March 22

Are School Librarians an Endangered Species?

 

Teacher librarians (TL) must adapt to changing conditions or face extinction. That is the message in Karen Bonanno’s Key Note address titled “A professional at the tipping point: Time to change the game plan” at the ASLA conference (as cited in O’Connell(?), n.d.).  Bonanno conveys that teacher librarians must take the “glass half full” approach, to work within the boundaries, be pro-active, change with developments, be aware of learners and keep current.  In particular, to be successful, TLs should follow what she calls the “Five Finger Approach” which makes them a valuable and relevant asset. Powerfully, Bonanno re-iterates throughout the video that “The rhetoric must engage with the audience”.

 

References

O’Connell, J, (n.d.) 3.2 The Role of Teacher Librarian, 3. The Role of Teacher Librarian (TL), Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_42380_1&content_id=_2633957_1&mode=view

Category: ETL401, Technology | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 21

Informed About Information

On the surface, the definition of information should be very simple. How deceptive and naive that thought is!

Simple dictionary definitions do not scrape the surface of all the facets that various types of academic definitions do. The semantic definition where the meaning of information is important as opposed to the more classic definition – almost a dadaist interpretation of information just existing. These seem to be the extremes in the definitions. The data-knowledge continuum tells of chaos and wisdom – which are an extension of the semantic and classic definitions. The classic definition being in incoherent jumble of characters and as the continuum works its way up the sliding scale it becomes more about an information hierarchy about meaning, types of meaning and the types of meaning – a similar concept to Blooms taxonomy. According to Stonier (as cited in O’Connell, n.d.) “information requires no intelligence to interpret it. It does not have to have meaning to exist.”1 However, Gregory Bateson (as cited in O’Connell, n.d.) puts much more emphasis on the meaning of the information as he asserts that it “changes us”2.

It occurs to me that the purpose and the context of the information is important. That is, what the information is being used for, who is using the information, what is  and how it is to be used are all necessary factors. For information to be defined properly, it is necessary to know all these things.

Learning as a Collaborative Process

rawpixel / Pixabay

As a prospective Teacher Librarian, it occurred to me that all this information might exist, it may have context and purpose but it is how the information is used and perceived or processed by the conveyor and the receiver is what matters.  It is interesting that Steve Regur in a Ted Talk video (as cited in the “Create, Curate, Collaborate”, n.d.) presents his talk on how “Learning Networks Could Reconfigure Schools”. He talks about collaboration and instead of there being one teacher teaching to a number of students, he says that there should be a learning team involved in the students’ learning. Students should seek out experts or professionals in a project or field they want to study  and are passionate about, they should pick the learning outcomes, seek out resources, compile their learning teams and direct their learning. I think this is a valuable concept that deserves to be explored. It is an interesting concept that teacher-librarians would be integral in.3  The “General Capabilities” page in an ACARA article (as cited in Lori’s E-musings, 12 March 2019)4 provides much room to expand this concept. However, it also leaves great space for refining and crafting. It would be fascinating to explore it further.

The role of teacher-librarian is constantly growing and developing. Libraries and teacher-librarians have great scope for being managers of information, creators and facilitators and distributors of information.

References

1 and 2 O’Connell, J, n.d., Module 2: The Information Environment, Retrieved from Charles Sturt Universit website at https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_42380_1&content_id=_2633951_1&mode=view

3 Create, Curate, Collaborate n.d., Retreived from Teacher-Librarian Learning Network’s blog at https://feedly.com/i/entry/5oT5ifkZN1JBXX3mX4pji4hWD0AUSB04SCT7+1+6tNQ=_1696a74271c:78409:5bce999a

4  Lori (2019), Information. Dissemination. influence. in Lori’s E-Musings Retrieved from https://lorikemusings.wordpress.com/2019/03/12/information-dissemination-influence/

 

Category: Curriculum and Learning, ETL401, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 11

Warning … Tsunami Ahead!

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

From a teacher’s perspective, I had perceived the teacher-librarian’s role to be more of an educational facilitator, a manager of space and resources .  However, for the short time I have been studying, I already I recognise that the role includes numerous other titles, such as information leader (one who discovers, organises, streamlines and disseminates information) and technological manager. It seems that technological change has filtered through our schools slowly but, in reality, there has been a tsunami of information and technological change that has transformed the teacher-librarian’s role into one that can be central to the school.

In my current school, the library is a thriving, positive space with the teacher librarian adopting a more central role in the school. This library possesses an excellent selection of spaces, a good range of literature and books on subjects, two computer class spaces, a bank of laptops, a reading space with comfortable chairs, sanctuary for students who love gaming and chess, printing and photocopying and houses professional development. Flexible spaces have been created with the use of movable desks and furniture. The librarian takes classes to teach students to use the library, she has led professional development and coaches the chess team. Booking the library has streamlined with the use of computer programs.  The librarian is a part of the school rather than isolated in a space. She disseminates information to students and colleagues, manages resources, supervises a library assistant, manages information, teaches students and aids teachers with their classes.

In a previous school library, a teacher librarian required teachers, on booking the computers, to complete questions relating to the lesson. He, in turn, provided additional websites and information to facilitate the lesson. Only now with a new perspective, can I see that he was evolving with developments in technology, the internet and information management. He was raising the bar in terms of being value to the role of teacher librarian.

With the development of technology, referencing and access to information is not always simple, especially in education. Copyright using Creative Commons is a convenient way to tackle this problem. An explanation of the Creative Commons Licences can be found here (“Licences explained”, n.d.). Websites such as Pexel and Unsplash are platforms that support these licences. They make free images, easy to use and reference. But now, information/images are plentiful, free and easy to reference.

Blogging is an ideal way to develop ideas and store information for teacher librarians. Blog sites such as WordPress.com and CSU ThinkSpace can facilitate this. With the massive volume of information available on the internet, it is important to be able to store, recall, keep informed and have access to the various websites when needed. Rather than emailing internet resources to relevant faculties (as a previous teacher-librarian had done),  Feedly or Really Simple Syndication (“RSS”) (“Introduction to RSS and subscribing to blogs using Feedly.” n.d.) on a blog is an effective tool. This way the teacher-librarian can be seen to be leading the way in information management.

On reflection the librarian’s role is more organic than I originally perceived. With new technology and the proliferation of information, it is evident that teacher-librarianship is not about standing on shore but it is about riding the wave!

References

CSU ThinkSpace – Create a blog, portfolio, project website or learning journal and collaborate with peers!, (2019), Retrieved from http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/

Introduction to RSS and subscribing to blogs using Feedly in 1.0 Introduction (n.d.), Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_42380_1&content_id=_2633946_1&mode=view

Neel, A, (n.d.), Retrieved fromhttps://unsplash.com/photos/-FVaZbu6ZAE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText

O’Connell, J (?), (n.d.) Module 1: Introduction, Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_42380_1&content_id=_2633946_1&mode=view

Pexels – The best free stock photos shared by talented photographers, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/

Today – Insights you need to get the inside edge, (n.d.), Retrieved from https://feedly.com/i/my

Tohatoha – Licences Explained, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tohatoha.org.nz/licences/licences-explained/

Think http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/

Unsplash – Beautiful Free Photos. Gifted by the world’s most generous community of photographers, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/

WordPress.com – Build a website, build a movement, (u.d.), Retrieved from https://wordpress.com/

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Category: ETL401, Technology | 4 Comments on Warning … Tsunami Ahead!