Mrs. Hightower's blog

Monday, March 16, 2015

VOTE NOW for your favorite: The Evergreen Teen Book Award!

The voting window for the 2015 Evergreen Teen Book Award is now open thru April 1st. If you have read two or more of these books, you are eligible to vote, please cast your vote!

VOTE HERE

Well, it's no surprise. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green won this years award. If you haven't read this great book, pick up a copy today and check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Top reasons to use databases | Piktochart Infographic Editor

I subscribe to a list-serve of librarians from all over the world. One of my favorite contributors is Joyce Valenza, a professor at Rutgers University and formally a high school librarian. She shared this and I'm sharing it with you. It's a great reminder of why we want students to use our subscription databases like ProQuest, CultureGrams, eLibrary, Opposing Viewpoints and more. Take a moment, click on the link and see the "Top reasons to use databases!"

Top reasons to use databases | Piktochart Infographic Editor

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Shmoop TEST PREP!!!

OK all you folks out there that need to practice for the SAT or ACT, you HAVE to check out Shmoop's test prep videos, what a HOOT! They will make studying fun and hopefully you'll improve your skills at the same time. Check them out, Click here to go to Shmoop and get started.

Monday, February 23, 2015

SHOW: A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THE WORLD

Once and awhile I discover a new website that is so cool I have to share it. "SHOW" is one that I think many students and teachers might enjoy and great for visual learners. Go to "SHOW"

Monday, January 26, 2015

Copyright and Fair Use

Mr. Kert asked me to come into his Web Design class to share about Copyright and Fair use and I decided it would be a good topic for my blog. If you haven't thought about copyright for awhile, it might be a good time for a little refresher course!
In the Seattle Times, there was an article about the Seattle Seahawks not blocking a trademark request concerning the term "District 12" filed on behalf of "Hunger Games" author Suzanne Collins. The copyright issue is alive and well today and something the Seahawks defend - ask someone who tries to copy their famous logo and sell it.

According to Common Sense Media there are several key terms you need to know:

fair use: the ability to use a small amount of someone’s creative work without permission, but only in certain ways

commercial purposes: a use in connection with a business, usually for profit

copyright: a law that protects a creator’s ownership of and control over the work he or she creates, requiring other people to get the creator’s permission before they copy, share, or perform that work

Creative Commons: a kind of copyright that makes it easy for people to copy, share, and build on someone’s creative work – as long as they give the creator credit for it

public domain: creative work that’s not protected by copyright and is therefore free for one to use however one wants

Here's a little video: Protected Content: Copyright and Fair Use

Protected Content: Copyright and Fair Use. Cambridge Educational. 2011 Learn360. 26 January 2015

Copyright and Fair Use Animation

26 January 2015

A good place to get copyright free images: Pics4Learning

For more information:

United States Copyright Office

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Cite This For Me

I have just became aware of another citation generator, CiteThisForMe! This easy to use online service creates your works cited or bibliography in must minutes. I found it quick and very intuitive. You can even create an account to keep track of your research for a small fee. Give it a try!