This week I took the time to learn how to Glog using Glogster a social network that allows users to create free interactive posters, or glogs. A glog is a graphical blog created by interactive multimedia images. Directions are minimal, but it’s fairly intuitive and easy to manipulate. There are three functions that allow the user to collect the different forms of media that will be used on the glog; upload, link and grab. Once the image, video or audio pieces have been collected the user can stylize the media with a variety of graphics, text and wall paper to bring their ideas alive.
There was only one function that was a little confusing. You can “frame” an image or select a style of “player” for a video clip, but you have to do this before you put the media on the poster. I found this option by mistake. I wanted to add my image and hit the “frame” button. Ops! It added the image with a random frame. Really not a problem because the poster is auto-saved. All you do is click on the image and delete it!
It takes a bit of doing at first, but then it’s all fun. And so that’s what I did, I had some fun. I created a poster illustrating my favorite literary genre, Science Fiction/Fantasy.
What can a librarian do with Glogster?
The graphics give the end product a look that I think is visually appealing to children and young adults so I think that school librarians and public librarians would get the most use out of Glogster.
School Libraries:
Using the poster format as a collaboration tool to teach information literacy to young children would increase students digital literacy as well.
Public Libraries:
Marketing services, Advertising & enriching programs, Fundraising activities.
Academic Libraries:
On the library homepage as a directory of resources or a bulletin board promoting library activities.
I wonder if it would be possible to create a science conference poster presentation using Glogster…transmitting the poster from a laptop onto a very large video screen allowing interaction of the audience with the poster to view historical background information, experimental data and other relevant research…videos of the actual experiments. Nice!
Might it be useful in a virtual conference forum…?
Anyway, It was fun!
5 replies on “Glogging and Blogging”
Sometimes, on the social web, trying something new is just as significant as the process or the end product. It makes work fun.
Thanks for posting your Glog and the tips for making one. I have yet to do the ‘create’ activity for this module, but after reading your blog, I think I’ve pretty much decided!
I also like your suggestions for ways in which a librarian may use such an interactive tool. Certainly, it seems to be a great way to promote the happenings of any library – I think we are all tired a bit of the standard news feed!
I just wanted to say that my favourite genre is S/F and fantasy too! What are some of your favourite books?
At the moment, when I get a moment, I am reading Xenocide by Orson Scott Card. The last of the Ender series. My fav in the series was Speaker for the Dead. One of my favorite authors is A.A.Attanasio. I’ll read anything by this author. I loved The Dragon and the Unicorn, which was a mix of SciFi/Fantasy. Then Centuries which was more SciFi.
When I want a fast paced short story style of reading I go for the genre Space Opera. Amazon has several sets. It’s sort of Swash-buckle in space.
I have to mention a female author, C.J. Cherryh. She is sooo prolific. I liked Rimrunner (SciFi) and The Dreaming Tree (Fantasy).
Most of the authors on my glog are old-world authors, but I think some of the best.
Thank you for sharing. More books to add to my reading list. I must say that the Ender series is one of my absolute favourites as well. I like Ender’s Game the most followed by Speaker for the Dead. I think Ender’s Game was the book that put me on S/F. The other author I really like is Philip K. Dick – though I have not read everything of his. The book of his that I like is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Thanks again for sharing. =)