Monday, March 7, 2011
Scenario 4 - Making dreams reality - the sustainable public library
This made such fascinating, inspirational reading. I want to work in this library! I admire everything from the green credits to the solar lighting to the waste water being recycled. Obviously there are people in councils out there who have the foresight to develop environmentally friendly facilities - we just need other councils to learn from these progressive ones!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Scenario 3 - Education revolution - a place for the school library?
It doesn't matter about the time period we are talking about, education has always been crucial for enabling humans access to a variety of life opportunities. The director-general of UNESCO sees "basic education as the key to effective participation in society" and this is for ALL children, not just those living in more developed countries.
Whether we are talking about classroom teachers, specialist teachers or teacher librarians, each one needs to be trained to a high level and preferably offered opportunities for regular inservice to enable them to use resources effectively to offer a good level of education to their clients.
I wonder if those countries with high success in providing basic education for all students (Finland, HK, Canada and Korea) have lower rates of crime and convictions? Something worth investigating.
Hughes' description in 1969 of education, learners and teacher librarians could have easily been written in 2011. I love the fact that someone could make a statement about education that would still be relevant 40 years later.
Whether we are talking about classroom teachers, specialist teachers or teacher librarians, each one needs to be trained to a high level and preferably offered opportunities for regular inservice to enable them to use resources effectively to offer a good level of education to their clients.
I wonder if those countries with high success in providing basic education for all students (Finland, HK, Canada and Korea) have lower rates of crime and convictions? Something worth investigating.
Hughes' description in 1969 of education, learners and teacher librarians could have easily been written in 2011. I love the fact that someone could make a statement about education that would still be relevant 40 years later.
Scenario 2 - Sink or swim: digital dilemma in higher education
I learned from Law's scenario that libraries in higher education are evolving to reflect the needs of society. They are transforming from places which store printed matter in a logical order to places which also provide patrons access to vast amounts of electronic information. The challenge for librarians is to collaborate to organise and manage these resources so that users are able to access them easily. I can see that there are similarities between the change taking place in higher education libraries and the changes taking place in primary school libraries. We are offering a lot more online databases, magazines and learning tools and also making available technology such as desktop computers, laptops, iPods and iPads. The primary school library of today looks quite different to the library of ten years ago. It's fun to wonder what my school library will look like in another ten years.
Donham, J. (2005). Leadership
Donham tells us that leaders "know and respect the limits of their circles of influence" and that they act from "an internal locus of control". I can see these concepts being evidenced when TLs and teachers collaborate. When both parties take a role in planning, they each have a voice and are able to make decisions about where their students' learning is directed. In this sense, the TL is able to guide/tempt the teacher to take on a new initiative and, therefore, act a leader of change.
Since beginning my masters in TL, my eyes have been opened to the vast range of skills and knowledge that I need to possess in order to perform my role competently. Donham quotes Collins (2000) in stating that TLs need to understand what they can and cannot be best at. I believe this is true for all teachers, but because the TL role is so diverse, it is vital that we acknowledge our strengths and understand that in some areas we may not be as competent as we'd like to be.
Collins (2000) also tells us that leaders need to pursue what they are deeply passionate about. Having just celebrated our annual Book Week, I realise from the comments of my colleagues that I obviously exhibit passion for children's literature. Of course I knew that I was passionate, but I didn't realise that my passion was able to have such an effect on my colleagues until I was thanked numerous times for the great week of activities that the Book Week committee and myself had planned for our students. I now realise the effect one person's passion can have on others and that this is a fine example of "leading from the middle".
Since beginning my masters in TL, my eyes have been opened to the vast range of skills and knowledge that I need to possess in order to perform my role competently. Donham quotes Collins (2000) in stating that TLs need to understand what they can and cannot be best at. I believe this is true for all teachers, but because the TL role is so diverse, it is vital that we acknowledge our strengths and understand that in some areas we may not be as competent as we'd like to be.
Collins (2000) also tells us that leaders need to pursue what they are deeply passionate about. Having just celebrated our annual Book Week, I realise from the comments of my colleagues that I obviously exhibit passion for children's literature. Of course I knew that I was passionate, but I didn't realise that my passion was able to have such an effect on my colleagues until I was thanked numerous times for the great week of activities that the Book Week committee and myself had planned for our students. I now realise the effect one person's passion can have on others and that this is a fine example of "leading from the middle".
Scenario 1 - Miles' library
The importance placed on collaboration and the various forms of technology needed came through loud and clear in Doug Johnson's Scenario 1. I must admit I found some of it "way out there" - trying to project 14 years into the future was difficult for me.
Today’s children are way more tech savvy than many teachers (myself included) and I believe this will continue into the future. I think the thing we need to be mindful of is that our programs are able to offer our students the learning opportunities and access to technology that they will need to prepare themselves for their future. I can see how our students will need to be skilled up to use various technologies, but I’m not sure I agree with the notion that they will not be required to write essays.
I agree that students being able to direct their own learning is very exciting. In my school we are trying to personalise learning so that the children can have a say in what and how they learn.
This clip by Corning about future technologies is worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38
Today’s children are way more tech savvy than many teachers (myself included) and I believe this will continue into the future. I think the thing we need to be mindful of is that our programs are able to offer our students the learning opportunities and access to technology that they will need to prepare themselves for their future. I can see how our students will need to be skilled up to use various technologies, but I’m not sure I agree with the notion that they will not be required to write essays.
I agree that students being able to direct their own learning is very exciting. In my school we are trying to personalise learning so that the children can have a say in what and how they learn.
This clip by Corning about future technologies is worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38
Friday, March 4, 2011
Children, technology and the future
Today's children view technology as an essential part of their lives - removing tech devices from their lives would be like starving them of food and water. They believe that they cannot live without a means of communicating (constantly) with their peers.
I have two teenage kids and they can't leave home without their BlackBerries - they appear to me to be an extension of their arms - and they amaze me with the functions this tiny device provides them and the speed with which they can access information with them. When they are at home, their BBs supplement the social networking they do on their computers.
One of my concerns is that because they have a variety of means to communicate with their peers, they sometimes share too much information about themselves and others which I think is inappropriate. Children need to be taught how to use these new technologies in a safe and responsible way. Although the TL can help address this need, I believe that all teachers should play a role in preparing students to be cybersafe and cybersmart.
I have two teenage kids and they can't leave home without their BlackBerries - they appear to me to be an extension of their arms - and they amaze me with the functions this tiny device provides them and the speed with which they can access information with them. When they are at home, their BBs supplement the social networking they do on their computers.
One of my concerns is that because they have a variety of means to communicate with their peers, they sometimes share too much information about themselves and others which I think is inappropriate. Children need to be taught how to use these new technologies in a safe and responsible way. Although the TL can help address this need, I believe that all teachers should play a role in preparing students to be cybersafe and cybersmart.
Back to the grind
So my next subject has begun - ETL504 Teacher Librarian as Leader.
This means lots of reading, pondering, forming opinions, reflecting - and of course, assignments!
Once again I will need to juggle the challenges of work, family and study.
Bring it on!!
This means lots of reading, pondering, forming opinions, reflecting - and of course, assignments!
Once again I will need to juggle the challenges of work, family and study.
Bring it on!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)