When you hear the word “dynamic” what image first springs to mind?
Batman and Robin
Anyone else? Well, perhaps it’s just me.
There are three things I remember about watching the Dynamic Duo in my youth. They had an awesome cave. They had awesome gadgets. They were an awesome team.
Space. Tools. Relationship.
The ingredients of a dynamic information environment.
Is one more important than the other? Does one function as the base upon which the others rest? If we were talking Batman and Robin, then the tools win it hands down. The Dynamic Duo’s crime fighting success comes from their combat skills…and their gadgets. Without the tools, Batman is just a rich guy with an expensive car, an expensive garage and a penchant for Lycra.
I’m not convinced that the distinction is so pronounced when reflecting on 21st century library services. The role of the teacher librarian (TL) is to communicate a vision focused on the value of the library to the community it serves (Stile, 2020). The community we serve consists of students, staff and parents learning to navigate an increasingly digitised world. That requires some attention. It requires a focus on the creation of equipped spaces that allow learners to collaborate and innovate, and in doing so transform teaching, learning and the development of students and staff (Canadian School Library Learning in Action, n.d.).
Teacher Librarians are in the business of using Web 2.0/3.0 tools to transform learning (Ashton, 2020). Throughout this unit I have learnt to appreciate the absolute necessity of physical and digital spaces that support teaching and learning. This blog post on 21st century libraries inspires me to develop future focussed spaces that invite communication, collaboration and the construction of new knowledge (Holland, 2015).
The irony here is that it is the use of blogging for staff and students that has captivated my attention. Kathleen Morris suggests a range of reasons why teachers and students should blog (Morris, 2018). In this post I outline how I intend to use blogging to support the needs of a student led online journal at my school. It is the elasticity of the teacher librarian’s role that allows students and staff to take on new challenges in innovative formats (Sheko, n.d, para 1). My intention is to go on this learning journey with the students and look to use blogging in information literacy sessions with Year 6 in Semester 2 next year.
A second take away for me started in this discussion thread regarding the challenges of using Web 2.0 tools (Ashton, 2020). The use of social media to deliver content and engage learners has been increasingly discussed and this post suggests that the idea of using Instagram in the classroom is not a new one (Hudson, 2016). Helping students connect to the world in responsible ways as they develop traditional and new literacies requires a significant cultural shift. I would hazard to say that the use of Instagram within school hours in most secondary schools is frowned upon by staff and seen as a rebellion by students. Careful consideration is required to achieve buy in from curriculum and wellbeing leaders.
My intention is to simply start the conversation. Getting a sense of where curriculum leaders stand on this issue is vital if I am to demonstrate my leadership and expertise in the digital realm (Wark, 2020).
I have not been shy in declaring the steep learning curve I am on with all things digital – see my post. My digital Everest will always be there. And that’s exciting.
Holy Growth Mindset, Batman!
Ashton, M. (2020, September 8). Re: Web 2.0 services [Online discussion comment]. Interact 2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&course_id=_47579_1&nav=discussion_board_entry&conf_id=_94201_1&forum_id=_202390_1&message_id=_3201241_1
Ashton, M. (2020, September 15). Re: What they said… [Online discussion comment]. Interact 2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&course_id=_47579_1&conf_id=_94201_1&forum_id=_212260_1&message_id=_3242493_1&nav=discussion_board_entry
Canadian School Libraries, (n.d). Showcasing the work of the learning commons and sharing successful approaches from across Canada. https://www.canadianschoollibraries.ca/learning-commons-in-action/
Holland, B. (2015, January 14). 21st century libraries: The Learning Commons. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/21st-century-libraries-learning-commons-beth-holland
Hudson, H. (2016, August 7). 10 surprising ways to use Instagram in the classroom. We are teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/10-surprising-ways-to-use-instagram-in-the-classroom-2/
Morris, K. (2018, March 14). Why teacher and students should blog: 18 benefits of educational blogging. Kathleen Morris Primary Tech: Helping teachers create digitally literate global learners. http://www.kathleenamorris.com/2018/03/14/benefits-blogging/
Sheko, T. (n.d). Using the Medium blogging platform to teach critical and digital literacies in art. Schools Catalogue Information Service. https://www.scisdata.com/connections/issue-110/using-the-medium-blogging-platform-to-teach-critical-and-digital-literacies-in-art
Stile, Y. (2020, July 23). 1c. A library website: thoughts so far. Yvette’s LBMs and thoughts. https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/ystile01/category/etl-501-the-dynamic-information-environment/1-teaching-and-learning/
The Washington Times. (2014). [Batman and Robin]. https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/dynamic-duo/
Wark, J.H. (2020, September 2020). Role of the TL in the development of digital resources and online curriculum. [Online discussion forum]. Interact 2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&course_id=_47579_1&nav=discussion_board_entry&conf_id=_94201_1&forum_id=_212261_1&message_id=_3248795_1