Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015

OverDrive: eBooks and Audiobooks from the Library

Who doesn’t love free things, especially when those “things” can add value to your life? And, what adds more value than the book of your choice? You can learn a new language, learn how to knit, escape with a romance novel, brush up on your history, etc.

If you have a library card to your local library, you can download the free OverDrive app (available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Nook) to access free e-books and audio books from your local library. If using iOS or Android, you can even access the library’s video rentals.
Once you download the app, you have to sign up with your email or Facebook account. (I opened to use my email.)

Then, you have to find the library that matches your library card. The app give you the choice of searching my name or zip code. I choose zip code and got the following results:

Once I selected the library that I usually visit, I was connected to their system (C/W MARS in this example) and prompted to enter my library card number. After that, I was able to search for books by relevance. Just for fun I entered “Dyer” into the search bar to browse books by author Wayne Dyer. I quickly realized that I should have been more specific, since books with Dyer in their title were the first search results. (Wayne Dyer books did appear, just not as the top results.)

Then, I did a search for Gretchen Rubin. Her book, The Happiness Project, came up. When I selected it, I learned that it was not immediately available. As shown below, I was given the option to put it on hold and be notified when it became available.

I then decided to browse the selection of children’s books since it was prominently featured as a separate search After asking my seven year old what she would like to read, she said requested books similar to those that they had obtained on their last visit to the library; I decided to search Paula Danziger, a popular children’s author. Paula Danziger books, both e-book options and audio options appeared. I was pleased to discover that I could add it to my “bookshelf” immediately. As the first picture below shows, I also discovered that I would be able to do this for six more titles, for a total of seven books on my bookshelf. As the second picture below shows, I discovered that I could opt to either download or immediately read the Paula Danziger selection. I decided to read it in my browser, and VOILA the book immediately appeared as shown in the third picture below.

Encouraged by my daughter, I then searched for “Fancy Nancy” children’s book. I found a Fancy Nancy audiobook, and I was able to download it immediately and listen to it on my phone.

In theory, I really like this app. After all, what is not to like; it’s free, and it gives you access to many of the same resources available at the public library, except you don’t have to leave your house.

However, I did find using the app itself a little “clunky.” I felt like I had to make multiple clicks before being able to access the resource that came up in my search.

I was also disappointed that I wasn’t able to immediately access the Wayne Dyer or Gretchen Rubin books. However, I guess that I can’t be too demanding when I am accessing these resources for free. 😉

Posted on Saturday, January 23, 2016

Padlet: a digital corkboard

Padlet is a digital corkboard that allows users to post text,URLs, images, file attachments, and/or videos.

Padlet

I use Padlet in the college course that I teach. Mostly, I use it as a tool to display class research on a specific course topic. (I posted an example of part of a Padlet board showing some innovative hardware or software.) I like it because students can easily compile all of the information in one place by sharing their information on their wall. That is, the students post text, URLs, images, and/or videos on one Padlet to create a resources of important information on a particular topic that we happen to be studying. It makes sharing information so easy!

Part of Padlet’s appeal is that it works on any device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) and installing special software is not necessary. Basically, just go to padlet.com and sign up for a FREE (yes, FREE) account. Then, double click anywhere on the board. You will get a “box” similar to the one below. If you want to add your own text, just type. If you want to add a link, image, video, or attachment, simply click the appropriate icon at the bottom of the box. (Change your mind on this box, simply select the trash can at the upper right hand corner of the box to delete it.)

Don’t feel like you have to stop with one post on the Padlet board. You can add more, moving them around as you wish.

Padlet is useful outside the college classroom too. You can use it individually, or as a collaboration tool. For instance, if you are brainstorming your next book or video, you can post all of your ideas and resources on a Padlet wall. Later on, you can organize the notes into an groups or a sequence. Or, if you are looking for ideas for activities for your next Mom’s group, you can have everyone post their idea(s) to a Padlet board.

However, if you are very “type A” like I am, you won’t fully appreciate Padlet’s default view, or ability to keep your board in a non-rigid format. You may feel like you need something a little more linear or “organized.” Well, don’t worry! Padlet has the option to keep your board in the freeform layout, or change it to a stream or grid under the settings icon located on the right hand side of the board. (If you look at my example board above, you will notice that it is in an organized grid format.)

Padlet’s settings (shown above) also allows you to share the share the Padlet with others. You can share it through the standard social media platforms, or simply with a link. (If you chose to, you can also customize some of the Padlet’s URL by selecting the address icon from the settings.) You can also customize the wallpaper (background).

Other uses for Padlet could include, but are not limited to:

a board with all of your vacation “to do” ideas
a board of linking to all your dream houses, dream kitchens, dream bathrooms, etc.
a place where all the members of your book club can post their opinion on your latest book
a collaborative get well, best wishes, thank you, etc. card for someone special
a basic blog (Just set the Padlet layout to streaming.)

If you have a creative idea for how to use Padlet, be sure to like my Facebook page and put your idea in the comments for this post!

Posted on Monday, July 20, 2015

Podcasts

Maybe it is because I am a professor, but I am a HUGE advocate of lifelong learning. I get so excited to learn new things, and I feel like there is so much information available on a variety of topics.

Podcasts are on of my favorite ways to learn new things. While I am personally a junkie for tech and business based podcasts, you can find a podcasts on vitually anything you can imagine. Maybe you want to learn about investing? cooking? relationships? leadership? public speaking? Well, you are in luck; there is a Podcast for all of these topics, and more!

For instance, I had my college students do an online market research activity that required that students investigate resources for individuals wanting to start a niche business. They came up with some creative ideas and were able to find podcasts on topics that included topics that included fly fishing, food trucks, beer, cooking, etc.

The easy access and cost (FREE) of podcasts make it easy to understand why podcasts are growing in popularity. In 2013, the Pew Research Center found that 25% of internet users were downloading podcasts. I can only imagine that this percentage has and will continue to grow!

I have an iPhone so I subscribe and listen to podcast through Apple’s Podcast App. The app makes it easy to search for and subscribe to podcasts on almost any imaginable topic.

However, if you don’t have an iOS device, you are not left out. Even though Android doesn’t have a dedicated podcast app yet, there are MANY options for listening to podcasts. Some podcasts stream live off the website; or, apps like Feedly and PodcastAddict are available that allow you to subscribe.

PS. If your curious about my favorite podcasts, visit my section on PodCast reviews.