with
me that very effective,
and efficient to deploy centrali and
that also has proven out overtime.
We really love being able to.
Have a district collection,
particularly with our professional
development materials and to be
able to use those books that we
purchased easily between our schools.
Having overdrive allows us to service
the same number of patrons with a
significantly smaller inventory.
Investment in response to our
strong overdrive data.
We scaled to districtwide implementation
in follow 2015 and along with
our other personalized learning
strategies are over drive collection
continues to grow as we work to
meet the needs of learners in a
timely and cost effective manner.
How do we you know we we looked at when
we implement it all the different entry
points language arts is national fit.
Of course, ELLR English learners really
teachers really use this well and they
say you know they will call and so you
have a student coming from Japan do
you have Japanese Reasor's appropriate
for a 3rd grader and I will call?
Edwin our partner services Rep and say
what we what do we have and we can
have materials for that student on our
site within 2 hours and be ready for
that student then the very next day so.
The El Connection has been very
strong professional resources again
of our senior leaders are building
administrators use this very affectively
and we have Jimmy Cass is coming to
give our school kick-off tomorrow
and he has a book cultural eyes.
And so we are able to put that on our
platform and sorry faculty members
will have access to that right away.
They hear his message,
then they can go in and listen to the
audio book on their way home from the
kick-off so the parent community is well.
We have intergenerational book
clubs and we we can use overdrive to
meet the demands for the materials
in our parent community.
The Public Library collaboration again like,
I mentioned earlier is very strong in here,
you can see one of our Public Library
and addressing the classroom of students
and so we lead lead with overdrive.
You have the ebook and audiobook
version here.
We have a limited number of print
copies of the book that still
book talk in the libraries.
Both students have that book available
in 3 different formats and you know,
we say it.
Not about the book,
it's about reading so you know,
however you the learner find it
works best we will have that format
available to you and overdrive allows
love to meet the personalized learning
needs of the students and have the
formats that they need available
allows us to be very responsive.
So how can we strengthen our
approach again we keep that up
curve in mind and how can we be
sure that we are continuing on the
expensive part of the curve and not
fighting back so anticipate demand.
One of the ways that we can do this
and we have monthly meetings with
our overdrive reps and last month.
We talked about how we can write
better rules for holes manager.
So when students hold the book.
Once there are 3 holds for example.
The book can be automatically purchased
and added to our collections very
seamless and makes it very easy to.
To stay on Top of of the demand,
so that's that's one thing that I
will continuing to look at what are
the rules can be put in place that
will allow us to be more responsive
to the needs of our learners.
And also customized data,
which there's the slide coming
up with an example of some of the
data that we use on a monthly
basis to determine how again we can
better meet them usable earners.
K so here is our content wheel and
we have community engagements.
We've we've leveraged.
We have quite a need in the community
or a desire for the overdrive platform
and that we work well with our
community professional development.
We've talked about how we use.
Or professional development
materials and can share them across
the district instructional.
We are embedded again K through 8.
Social studies and reading and
pleasure reading of course.
We we know that will build a more
empathetic knowledgeable citizenry the
better that we can engage all learners
with pleasure reading and so you know,
we can be responsive to their needs.
Through holes and then through you know,
we have students email ass and the library
assistance in the buildings and say you know,
I need.
We need we want this book right now
and we can be really responsive.
Local content is an opportunity for us to
grow and we really like what we've seen.
We've we've experimented with the
students get very excited about being
able to publish their own work,
and have it on our overdrive site.
We this is an opportunity for us
to grow as well as or resources,
so that would be another area where we
can leverage and continue on that S curve.
OK so customers reporting the mentioned.
And this is an example, so March you
can see the district with 7000 students.
We had 8309 checkouts over
the course of that month,
and the reporting allows us to
show them how many books were
checked out in each building.
It gives us the year over year growth.
And how many E books and audio books
were purchased within that month to
support learners needs so again this
is you know really powerful to see.
We have some schools.
I'm that are middle schools in particular
are leading the district right now
and maybe it's because that is where
we started with our implementation.
But we continue to look at what
strategies are middle schools are
using to to increase circulation.
And we want to leverage those
strategies that our elementary
and high schools as well.
1 roster is another tool that has been
useful for staff in the district that.
We've implemented through overdrive,
so you can assign titles in the platform and.
Teachers can automatically
see their class list.
It thanks again with our Active Directory.
Infinite campus data.
So we're not having to
enter that data separately.
It makes it very manageable for
classroom teachers and again that child
can be assigned to specific students.
Community engagement,
some specifically on Facebook stand for
family and community engagement in Elmbrook.
So we'll have a monthly reads Vizier.
We are working with three other
neighboring districts and we are
doing we are working with the book.
Born a crime by Trevor Noah and
so overdrive has been very key in
helping us to meet the demand for
the books so we'll talk it up and.
And we have a grantor we can
purchase a certain amount of print
books for the community and then.
We have a lot of demand,
then for our audio book format,
particularly and we can meet
that demand another way.
That's we engage the communities
through author visits were
fortunate to have bubble books,
which is indeed bookseller in
our community and we work with
them to bring in authors through.
The publishers and then they will
engage with our students and there
is also a connection with our school
board in the community there and
again able to meet the demand.
You know,
there's a high demand for the author
books when before and after the visit.
Of course,
and so we're able to meet the demand
of our learners through overdrive
and finally our Superintendent
is huge reader and.
He has his his reading list and
we we post that on our site and
his books done are featured on
their overdrive platform.
And finally we're pleased to have
Mark Records integration with
our on line catalog and that to
increases the visibility of the
physical content that we have
available for our learners so.
It's been valuable as well.
He now like to turn it into a very
valuable member of our allenbrook library.
Family and that is Edwin Tucker
and he's going to show you sora
and tell you much more about what
overdrive can offer learners.
Thank you Katie and I have
to say it's a real pleasure.
Working with an educator so dedicated and
so engaged with literacy at Addenbrooke,
there, so I believe seeing.
Albert is made an entirely successful
transition to digital learning after
a careful evaluation period and.
I want to devote the next couple minutes
here to some slides for those districts,
still on the fence about digital or still
let's say struggling to find a build
consensus regarding a digital platform.
So here To that end of some statistics
from a recent McGraw Hill Education
survey about trends in digital study
habits among college students.
And so from the standpoint of making the
case for digital to your administrators.
Your fellow educators order parents.
This is I think really useful data.
The results point to how highly students
value digital learning technology.
As critical to success in their current
studies and to their careers after school.
And again here's more data from the same
survey digital learning excited here
as key to retaining new information.
New concepts and then from the
other classroom perspective,
that of Teachers.
We find that PDF survey,
81% of teachers believe that
the use of digital in the
classroom enhances learning.
We believe there's really no easier path
to implementing digital at a district
or school then to start with reading.
Because reading truly is
such a fundamental skill.
It is also in those cases, not a new skill.
But one that students have already
learned and accessing reading
material with digital content.
On already familiar devices.
Let's say sit news granulated
an even easier transition.
And In addition to the last point
here about personalized learning.
And Uhm.
I want you to read that but then
also I'll point out that the
students reading experience.
Is further personalized with
a number of settings?
In our new apps or our new education app
called Saurus or a which I'll demo here.
I'm just learning.
And so that Segue I'm going to.
Share my screen. For this demo.
Bear with me.
I'm just gonna wait a moment.
For that screen to pop up.
OK. Hold the Sora app.
It's an app and a browser version.
It's available in the Apple App Store
and the Google play store but it's also
available as a URL browser based version.
What the students see 1st in this screen
is of course our friend little icon?
And they are prompted them
to search for their school.
And they can do this in a number of ways.
We have setup codes that will take them
directly to their school or they can just
search using sort of GPS system here.
But once they've located there school.
They then sign in using their credentials.
And. They're into Sora.
And they will see a number of
tabs here at the bottom of.
Of the screen of the other device.
And this is how they'll
navigate around in Sora.
We've landed on the home screen.
I'm going to come back to that in just
a moment but what I'd like to do.
Is to move to the Explorer screen?
This is the the way students will discover?
Content in their overdrive.
Other two sora in their overdrive platform.
And you'll notice that from collections of
the titles owned in this case by this school.
Oh here and missing something more
control over and then scroll little.
Slowly down here to Siri
collection page to screen.
Do you 2019 theater use media world?
And so forth.
So number of ways to make interface
attractive and engaging for students.
And uh.
Borrowing a title is just a one
click process so we locate something
we're interested in and it's just.
One click. Tomorrow that title.
And I can open and is ready to be.
And also point out that.
On this summary list title summary page.
Our developers have enabled deep linking
meaning that with this URL at the Top.
This particular page can be
shared to a website of the school
library page or a Google file.
Google Classroom and will link a
student directly to this title and that
can be done with any of our titles.
Return to the Explorer tab.
And uh you know,
I'm not seeing exactly what I
want to check out of course I
can do a simple search.
Her and I can also do a more
advanced search and really drill
down into a lot of details here
if I'm looking for particular.
8 off level. Or I just been interested
in books that are available.
We need to check out.
All sorts of different ways, I can.
Search I'm just going to type in.
I'm looking for book thief.
And right away, I get.
A couple of results here returns me
the audio book little icon there
informs me that's an audio book.
And then of course, the ebook,
which I'm now going to open.
And. I can page along.
This is pretty intuitive for
those have used E books. Oh.
And they can swipe on the screen,
but also I can just.
Access the chapters this way if I just want
to jump straight ahead into this title.
And on this great chapter one.
Am I converge along here
now I want to show you.
Something about I mentioned
personal ization here.
And within the reading settings.
There are many ways to for the student
to personalize their experience.
Then it will these are all sticky features,
meaning that they'll apply to
all of the students title so of
course I can change the font size.
I can. Change the background.
I'd like to read at night for instance.
You are a number of different font styles
that I can choose from your Phone.
And it didn't change in that up
and then also I want to show
you a very special font here,
the open dyslexic font.
So you'll notice that the letters are
spaced a little wider there waited here
at the bottom this has been shown to.
In students with dyslexia.
And that again once it's set it would
apply to all the students titles,
so just going to return quickly to the.
Publishers default.
The shift by way of personalizing
reading experience for this student.
2 there are ways to.
Look up words that I'm not
entirely certain about so let's say
Torrent is causing me a little.
I'm not entirely sure what that word
means I can hold highlight that word.
Immediately get a definition within sora.
And also linked to a number
of other items here.
In the same token. I can.
Picture here. And let's say I see
something but I'm not at all certain does
because it's in a different language.
Highlight this and with the same tool,
but find tool now not getting a definition,
but I am getting a link to Google translate.
So I click that and taken immediately
out to Google translate. And.
One of several I should say
integration in a Google integrations
that we have that in Sarah.
And I can see that the language of
origin is detected it's German.
I do get a translation,
which is nice and uh if I'm curious.
I can hear it.
Pronounced I'm not sure that's really
coming through there, but trust me.
It's a It's a really handy tool.
I'm going to return to the title itself.
And uh.
I've taken a note here,
I'll just show you real quickly
how that's done as well.
So I can annotate within the title.
And it's the same hold highlight and now I'm
going to drag the highlight over this entire.
Text.
Indicate that I want to make
a note and I could color code.
These I have a certain course.
I've already done a highlight so
this is just showing the green,
but there are 3 different colors,
I can use to.
Color code do you then I can?
Make a note for myself if I could spell see.
And that's a no kids taken I can
refer back to it here. I can also.
Check all of the notes I've taken
within this text. And I'm going
to exit out of this title for now.
In return to the home tab where we started.
'Cause I don't want to
show you something about.
And then also explain the home tab. Titles.
But you'll also see that assignments
are listed here on the home tab now.
These are assignments that are made in
the administrative back end of overdrive.
We call it marketplace.
Teachers can go into marketplace and
assign titles directly to students.
They can be assigned for up to 6 months,
so they can supersede any lending and
restrictions that you ordinarily have.
And they will appear here on the
day that the sun goes live. Again,
those are the pleasure reading loans there.
And then you'll see.
Here are the recently defined words
to 2:00 that I just looked up.
Give me a listing of those.
Ones that I've done recently I
can see all of them if I like.
As I Scroll down you'll also see
all the annotations that I've taken.
And uh.
This button will allow me then
to view all of those.
Highlights notes and highlights of made.
And I can aggregate those as I see shit.
There's the color coding.
I wanted to do that.
But here's a really exciting
Google integration in Sora as
well this share button.
Malau me, too, then.
Share these notes out as a PDF
in the CSV I can copy them.
To clipboard or I can just send
them directly to Google Drive.
So very handy tool there and one that
can become on instant assignment.
For instance,
you know.
Find instances of this in the
text and send me your notes and
highlights that sort of thing.
So that's the home tab.
We've gone over the Explorer tab.
I'm just going to transition
now real quickly to this 3rd
tab along which is the shelf.
Then, as you would expect it's a you know,
an aggregate of everything that
I've asked the students have
checked out to this point gives me
an idea when these titles are do.
Into this little green circle with
the check mark is very important,
it means that these titles have been
downloaded for offline use so of course.
We're using Wi-Fi and the titles
are checked out using the Wi-Fi and
across the download immediately.
But now if I home and I don't have wife.
I still have access to these works
and it's also audio books as well so.
The reading and the learning
never have to stop.
Also I can see, he holds I placed.
And lift that I've compiled wish
lists and keeping track of putting
more conditions have forced.
I'm just going to move to this last tab tab.
And now I do,
find out a few things about me the student.
There are some achievements
that I can earn in Sora.
20 achievements in there, basically away too.
Kick off that you've learned
everything and sorrow from A-Z.
So when I opened sore for the first
time I earned the Blastoff achievement.
And so forth that it goes on and you finish
3 books and I'm not going to the icons.
Of course, a little fun here that
can be changed and searched up.
But really importantly, the data points
here in the center of the screen.
You'll see. Books I've opened the
total time I spent reading average
time I've spent procession for book.
My current streak and so forth so
very important on a data point for
this particular student. And uh.
Also, exciting in this Maine.
Menu here for Sora.
A way to of course I can change
language settings now. Dumb.
If English is not my native language, I can.
View Sora.
Spanish so I don't.
Tell me about Change that back.
Do you want to pull up this menu because
there's an option to add a Public Library?
So I can.
I'm going to say,
Cayahoga because we are question.
NE pile and here I can find
my local Public Library.
And now I can access those titles as well.
And, of course, if I have a library card.
Tyler County Public Library I can.
Check out the book.
It's going to then part Maine.
To input my credentials,
there, of the Public Library,
so additional resources
available through sorrow.
No additional cost.
And a very valuable. Uh.
Additional material here and I
can toggle back and forth between
my library and I can also search.
All of the libraries at the same time so. No.
You're trying to make that is easy, and his.
Seamless as possible.
Not in a nutshell is Sora I'm going to.
Just pop back to the.
The 5:00 deck now.
Will just take a moment to not come back up?
And. Think that's Come Back up.
And Additionally at overdrive.
Our marketing team.
Routinely partners with our staff
librarians and we have a whole collection
of Staff Librarian Tear at overdrive
to create curated title lists and
marketing tips for your collection.
In this case as you see here a curated
list the titles on tough topics for teens.
With print and digital materials
to get the word out students
that this collection exists.
Um that's important in this regard to.
Because uh?
With the relative anonymity of dental
students can access this material
without the fear of being stigmatized.
You know they don't have to.
Bariatrics connected. OK.
Additionally, we have a Resource Center,
which features a whole host of valuable
information and materials from.
Don't very good Flyers to digital
graphics to help mark the collection.
Curated lists like that,
she saw and business Saturday constantly
updated in located based on current trends,
etc.
And Resource Center also includes
short how to videos.
That have been created by our training team.
On a whole host of topics ranging
from how to get started using sora.
Videos on all of the various
features of the marketplace,
which as I mentioned was are.
With our back end administrative portal.
Uh and there in marketplaces where
an administrator could find usage
reports of course, are those.
Title assignments can be made,
and of course,
where digital content can be
browsed foreign purchased and
added to the collection.
So I did want to point that out.
And uh. Above all,
we just have to stay connected happy too.
To talk to you by Phone, email,
but you've got all sorts of different
ways to contact his blog Facebook,
Twitter, of course, and so forth.
Um and dumb.
We hope this has been helpful and
look forward to meeting you and
Speaking of you soon and I think.
Even questions. Excellent
thanks so much I'd wanna and thank you.
Kay OK, I do have a question for you.
Before I ask it.
I will remind our attendees that if
you have any questions for either K
or Edwin about case implementation or
for a please go ahead and submit them.
We still have several several
minutes before we have to go today,
so send those in through the
QA window anytime. OK.
Here's one for you from
Northwestern Lee High.
My principle recently mentioned remodeling
my Ms library to incorporate an LGI space?
How did you go about doing that
and would you mind sharing your
experience benefits challenges with
having that space in the library?
Absolutely would love love
to share them story. We have,
we started again with our middle schools.
We have the greatest need there and
we We have focus groups where we got
we receive student feedback watch.
They felt would best meet their needs.
We had a stamp focus group as well at
each school and then we took our list
of needs what we wanted to accomplish
within the space and we presented to
our teaching and Learning Committee
and said here here's what we would.
Like to improve and you know,
we wanted the spaces to reflect our
priority on collaborative learning
and so while we had great tables
where from 1970s and solid Oak and
there's nothing wrong with them.
Other than you can't really move
them to collaborate and we explain
what we were trying to Accomplished,
who are teaching and learning the
committee and they supported going
then to an architect and getting
their inputs on what would be a
good plan for moving forward,
then we had plans.
We bought the PTO on board and as far
as with fund raising efforts and then
we went to the school board to see
what kind of support, we could get.
For funding and after going through
that process happy to report we
have 2 very beautiful.
New learning spaces.
New library learning spaces and
the the usage have skyrocketed
students are voting with their feet.
We know that they very much appreciate
the investment that we put into the
learning environment and we were able
to get solid support for it because.
All students and staff benefit from
those spaces and the board has also
asked that we continue to monitor
statistics and to do whatever we
can just show that it is really.
Assisting learners with their growth and
so we report back to them and we have,
then had continued support to remodel
elementary spaces and our high schools
are beginning very design process this fall.
So, yes,
it's been very good and that was
maybe in a long answer,
but I'm happy to share you know,
we have a whole step by step process that
we've designed and spelled out and I'm
really happy to share that and clever.
Are there things that you're doing
that we would we would learn from and
as they say you know the smartest
person in the room is the room.
So you know,
we'd love to collaborate and please reach
out and further describe our process.
Fantastic and that was not
at all too long of an answer.
Thanks so much for all the details and it
just kind of made me think of something
you said during the presentation.
I'm going to bounce back to the slide.
You mentioned that middle school
readership seems to be the highest
and that you were looking into some
statistical reasons why that might be.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who's curious
if if you have found anything out about
what causes maybe the drop off which I.
I think it's kind of a national
thing once kids had high school,
but do you have any insights on that yet?
We
we have. Really great.
Marketers promoters of digital
platform at her middle school,
so that we know factors in and the whole
space redesign the library usage in general.
You know reading Spurs reading when we've
invested in this space and believe that
has something to do with it as well.
The high schools is our next oppurtunity.
We know aided so important to encourage
pleasure reading in the high schools.
You know they have different
set of challenges there,
so that is a definite focus for us
breeding encourage social emotional growth.
We see it real need for that and it is
a part of our district strategy map
social social and emotional learning
something that we really want to get after
we've implemented different strategies,
and we really want to do
a better job leveraging.
The promotion of free reading at
our high schools and an increase
that we see it's indeed.
So we're going to we're going to need to.
Just change up the way we've we're
doing things with the way we're
operating in the high school.
So to make sure that it is embedded
in part of every student's Day.
Maybe if somebody in the audience
has something that they've done.
2.
To address adjust the need them up
to hear about that to get over that
hurt alright. Yeah,
if anybody made audience has any ideas
that have worked or any successes
as your high school or secondary
schools send those in through the Q&A.
Be fun to see yes? Absolutely.
And then I actually kind of had
a question about this myself.
So I got back to the slide,
but Nancy from.
I'm hope I'm saying it right chattel.
It's secondary is asking if you
could talk a little bit more
about the local publishing option
that you mentioned on the slide.
I specifically was wondering if
their editing process for student
content an and how do you go about
submissions for that an promoting that?
Again, we, we that's an opportune
iti a tool that we want to use that
are the local content that we have
published we've read everything before
we put it out there and if we were
going to do it more large scale the.
Practice is right now, so we,
we want to read everything.
Of course before it gets published.
But at one, maybe you can speak
to how other schools are districts
have tackled that successfully.
And leverage local kind of.
Absolutely yeah,
the beauty of it is that any.
Work that is not copyrighted of course,
that you have the?
Own the Copyright 2:00 or a student work.
Even some teacher guide books
and so forth have been uploaded
into local content and an added
to the collection directly.
It can be highlighted then you know
in a collection of its own or can be
shared out across the district in
the case of a guidebook for instance,
so really nice way to upload this
material that you know that's not
Copyright protected and that you
have access to and immediately
turned it into an E pub and also
there's the ability to do this
with audio as well so audio books.
So nice a nice tool and a nice way
to NK was saying earlier to leverage
the work being done there and show
it in such a wonderful spotlight.
How
neat that's great?
And then Edward while I have you.
I do have a question for you.
Another one from Northwestern.
Lee high and K.
You might have to wake up in on this too,
but would you recommend for a or
overdrive for middle school? Purple.
OK, I'll go ahead and start
without 1 right now and I didn't
mention this previously overdrive.
Is there is an overdrive app and it is our.
What we're referring to is the
classic overdrive it it's the?
The experience that students were
utilizing up until you know summer of
last year when we Unveiled Thora Thora,
we feel like is a much better much
easier app to use that we think
the user experience is is nicer.
It's more intuitive and just
from the graphic POV just.
You know it's just easier 2
years we feel like that, said.
The classic overdrive app is
not going away anytime soon,
where you know at some point,
it would be sunsetted so to speak,
but we're not anywhere near that.
All that said Sora is where we're
putting all of our resources.
All of our attention and that
would be the way to go not least.
Because of the Public Library,
sharing option there and and all
of the curricular aspects like the
title assignments and so forth in the
exporting of notes and highlights.
Him and I would second Edwin's
recommendation sora would be the way to go.
We find it is definitely more
intuitive so Thor is what we're
we're pushing forward to students.
But it does appear to be from the
demo seeing it, especially very
appropriate forward you know,
maybe in Upper Elementary Middle School.
That type of audience.
OK, OK, I'm going to bring
you back to this bar charts.
I do have a follow-up question from Lenny.
Have a question about the
data about the middle school.
You mentioned that there
were about 7000 checkouts.
Did you collect data for each student
and also to piggyback on that
that all students check out their
books through overdrive or sora.
It. Calculates both overdrive in
stored together, the majority
were checked out through Sora.
Yes, that is the data for each students
and Edwin shares monthly data with us
and then we go ahead and we look at
that our monthly Department meetings.
Again see what we can learn from each other.
And when did you want to add
anything to data reporting?
And I hope that answers your money.
I think
I mean that's exactly right.
I think I would also point out that you know,
we are very careful with.
Making sure that student information is
secure through overdrive marketplace.
We actually don't see any
names of students or any data.
All we're seeing our student ID's and
that's only if the school has decided that
they'd like to see those in the report.
So you know first and foremost were all
about keeping student information secure.
Yes, absolutely it's just numbers. Yeah,
right right in that technology has
come a long way hasn't it and here's
another kind of clarifying data point
and I think I may know the answer.
But Edward I'll go ahead and ask you anyway.
Is there ever a problem with students
pleasing holds at both the school
and Public Library level since they,
I guess have the ability to
log in from either location.
Right once a student has placed a hold
on a particular title. Um Sora is.
This is indicating that that title
already has hold so In other words,
what I'm saying is that there
would be no additional hold then
at the at the other location.
Whether it needs a school
of the Public Library.
So it would serve would recognize
there's a hold of this title.
The whole could be cancelled and then
I suppose if there was a shorter
wait time say at the Public Library,
the student could then through that
portal could then place that hold that.
I hope that answers that question
wouldn't get duplicated for example,
I wouldn't know right OK.
Yeah, OK and we do have
just a couple more minutes.
Going to ask a quick.
Question myself. I know I
I go to the swim.
But you know the I think as we've
seen as the age of Internet and
devices has grown up kids are
starting to play if not educate
themselves on devices younger and
younger and you mentioned that.
You know if it's of course,
when I get to the college level.
They have been using them for learning.
But for the younger kids who may be
earliest screen time was spent playing?
What do you think is best for the
transition to get kids to understand
that devices aren't just for
playing but they are for education,
especially as far as reading
is concerned this is my own
question totally just curious.
Well, you know balance
is key but I think the sooner that
they understand that is really a
learning tool and learning can be fun,
the better, so we want them to.
See that right away so we have.
Are kindergartners using the read
along titles with their teachers
and even in the primary grades.
We've had many staff members circle back
and say you know for this student when
they're in a reading Group Reading Club
in their classroom and they maybe want
to be in a group that has a book that
slightly above their reading level.
Another able to access it through
the audio format or you know
through the dyslexic font.
So it's about access and meeting the
needs of that students and the earlier.
We have, we teach them that that is a tool
that will give them that access the better.
Edwin to give no absolutely and
Accessibility, K as you say is, is key and.
You know it's it's making this
sort of material available.
You know of course,
as you mentioned balance is key but you know.
Learning can continue outside
of the classroom of course,
you you know the classroom is where.
We see this emphasized where the
you know the tools come into play.
But then you know,
I think the transition to
outside of the classroom is key.
It frees up time for more
teaching during the school hours.
It you know,
there's an indication that that
devices aren't just for for fun and
games that you can also learn and as
you mentioned to learning can be fun.
So yeah, absolutely agree with you.
Yes,
it should be fun. Instead,
they, I think we all
agree. Maybe not so much.
The 5 year old, sometimes,
but thank you for your insight
on that I I look forward to.
2 devices an on line learning
becoming more and more prevalent and.
With your final thoughts there,
we have gone through the hour,
so I'd like to thank you.
Both Edwin NK for the fantastic information.
You shared with everybody
today and of course things.
Everyone who attended this webcast
like all others will be archived
and available in about 24 hours.
You should be receiving an
email and you can find this one.
And all other archived an
upcoming web casts and the events
in PD section at slj.com.
Thanks again everyone and I
hope to see you next time.
Thank you Rebecca, thank you.