I am completing my Digital Tech for School Librarians course, and for my final project, I made my very first Doodly video. Spoiler alert: it’s not as easy as it looks!

Doodly makes it seem like you can create professional animated videos in minutes. The truth? If you’re not paying for the higher-tier membership, your character and scene choices are pretty limited. I spent a lot of time trying to get things “just right,” and it gave me a whole new appreciation for how much work goes into even short explainer videos. I’m not sure I’d use Doodly extensively, but I am glad I gave it a try, it definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone.

My video reflects some of my biggest takeaways from this course:

• Using AI responsibly to make our work easier, like drafting newsletters so we can spend more time with students.
• Understanding RUP vs. AUP—the difference between Responsible and Acceptable Use Policies—and how they shape safe, ethical tech use.
• Designing inclusive libraries using Universal Design for Learning so every student feels welcome.
• Creating lesson plans that mix research, technology, and discovery.

More than anything, this course helped me organize what I already believed. I had many of these ideas as a classroom teacher, but now I can name them, explain them, and apply them fully as a school librarian.

Creating this Doodly was challenging but also really rewarding. It brought my reflections to life in a fun, visual way, and I’m proud of the final product—even if it took way longer than I expected.

Check out my first-ever Doodly video below, and let me know what you think!