Videos and QR Codes in the Library

There are some clever ways to share information these days.  Videos are a creative, engaging, and effective way to share information.  Once you’ve made your awesome video, how do you reach your audience?  QR codes.  QR codes can directly link your audience to the video.  With the right tools, videos and QR codes are surprisingly easy to make.

This blog post documents my journey of making my first video and QR code.  It’s a beginner’s guide. Here is how I did it.

My first step. Do some research. What kinds of videos do librarian make?  What are they about? I went to YouTube to find out. 

I reviewed the following YouTube channels and identified one video that would be most helpful to students and one video that students may like best.  The number of views is a good indication of a video’s popularity or the viewers interest in the video.  First, I sorted the channel’s videos by most popular.  Then, I reviewed the video’s content, date posted, and number of views.  For each channel I selected one video I thought student might find most helpful and one video students might like best. Here is what I found.

Norman High School Library YouTube Channel

Most Helpful

In this video Mrs. Gilstrap explains how to access and use EBSCOhost for research. This video is the second most watched video on the channel.  I imagine the librarian created this video to address a commonly asked question.  The librarian can refer her students to this video for help.  Then they can access the video from home or school and review the video if needed.  This is a handy tool for the librarian and the students.

Like Best 

In this fun video the Norman High School mascot, Norman Tiger, visits the library and demonstrates how to use the library.  This is the most viewed video on the channel.  It’s a fun video that students most likely enjoy watching.

The Unquiet Library YouTube Channel

Most Helpful 

This popular video explains how to email a glog.  This video may have been created as a resource for a student project.  

 

Liked Best

This video shows the students working in the library while four classes visit the library at once.  The library is a flurry of students working independently, in small groups, and whole groups simultaneously.  I certainly liked this video best.  I love the surprised look on the students faces when the librarian catches them on camera hard at work.  This video demonstrates how busy this library gets, active student learning, and good utilization of the space.  This library is the heart of the school.

 

Pikesville High School Library YouTube Channel

Most helpful

This is an informative video about the Pikesville High School’s AP World History. This is another example of how videos can be used to share information.

 

Like best

This video about binder organization was created by the Pikesville senior AVID students.  It has 8,000 views, which is far more than the average for this channel.  It has likely been viewed by many people other than the Pikesville students.  Nevertheless, I believe it would be liked by the students. Videos can be used by students to demonstrate their learning.

Bonnie Branch Middle School Media YouTube Channel

Most helpful

This video explains to students how to create an annotated works cited list for their National History Day project. 

 

Liked best

This was a tough choice because there are many entertaining parody videos to choose from.  This video about Taylor Swift breaking up with her boyfriends because of overdue books is hilariously clever.  When you want to command an audience, use comedy.

These videos give some ideas of to how libraries and schools use videos to share information.

How can you use videos in the library? Here are a few ideas.

• Beginning/end of the year message to the school
• Answer frequently asked questions
• Promote upcoming events
• Feature student projects
• Record and post lessons for students to watch when needed

My goal was to create a video and link it with a QR Code.  I created a book trailer for a book I read recently, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.  Here is a synopsis of the book taken from the Little, Brown for Young Readers website.

The Wild Robot

by: Peter Brown

“Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is–but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home–until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.” (Little, Brown for Young Readers, n.d.).

I created The Wild Robot book trailer using a free educator account from Animoto.  Click here to view the website.   I started by creating a rough outline of what I wanted my book trailer to look like.  Then I created a basic video.  There are way more features available using Animoto.  I’m going to stick to the basics.  This is what I did.

1. Click “start from scratch”

2. Click “add a block”

3. Select photo, text, or video

4. For each block add photos, videos, text, and/or voice

5. Choose background music for video

6. Apply any special features you prefer

7. Preview and review video

8. Edit and make any changes

9. Preview video again

10. If you are satisfied with the video, click “produce”

11. Save video file to desired location

Occasionally, I was not able to find a stock photo on Animoto that would work in my scene.  When that happened, I went to Unsplash.com to find copyright free photos.  Click here to view the website.  Between Animoto and Unsplash I was able to find all the photos I needed.

I uploaded the book trailer to my YouTube channel.  This provided me with the URL I needed to create a QR code.  Generating a QR code was the easiest part of the process.  I went to QR Code Monkey website.  Click here to view the website.  I didn’t even have to create an account!  I selected the type of QR code I wanted.  Then, I entered the information.  Next, I clicked “Create QR Code.”  Finally, I downloaded and saved the QR code.  Done. So easy. 

Here is my final product.  If you don’t already have one, download a QR code reader app to your device.  Open the app, point, and click.  The book trailer should pop right up.

How can you use QR Codes in the library?  Lamb suggests using QR codes for the following (Lamb, 2013):

• Promotional materials – link to websites, blogs, databases, resources, etc
• Presentation material – link to additional information for professional development, collaborative lessons, or information literacy lessons
• Tours –link to additional information for back to school nights or orientations
• Books- link to book trailer, author websites, etc.
• Frequently asked questions/directions – link to how-to videos or instructions
• Pathfinders - link to resources for projects
• Scavenger hunts – link to clues
• Student projects – link to student presentations

There are so many neat ways to use QR codes and videos. I hope this beginner’s guide helps you to create something special. 

-Borrow, Read, Repeat

Reference:

Brown, P. (2016). The wild robot. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Lamb, A. (2013, January). Scan me. Retrieved from http://eduscapes.com/sessions/qrcodes/

Little, Brown for Young Readers. (n.d.). The wild robot. Retrieved from https://www.lbyr.com/titles/peter-brown/the-wild-robot/9780316381994/  

Screencasts

A screencast is a tool that captures a video recording of the computer screen output with voice over narration by the user.  Educators can screencast lessons, how-to videos, instructions, answers to commonly asked questions, etc.  Screencasts are beneficial to educators and students because it provides a visual of the technology working in action while supported by voice instructions from the educator.    

So, how does it work?  What can I use?  How do I get started?

If you are a beginner, you are in the right place.  I too am a beginner.  I will share with you my first experience with screencasting.   There are many software options for screencasting, I chose to use Screencast-O-Matic and Snagit.  

I started with Screencast-O-Matic first.  I made the following screencast sharing information about Khan Academy website. 

Screencast-O-Matic was easy to get started with but you must download the software.  Using your web browser search for and locate Screencast-O-Matic.  Follow the steps to create a free user account.  Once you’ve created a free user account you can download the software to your computer. Then click the red launch free recorder button.  See screenshot below.

After following the prompts, this black recorder box will appear. 

Before starting the recorder select the area you want your viewers to see.   Then make the appropriate selections for your video.  Click the red Rec button to begin.  Look closely, I almost missed it.  It is inside small rectangular shape box located just above the black record menu box.

Screencast-O-Matic will countdown from three and then begin recording.  Once you have finished recording your screencast click the pause button and then the done button.  You can then choose to  save or share your video.  

Screencast-O-Matic was easy to use. I was able to screencast my video fairly quickly with minimal issues.  The free version limits recordings to 15 minutes.  You have basic editing tools that allow you to cut off the beginning and end of the videos.  A watermark logo will be visible in your video.  The Solo Deluxe plan is $1.50/month allows longer recordings, no watermark, and full video editing suite.  The Solo Premier plan is $4.00/month allows for advanced sharing and collaboration features and a secure backup for your videos. 

The free version of Screencast-O-Matic served my needs well, is easy to use, and I would recommend it.  

Using Snagit, I created the following screencast to show how to create a word cloud in Word.

Snagit is a product of Techsmith and requires you to download the software.  Search for Snagit in your web browser.  Then click the free trial button. See image below.

Select the appropriate download for your device and follow the prompts.

The following screenshot was annotated using Snagit.  I was able to insert the arrow and text to provide additional information on how to open the Snagit screen recorder.  This is a good editing feature offered by Snagit. 

Once you click on the Snagit icon this screen recorder window will open.

Make the appropriate selections for the type of screen recording you will do.  Click capture and select the area you wish your audience to view.  Click the red record button to start recording.  The software will countdown to let you know when the recording will begin.  Click the finished recording button when you are done recording.  Your screen recording will appear in an editing window.  You can put the finishing touches on the video before saving or sharing.  

The Snagit free trial lasts 15 days. I appreciated that Snagit did not require me to provide credit card information to start the free trial.  Sometime companies will automatically charge the credit card on file at the end of the trial period.  It’s nice to know at the end of the trial I can just walk away if I’m not interested in continuing to use Snagit.  After the trial is over, educators can buy Snagit software for 2 machines per user for $29.95.  

Snagit functions very similarly Screencast-O-Matic.  Snagit offers some nice editing features.  I was able to annotate a screen shot and cutout a small section from the middle of my video.  Of course these editing features are only free during the 15 day trial.  I’m sure Screencast-O-Matic offers similar editing features with the upgraded software.  

Screencast-O-Matic offers a low monthly fee to use its upgraded software.  This makes it affordable if you need access to more advanced features.  At $29.95 Snagit has a higher price point to upgrade, but you get unlimited access to the version you download.  You don’t have to pay for the software again until you wish to upgrade next. 

As far as features for price goes, Screencast-O-Matic meets my needs.   In the future, if I needed to screencast more often or need better editing and sharing features, I’d consider Snagit.  In the mean time Screencast-O-Matic work for me.