ETL501 – On my way to the book corner

ETL501 – Critical Reflection

September 29, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 1 Comment

As I reflect on my second semester of learning, researching and completing aspects of the teacher librarian role, I was apprehensive at first, but I recognised the importance that technology has in learning and created a resource to help students develop their skills.

Technology has become a big part of our lives and is embedded in most aspects of our learning. In my blog post about Search Engines (Bolden, 2021, August 11) and discussion post in Module 3, I explained that I was a little blown away by the fact there are multiple search engines for use on the web. It was interesting to compare the different search engines and encouraging to know there are ones designed for students.

When I started the process of making a resource for the Year 5/6 students, I felt quite conflicted as Arnolj (2019) explains some elements of website design is to use primary and secondary colours, initially I found this difficult as most templates appear to be black and white until I was able to use a template that allowed me to change the colours. Editorial Staff (2019) explain that a design layout should be simple and usable, meeting your end goal, which in the end was what I was trying to achieve.

Currently I am working as a classroom teacher, I find it difficult to implement the majority of my learning with regards to the library. Using blogs in the classroom and library (Bolden, 2021, August 18) described ways a blog could be used. This might be a simple way to start next year, when I have a new class, to showcase what has been happening in the classroom, however I will need to keep in mind privacy when posting an image, being professional and encouraging (Magid & Gallagher, 2015).

After completing ETL401 the guided inquiry unit I created will be implemented into the classroom and library lessons for one of the Integrated Studies units. The digital resource made for the Year 5/6 students could potentially be used next year. In the meantime I will refine my technical skills with resources so they can be adapted when I am in the teacher librarian role. It has been quite enjoyable to design and see all the resources available located in the one place. In another one of my posts Digital Resources (Bolden, 2021, September 16), I outlined how important it is as the TL to be linking the curriculum and the resources together.

Since I am only at the beginning of my TL journey and not in the role yet, I understand there are still plenty of aspects of the role that I need to learn. In the discussion post for Module 6.1, I outlined what a new teacher librarian should include in an effective information service. One of the aspects is the library website, which I would like to make more effective and usable as a library service. In my blog post Specialist Tools and Services (Bolden, 2021, September, 21) I explain ways that the current website could be changed. Another aspect is knowing how to maintain the library collection. Improving my knowledge of the content covered in years 3/4 and 5/6 would enable me to better combine the curriculum and information literacy skills. These are just some of the aspects where I aim to develop my skills in order to become an effective 21st century teacher librarian.

References

Arnolj, B. (2019). How to design a style guide for websites. UX Collective. https://uxdesign.cc/all-you-need-to-know-about-style-guide-9513ebf50b46

Bolden, N. (2021). Google, Yahoo, Kiddle and Wackysafe. Module 3

Bolden, N. (2021). Search engines. https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/nicoleb/2021/08/11/search-engines/

Bolden, N. (2021). Using blogs in the classroom and the library. https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/nicoleb/2021/08/18/using-blogs-in-the-classroom-and-library/

Bolden, N. (2021). Digital resources. https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/nicoleb/2021/09/16/digital-resources/

Bolden, N. (2021). Effective information service. Module 6.1.

Bolden, N. (2021). Specialist tools and services. https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/nicoleb/2021/09/21/specialist-tools-and-services/

Editorial Staff. (2019). Selecting the perfect WordPress theme – 9 Things you should consider. Wpbeginner. https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-themes/selecting-the-perfect-theme-for-wordpress/

Magid, L. & Gallagher, K. (2015). The educators guide to social media. Connect safely. https://www.connectsafely.org/eduguide/

Specialist Tools and Services

September 21, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

I looked at a few websites and came across the UNSW Library page. It has three tabs, 1 for research that shows the library services, 1 for teaching which is the library services for teaching and lastly 1 tab for students which provides information about searching, study skills and assessment.

This type of website layout is something that we could incorporate into our library website.

The Research tab could provide students and teachers with information and the services the library provides.

The Teaching / Teachers tab could provide the outcomes and general capabilities as well as information on topics that we know teachers would use.

The Students tab could provide students with student friendly information about searching, online encyclopedias and dictionaries, information about the collection and definitely include the research guides that would be made for them.

It’s interesting to see what is currently out there and what can be done, but I have to take one step at a time.

University of New South Wales. (2021). Library. https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/

Digital Resources

September 16, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

It was interesting to read that as a teacher librarian our role is to be a publisher. When I think of this term, I think about writing articles in journals or magazines, but in this case that it not what it means. As a teacher librarian the role allows you to make learning objects or online guides for the students to use.

There are many options for this, such as learning guides, scavenger hunts, webquests (I had to make one of these at uni, many years ago) and so on. What goes with making these resources are the many aspects of design that need to be considered. Colour, fonts, how much information, annotations are just some of what needs to be considered.

My thoughts on whether I think the role of the TL is in the development of digital resources and online curriculum… Absolutely! As a classroom teacher, there is no way that we have enough time to be able to create these resources ourselves. By allowing the TL to develop this, it brings out their abilities to link the curriculum and resources together and work side by side with what is happening in the classroom. All the resources are together in the one place and that certainly makes it easier than scrolling through a very long Google Doc of all the planning to find what you are looking for. Students are able to see everything and know what is coming or expected rather than waiting lesson by lesson. Once a digital resource is set up, it should be easy enough to make more or tweak with new information, and this resource can continue to be used year after year. These resources show the collaboration between the classroom and the library teachers. It also showcases what the library can do and be the source of information rather than just a place to borrow books.

Honestly it is something that seems overwhelming at first and totally out of the comfort zone, but once you get started it really is pretty cool. Now that I have started one for the assignment, I look forward to making more when I am in the teacher librarian role.

Flipped Classroom

August 24, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

What an interesting idea. Content taught at home and problems completed at school. Currently we use the traditional model where students are rote learning their spelling words and complete a Maths sheet that incorporates counting, addition and subtraction and topics taught from the week before.

As much as I find this an interesting model it would take a lot of work to set up. From the video by Teachings in Education (2017) Flipped Classroom Model: Why, How, and Overview there are a few steps that would need to take place before you start. Once it is set up, I wonder who completes the videos for the students to use at home? Earp (2016) states that it is ‘double planning’ for the lessons at home and the lessons at school. If we are required to differentiate then that becomes even more work. I don’t want to spend my evenings or weekends completing videos for my students because that will take more time and I run the risk of burnout.

Teaching in Education (2017) states that students can be working at their own pace, students are going to be all over the place because they can be rushing through or taking their time especially if they aren’t completing the work at home. I am not sure how that could be handled when the students are at school. It feels as if teachers are already spread thinly within the classroom, would this make that worse?

We are expecting children to complete more work online. For younger students this is not the greatest outcome. They could become easily distracted by other activities online. Students enjoy learning through play and this is already incorporated by the educational online games that schools use and this may become a decision students will choose over watching a video. Spending too much time on screens is detrimental to their wellbeing. Some studies state that too much time has an impact on students. Younger students are not learning the importance of correct letter formation and handwriting if they are completing work online.

How do we cater for all students and their different learning abilities? By watching a video we are expecting that all students are the same type of learner. Students may need concrete materials in front of them. Some students prefer to learn face to face. Are students switching off because it is not engaging? Are students skipping parts of the video like some do when reading online?

How do parents feel about this type of learning? They are potentially the adults that would initially work through what the student has learnt before they come to school. During this time of constant remote learning where the parents have been overseeing the work that the students have been set, many have felt inadequate and overwhelmed by the task at hand. Does this require more of our parents?

Whilst the studies where flipping the classroom has worked it would be interesting to see it in action. I am not sure that younger primary students would be worthy candidates for independent learning as they are still learning how to be learners. In the younger years it is more important that students spend the afternoon completing a short homework task and then playing and spending time with their families rather than trying to learn new content after many hours at school.

Earp, J. (2016, February 3). Homework culture key to flipped learning success. Teacher. https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/homework-culture-key-to-flipped-learning-success

Teachings in Education. (2017, June 20). Flipped classroom model: Why, how and overview [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/BCIxikOq73Q

Using blogs in the classroom and library

August 18, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

Earlier in the year when I started this degree and I found out that I had to complete a blog, I was secretly freaking out. I don’t find myself a great writer, why do I need to write my ideas down, or what could I really say and how much time was this going to take? Now that I have set up my blog and I weekly add my thoughts, I have found it to be great benefit. I have been able to go back and read what I wrote and reflect on my learning. And should I say that I actually enjoy blogging!

I now find myself thinking about the possibilities that using a blog could be implemented into teaching and in the library. In the classroom a blog could be used to update parents about what it happening in the classroom, celebrate student learning and success and as a way to connect with the parents, especially those that we may not see very often.

In the library it can be used to promote what is happening in the library – new books, student work, book week, teacher librarians thoughts. It can be a way to get students to connect with the library and comment and give their thoughts and opinions.

I am certainly very open to using a blog in the classroom and eventually in the library because it shows what is going on and provides a way to connect.

Search Engines

August 11, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

I was a little blown away that there are so many different search engines available for both adults and kids. Using a few different search engines, you can see the difference and why Google tries to be the stand out above the others – or is just that we are so used to Google, it’s layout, how quick the results are and what it can offer.

I made a table to compare the differences. Google was better than Yahoo. And in the kid search Kiddle (who is made by Google) was far better than WackySafe.

Comparison of Two Search Engines

Google

Yahoo

Search – Flamingo

Frist result was the youtube site but no videos or pictures like yahoo.

Next was lots of images.

Then the Wikipedia site.

Google looks a lot cleaner and organised that the Yahoo site.

Search – Flamingo

First result – youtube site with lots of pictures and videos from that site.

I had to scroll down a bit to find a national geographic site for kids. And close to the bottom was a Wikipedia site.

Kids Search Engine

Kiddle

WackySafe

Search Topic – Flamingo

Kiddle displays each site with a picture to the side. Looks organised and well presented to be able to find what you are looking for. There were more sites about facts rather than just flamingos.

But overall an easy site to navigate for children.

Search Topic – Flamingo

WackySafe is displayed a lot like Kiddle. But the third site gives me a picture of a seahorse even though the site is about flamingos. Scrolling down, there are plenty of sites that go off topic, like watches, cats, accommodation and a flamingo plant.

Not as easy or kid friendly as Kiddle.

It was also very interesting to read through the history of search engines and see how far back it went to their creation. Some aspects I had no idea and others I remember using like AOL – which was great as a teenager as you had everything in the program like searching and instant messaging other AOL users. How far we have come since then!

Physical vs Online Books

August 4, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

I am a physical book person, I like to read a chapter of a book before I go to bed. My husband on the other hand is an ebook person and likes to listen to books to help him fall asleep. This debate will continue on I’m sure.

Now when it comes to schools and this debate there are a few things to take into consideration. Whilst it is very important for students to physically read a book so that they can see their sight words, use the pictures to help them decode words and physically use their fine motor skills to turn each page, there are some interesting points about online books. Listening to a book may help that student that is a reluctant reader and expose them to new vocab and give them a greater imagination. An online book can have the print enlarged or zoomed, it can have coloured backgrounds to help the child that has dyslexia and there are online programs like ‘Sunshine Online’ or ‘Wushka’ that allow students to record themselves reading, complete activities or take a test / quiz and teachers are able to gauge where the student is at.

Concentration is another point to consider. When a student has a physical book in front of them, their focus will completely be on reading that book. If a student is reading a ebook, will there be more distractions because they are able to move from one online space to another.

What is the cost of having enough devices for each student to be able to access online books? Technology becomes outdated quickly and needs replacing. Do we really want our students having more screen time? Physical books on the other hand can be purchased once and be used over and over and is easy to find on the bookshelf.

Each librarian is going to have their own opinion and ultimately there needs to be a balance between physical and online books. My preference is always going to physical but I don’t see the harm in having access to some online books to help those that may need it.

Du Temple, T, (2020). The positive potential of ebooks within school libraries. SCIS Connections, (113). https://www.scisdata.com/connections/issue-113/the-positive-potential-of-ebooks-within-school-libraries

Robb, A. (2015). 92 percent of college students prefer reading print books to ereaders. New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/120765/naomi-barons-words-onscreen-fate-reading-digital-world

Website Evaluation

July 30, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 2 Comments

When looking at the samples of website evaluations, which to use would depend on what year level it would be needed for. I wonder if ones that are a full page, are these too much and would students quickly disengage because completing it would be too much work.

I have put together a very simple table that could be used with upper primary students and would be a starting point that I am sure with more experience, or student input, it could be added to or changed. I don’t think this could be used with a 1/2 class but these topics could definitely be introduced and talked about to get them thinking about the websites that they might be searching.

Questions to ask yourself when looking at websites?	Yes	No
Does the website look legit?
Does it include the author’s name?
Does it include the date of publication?
Is it the author’s opinion or facts?
Are credible sources included on the site?
Has it been published by a known publisher or company?

Print and Digital Reference Material

July 30, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

It was interesting reading Farmer’s (2014) ideas about print and digital reference material. There were some materials that I haven’t heard of or used, like an almanacs. There seems to be more resources available today than there was growing up. If we wanted information the reference to go to was the encyclopedia and you would have to look through the many books to find the information that you were after.

Other materials that could be appropriate are materials published by other companies. I am thinking in particular about The Royal Australian Mint and they have created resources, including a powerpoint, that aims to teach students about money including facts about the mint and history of coins.

Some factors that may influence the decision on which format to use will depend on what is available currently in the library, the budget that is allocated each year to online subscriptions or the purchase of new books and what is being used by the students. It is important to have a mix of both, as students need to learn the process of looking things up in a physical book, but they also need to learn the appropriate research skills as well.

Farmer, L. S. J. (2014) Introduction to reference and information services in today’s school library. Rowman & Littlefield.

Dynamic Library Spaces

July 30, 2021 Nicole Bolden ETL501 0 Comments

There is so much to consider when looking at a library and how it should be designed and how the layout will flow and provide opportunities for student learning and engagement. When I look at our library at school, whilst it is a decent size, it is taken up by many tables in both the primary and secondary areas. There could be more that could make this space a hub that is inviting for all students. At lunchtimes I don’t see many secondary students, other then the regulars that come to play chess and I wonder what could be done to invite more students in and make it more appealing. I enjoy the aspect of design and look forward to coming up with some changes that may one day be implemented in our library.

The other aspect to the library is the online presence. We currently have a website but it would be interesting how many students use it. In 1/2 we use the world book links when completing our Integrated Studies unit in Term 4, but other than that we don’t have a use for the website. It was very interesting to see how to modernise a website to make it more user friendly. Once again this is something that is going to need to be revised in the future.

As much as design really interests me, I do need to remember that I am a classroom teacher for the moment and soon I will be able to put what I have learnt into practice, little by little.

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