Information Literacy as an evolving state

In Langford's (1998) article she refers to literacy as being an evolving state that "mirrors the expanding information needs of society" (Breivik & Gee), thus meaning that it has become a "dynamic concept". This is so true.

The number of websites, online tools, games, etc. available to society is limitless. It seems that every day a new "must have/must use" technology is promoted to us. Just this morning I read that Google is soon going to release a Facebook competitor. My first response was 'Why? Do we really need another FB?' And then I thought, 'Why not?' It's just another avenue for people to express themselves and connect with each other.

This is the nature of our love affair with technology, and with progress in general. We are attracted to the newest, fastest, coolest that are on offer.

Nobody is forced to use these new technologies. I have many friends who refuse to sign up for FB accounts. However, the children we teach ARE participating in 21st Century technologies and they need to be taught the skills to be able to confidently and competently use these technologies in a responsible way. TLs need to ensure that the curriculum taught in their school supports the information needs of the learners.

One of the statements in Warlick (2007) resonated with me. He says that "We can no longer be the gatekeepers. We must, instead, teach children how to be their own gatekeepers, and this is an ethical imperative." Having heard of a number of students in my school using social networking sites inappropriately, this reinforces the importance of learners being taught the IL skills to manage their expanding information needs in an ethical manner.

Need more hours in the day!

It's been two weeks since I last blogged. Going back to work to begin a new school year certainly reduced the time I could put into my ETL401 studies. I'm a week behind in my readings, which I am really not happy about. At least I've got a few public holidays coming up soon, so hopefully I can catch up then. If only there were more hours in the day. If only I could exist on less sleep. If only I could get out of work earlier so that I didn't come home exhausted each day. If only ...

Maybe I need to re-read Covey's reading from Topic 6. There's an idea!

I met with all the teachers last week and explained how my role would be changing this year. With me working on a flex. schedule for the first time, I am looking forward to collaborating with all year groups with their planning.

This change seemed to be received well, so here's hoping for a fun, productive year of collaboration!

Assignment 1 finished!

Yes, my first assignment is finished, so I thought it would be a good idea for me to reflect on what I have learnt during the process of researching and writing it.

From this experience I have learnt that although I knew that teaching information literacy skills to children was important, I really didn't know how to go about creating an Information Literacy School Community. From the readings I have learnt the value of collaboration and that this is something I need to encourage in my school if we are to enrich the learning opportunities we offer to our pupils. I realise that there may be some reluctance from a couple of teachers, but I feel that in the main, most teachers will be happy to have my input into designing, teaching and assessing our curriculum.

I look forward to a challenging year ahead and hope the rewards we reap as a teaching community will make it all worthwhile.

Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. -- George S. Patton

Referencing

I have learnt a very valuable lesson this week. I found that organising my references in the APA style is a mammoth task. It's taken me nearly as long to get the referencing right as it did to write the assignment! Not really, but I can't believe how long it took me to get every date, bracket, full stop, italic, page no., etc. in the right place.

Gee, I will never, ever leave it to the end again. From now on, I will make sure I do my referencing correctly as I use each quote in my writing.

I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma. ~Eartha Kitt

A breakthrough ...

I met with my principal yesterday and presented my case for moving from my fixed schedule to a flexible schedule so that I can begin my journey of creating an ILSC. Funnily enough, he said that he always thought that I should be working on a flexible schedule, but he wasn't really sure why. After presenting my case, he understands why we need to do this and is in full support. Yay! There's one obstacle out of the way. How many more left?

Why didn't I realise sooner?

The penny has dropped. For ages I have been searching the Internet for a library curriculum and couldn't understand why there wasn't one available. I could find lots of examples of standards from different US states, but couldn't lay my fingers on a curriculum that would tell me how to help my students become information literate. Now I realise that I've been searching for the impossible. It's the products of collaboration between the TL and the teachers that form the curriculum - it's not something that can be bought online or from a bookstore. It's the planning that meets the needs of the learner that is the basis for what needs to be taught in the library. Is this worm a bit slow or what?

In love with ETL401

Only joking! Seriously though, I love the fact that ETL401 has broadened my knowledge about what the role of a TL entails. This subject has ignited a fire inside me to want to develop the TL role in my school so that we can build an Information Literate School Community. In these last 3 weeks I have learnt how important the TL is in creating an environment that prioritises, facilitates and celebrates learning for all and that TLs are key players in leading change in their schools.

We must become the change we want to see in the world.
Mohandas Gandhi

My brain is swollen

What a whopper Topic 2 turned out to be. I have spent more than a week trying to do all the readings, trying to absorb as much advice from the professionals about how I can be a first class TL. Now my brain feels swollen - there are so many thoughts, ideas, directions I want to take on board. Realistically, I know that I have to start small, so I'll need to make a plan. First thing to do is to meet with my principal to share with him some of my learning and to convince him to move the library onto a flexible schedule. This will free me up to meet and plan with all the year groups and enable me to find resources to support theirs and the children's learning. Small steps.

This worm now needs to find a nice, quiet, cool hole somewhere to wriggle into and ponder all my recent learning.