Tag Archives: STEM

Gameschooling: Using Board Games in the Classroom – 1 LEU

gameboard with dice and plastic ducksBoard games are fun for children of all ages, but they are also promising tools for education. How can we best practically incorporate them into K-12 classrooms in order to optimize learning? As a former neurobiologist who transitioned to teaching, I have experimented for the past seven years with the integration of board games as educational tools. Here I will discuss best practices for using board games effectively to teach content knowledge, focusing primarily on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Topics covered will include gamer motivations, fun yet educational game mechanics, lesson plan structures, roles of educators in scaffolded learning, and common mistakes I have discovered in the “gameschooling” process. I will also show preliminary evidence that board games can effectively improve content knowledge. Overall, I hope to show how  popular modern board games could be utilized in educational arenas.

Date Recorded: 10/27/21

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters: Catherine Croft, Ph.D. / Co-Founder & CEO, Catlilli Games

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Making a Mini Makerspace – 1 LEU

image of mini robotUnder the staircase, an old study room, an accessible storage closet … anywhere can become a mini makerspace! The North Riverside Public Library, a small library outside Chicago, was able to cobble together funding using our budget and grants to create mini makerspaces in small nooks around our library. We will talk about our process, research on materials and space design, and how we solicited valuable feedback from patrons. We’ll also discuss our failures and successes throughout the planning and implementation process, including budgetary constraints and unique workarounds that we discovered. This talk will be applicable to any small or rural library willing to get creative.

Date Recorded: 5/15/19

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters:  Britney Musial, Teen/Tween Librarian and Lizzy Boden, Adult Services Librarian, North Riverside Public Library (North Riverside, Illinois)

Resources from webinar:


Bring NASA to Your Library with STEM Programming – 1 LEU

Hear from two librarians experienced in the NASA @ My Library program about how they have used the kit materials in their libraries to bring STEM programming to the masses and connect their libraries with the research and science of NASA.  Ryan Curto, Bedford Public Library, and Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library, share ideas for programs they have done using the original NASA@MyLibrary kits.

Date Recorded: 4/12/19

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters: Ryan Curto, Bedford Public Library and Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library


Make Do Share – 1 LEU


image of make do share logo
Join us to learn about STEM and “making” in libraries featuring the Make Do Share curriculum that has been tried and tested in a rural library system in Washington State. Make Do Share was made by libraries for libraries and includes helpful tips to build your confidence while supporting 21st century learners. We will explore ways to incorporate STEM skills into existing programs and how to become a non-expert leader in your community’s STEM learning ecology.

Date Recorded: 9/6/18

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: Megan Burton / Kitsap Regional Library

Resources from Webinar


Curating Your Unusual Collections: Lending Nontraditional Items at the Library – 1 LEU


image of pressure foot of sewing machine
Telescopes, digital converters, board games, coding toys, and more! Cary Memorial Library (MA) debuted its Library of Things collection in March 2017. Over a year later, we are grateful for how our collection has flourished in spite of a few hiccups along the way! This webinar discusses the why and how of starting a circulating collection of unusual items, including Cary Library’s best practices for streamlining the circulation process and easing staff concerns regarding learning about all of the Things in your collection.

Date Recorded: 5/21/18

Resources

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter: Corinne Coveney / Cary Memorial Library (San Jose, California)


School and Public Library Partnerships: STEAM to Students – 1 LEU


image of girl with pictures of apps
Join Deb Gaff, youth services librarian at the Bartholomew County Public Library—and former teacher—as she discusses the STEAM programs she does for students both in school and at BCPL.  First she shares valuable strategies for establishing a relationship with schools and explains how BCPL got started with these initiatives.  Then she highlights her programs, including Coder Dojo, working with robots, a Nick & Tesla book club, and more.

Date Recorded: 4/3/18

Resources:

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenter:   Deb Gaff / Bartholomew County Public Library


It’s Not Just Packing a Cardigan: How to Attend a Conference and Get the Most Out of Your Experience


cat in sweater

No LEUs Offered for this webinar.

Library conferences are great until you realize that you forgot to bring business cards. They are fantastic until you are sitting in a session that is not at all what you thought it would be. Library conferences are terrific until you realize that you’ve attended 5 sessions on basically the same topic and you can’t remember what actually was said. So much fun, until you get lost in an unfamiliar city. There are things you can do ahead of time to make sure that you get the most out of your library conference experience. Join a panel of seasoned (and not so seasoned) library conference goers to learn tips on what to bring, how to plan, and guidelines to help you not only have a great conference experience, but also how to follow-through after the conference, so that your organization will be excited to send you again. Courtney Block, Selina Gomez-Beloz, and Megan Zanto from the Indiana Library Federation will share their tips as well as some specifics related to the 2017 ILF Conference. This will be a great webinar to take for people new to the field or for people who have never attended a large conference before. ALA, PLA, and ILF will all be mentioned. No LEUs will be offered, but we still hope this is a great event to get ready for all the library conferences.

Date Recorded: 10/24/17

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters:  Courtney Block / Indiana University Southeast,  Selina Gomez-Beloz / Crown Point Community Public Library, Suzanne Walker / Indiana State Library, Megan Zanto / Indiana Library Federation

Resources from Webinar:


Check Out STEAM Kits – 1 LEU

image of a computer circuit boardJoin the Kendallville Public Library staff as they share how STEAM has worked its way into their programs, The Cortex (our makerspace), and even our circulating collections. Tips, tricks and ideas for getting what you already have out of your closets and cupboards and putting them to use.

Date Recorded: 2/27/17

Format: Archived YouTube Video

Presenters: Leah Dresser, Marie Kaufmann and Beth Munk / Kendallville Public Library