Explore Library STEM+

In 2024, I was introduced to the idea of using Virtual Reality (VR) for educational skills and professional development. This week, I'm revisiting the idea to evaluate and explore how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are changing education and workplace training, so I can take our libraries to the next stage. While many people think of VR as something connected only to gaming or entertainment, schools and companies are increasingly using immersive technology to help students build real-world work skills in safer, more engaging ways. Supporting Different Learning Needs Through VR      Shutterstock One example that stood out to me was how Louisiana State University is using VR to support students with ADHD. According to Government Technology , VR environments can reduce distractions and improve focus by creating controlled learning experiences. I found this especially interesting because it shows that immersive technology is not only about technical training....

  Source: The Children's Guild Working with my students, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much information my students take in every single day, and how little of it they actually stop to question such as privacy policies that are very long. Between social media, AI tools, and constant online access, students are bombarded by content. Access does not automatically mean understanding so digital literacy becomes essential. As an educator, I see social media literacy as more than just reading or viewing content. It is about helping students learn how to think, analyze, question, and verify the information they encounter. In Louisiana, where technology access continues to grow, a technology teacher’s responsibility is to make sure students are not just connected, but keenly aware. Without the knowledge base and skills, misinformation is easily accepted as truth. What do we do? One framework that really resonates with me is Renee Hobbs’ five competencies: access, analyze, evaluate, cr...

Source: magnific Creation In Louisiana, creating a guardian consent form for a library activity using technology like ChatGPT is necessary, and it requires careful alignment with emerging legislation, such as the provisions outlined in the Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 25:225 and federally existing student data privacy expectations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The laws emphasize parental consent, transparency, student protection, and control over AI interactions, all of which should be clearly reflected in the structure and language of the consent form. Source: magnific.com by kjpargeter Identify First, the consent form must clearly identify the technology being used. In the case of my sample, ChatGPT will be supplied on the form. The activity description should describe ChatGPT as an AI powered chatbot that generates responses based on user input for transparency. It is important for students to be informed when they are interacting with AI rather than a hu...

The debate around CIPA and COPPA is complicated, and it makes sense to feel “on the fence” as I often find myself. Both policies were created with good intentions, yet their real-world effects reveal tradeoffs between protection and access. The Children’s Internet Protection Ac t (CIPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) aim to safeguard minors online, but they do so in very different ways. CIPA focuses on requiring schools and libraries that receive federal funding to filter harmful content, while COPPA regulates how companies collect data from children under 13 years of ago. In theory, these laws create a safer digital environment, however, in practice they can sometimes overcorrect. Source: freepngimg.com Why 13? From a protection standpoint, these policies do provide a baseline for parents like myself with children 13 and under. Of course, I had to ask the question, " Why 13 ?" as my community is searching for a missing thirteen year old who is n...

Taking a step back to really look at my social media, one theme stands out immediately: positivity. My feed is filled with moments of joy. Photos of my children’s activities and awards, family pictures, snapshots of beautiful landscapes from traveling, the occasional silly wholesome memes, inspirational quotes, and even references to my faith. At first glance, it paints a picture of a life that is full, meaningful, and consistently uplifting. But when I think more deeply about it, I realize that while my posts are real, they are not my whole reality and this is by my design. A large portion of my content centers on my children's accomplishments, milestones, and everyday joys. Whether it’s posting about an award ceremony, a school event, sports, silly quotes, or a proud parenting moment, these posts reflect what matters most to me, which is my family. According to research like the   Pew Research   study on social media use, this is very common. People tend to share content th...

Algorithms, the social media's matchmakers curate our viewing. These sophisticated codes designed to use what we view and what we should view has evolved from providing suggestions to being an influencer. With millions of content sources flooding social media and in the before times, it was overwhelming to receive constant input. Insert the goldfish study on society's attention span. "A study from Microsoft Corp, people now generally lose concentration after eight seconds" included in this time article You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Goldfish if you are interested. To avoid losing people's attention and keep them engaged longer, social media started launching algorithms to act as librarians to sort and connect common users with their similarities. Of course, it wasn't for the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing they were making individuals happy. They do want positive user experience, but it is for profit! Algorithms help place marketing content at...

The Power of PLN The most important element of my Professional Learning Network (PLN) is the supportive network and the knowledge that I am not alone. In my tiny part of the world, I have found a community of educators and researchers eager to share their skills and inspiration. This subject has me reflecting back to my interview question for this career: "What unique gift, skill, or hobby do you have that can be shared with our patrons and staff?" It was a great question, and it has led to the PLN map below.  Building this PLN map, I reflected on whether these networks really supported the four growth elements of professional learning and determined that I had a rather healthy professional learning network. However, I found a gap in my PLN social media; the network flows in and out of in-person and online interactions. Most of these networks are heavily on the in-person side. Online and social media are reserved for follow-ups, meet-ups, and sharing documents. Most of my net...