iPads in the Classroom

Found this interesting video when looking for information for Assignment 2. 

Need to show this to teachers at school! 

I love the idea of the QR code.

And yes, I would need to educate myself and move aside and let them go!

Need to find out how to credit this you tube video, will come back to it!

Blog Assignment 1

The Role of the TL with regard to Guided Inquiry

Kuhlthau and Maniotes (2010 p. 18) in their article on "Building guided inquiry teams for 21st century learners”, raise two interesting questions, firstly “How can students learn to think for themselves, make good decisions, develop expertise, and become lifelong learners in a rapidly changing information environment?” and “How can students learn, create, and find meaning from multiple sources of information?”. These are the questions that all educators face now as we dive head first in to the 21st century. In my current role as TL in training, I ponder these questions regularly and am in awe of the enormity of the TL role as information specialist.

Guided inquiry is referred to in Australian School Library Association (ASLA, 2012) policy documents as a teaching method, it is 'a planned, supervised and targeted intervention into developing information literacy and enhancing learning'. Kuhlthau and Maniotes (2010) also promote Guided Inquiry as a teaching methodology to meet the needs of "the 21st Century learner".

Todd (2010 p. 8) explains that “Guided Inquiry is based on the premise that learning is constructive, connected and a shared process”, hence the idea that guided inquiry requires a collaborative team of educators working together with the learners through the process. I agree with Todd (2010 p. 7), Kuhlthau and Maniotes (2010 p. 18)  that when using the Guided inquiry approach to learning, the role of the teacher librarian moves from that of teacher to that of an information learning specialist guiding the learner and the collaborative team through the complex inquiry process.

Kuhlthau (2013) describes the use of the Guided Inquiry Design Framework as both innovative and dynamic.  Interestingly, she identifies the learner as part of the collaborative team and again is one to emphasise the vital key role that the TL plays in the Collaborative learning team. 

Both Kerr’s (1996) statement on the role of the TL in regards to curriculum development and Leadership, as well as information management and collaborative Planning and teaching and Todd (2010 p. 32), offered me many points of interest in regard to the role TL. I consider that the following would impact more fully in the Guided inquiry Library  

• collaboration is key to implementing Guided inquiry.  
• Plan, develop and manage equitable access to information resources – just the physicality of some libraries would make this task difficult, even in the library in which I work we have computer access for at least 4 classes at a time but we have over 1500 students, so this is a labour intensive task, made easier at our school by Book it software, that enables teachers to book in electronically.
•  Professional development and technological updating for the TL and other staff.
•  Astute skills of observation

Upon reflection of my readings and taking into consideration what happens in the Library in which I am working, I see the Role of the TL as a primary learning resource within the Guided Inquiry classroom. I believe that working as a collaborative learning team, including the learner in this collaboration and I agree with Kuhlthau and Maniotes (2010 p. 18) that guiding the learner through the inquiry process enables the learner to learn “how to learn” for life.

References

Australian School Library Association (ASLA) 2012, Statement on guided inquiry and  the  curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.asla.org.au/policy/Guided-inquiry-and-the-curriculum.aspx

Liz Kerr. "OSLA (Ontario School Library Association): policy on the school information centre and the role of the teacher-librarian."Visual Media Sept.-Oct. 1996: 8-9. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 10 Mar. 2013. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A30211098&v=2.1&u=csu_au&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w

Kuhlthau, (2013). Children’s Reading in Guided Inquiry. Retrieved from http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/docs/ChildrensReadingInGuidedInquiry.pdf

Kuhlthau, C. C., & Maniotes, L. K. (2010). Building guided inquiry teams for 21st-century learners. School Library Monthly,26(5), 18-21. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/237137470?accountid=10344

The role of the teacher Librarian

Are teacher Librarians Extinct?

After viewing 30 second thought Leadership regarding the TL as an endangered species, I found the videos to be quite thought provoking, they discussed the fact that the role of the TL may be endangered in some places, but not extinct yet! They spoke of the need for the TL to redefine their role, as did Lamb (2011), Valenza (2010), Herring (2007) and Purcell (2010). 

Purcell (2010) and Lamb (2010) speak of the leadership role of the Teacher Librarian and identifies the importance of being an “advocate” and promoting your role. I can see the importance of doing your job well and letting others “see” you at it! Purcell suggests collecting evidence of your role in action and taking it to staff and curriculum meetings and sharing it with others. In doing this, the TL is encouraging support and promoting the role of TL within whole school teaching and learning.  

Several of the speakers from 30 second thought Leadership identified the need for students to be "21st Century Citizens". Lamb (2011), Valenza (2010), Herring (2007) and Purcell (2010) all identify the TL role as a specialised teacher capable of teaching information literacy skills. Herring (2007 p. 29) cites The American Association of School Librarins (AASL) and explains that these American Library "standards focus mainly on the development of information literacy"

Valenza (2010) explains that the concept of  modern teacher librarians role is unclear. She agrees that the TL role needs to change, but how. She states we have no "textbook" to tell us how to do it. The standards give us guidlines for what we need to achieve but HOW? I liked Valenza's analogy of the family cook book as how text book on how to do it. This would be very helpful, pages of pictures with ingredients and methods and only those that have been tried and tested would make it to the printer, but maybe we shouldn't print it but share it electronically so that as the information and communication landscape changes, so will the recipes!

I had not considered the idea that Bush and Jones (cited in Lamb 2011 p. 33) raise when they talk about the TL being a "constant in the learning environment over time" yes, most classroom teachers only have a group of students for a year and the TL has the ability to impact on these students (in my case in a K -12 school) for up to 13 years, this gives great scope for the TL to develop 21st Century citizens!

My experiences when searching the library databases.

In the library that I work in, we had new library management software installed late last year, the search facilities on the system at present are limited and quite frustrating. So when I began watching the tutorials this week and searching through the suggested databases I was amazed at what I was able to find.

I looked at Primo, EBSCOhost and Proquest and found that all were quite straight forward and easy to navigate.

I found an interesting article in Primo on Resource-based learning, but as I continued through the tutorials I found that I liked the format of EBSCOhost and thought it would be easier to keep all my information in one place. I discovered that I was able to search the title of the journal article that I had found in Primo and save it to my folders that I had set up in EBSCOhost. I realise I may not always be able to do this but when I can, it will help me stay organised.

I have tried using advanced search options before and have never had much more success than when I use the basic search options, however the tutorial explanations of key word searching or subject searching, correct use of the combining operator and the use of truncations to enable different forms of a word to be searched simultaneously, made using the advanced search option somewhat easier to manage and obtain more specific results and the highlighted search fields made choosing which results to peruse much easier.

The peer reviewed option in Proquest also enabled me to narrow my results. In Proquest I was also able to narrow my results by choosing which databases to search in.

I am sure as I continue to search through the databases as I study that I will discover ways to enhance my searching skills.

My dilemma now…..which one to read first?

Edited 14/3/2013 to add - I just found too that by clicking on Cite in Proquest, that it would give me the exact reference listing for me to cut and paste to my reference page!

ETL401 Introduction - What are the implications of the changing information and Library landscape for the broader information profession?

The introductory power point for ETL401 , discusses establishing a new culture and looking at the TL role from a new perspective. It ( illustration - slide 20) humorously examines the diverse role(s) of the TL, however both PEW and Frey discuss the serious reality of this ever changing and broadening TL role. Purcell’s research on the internet and reading, examines how rapidly internet usage has increased over the past 8 years. She reports that Internet usage by US adults has nearly doubled. And that the most common use of the internet is the use of search engines. Purcell explains that the information professional needs to be able to navigate the information user through the overwhelming volume of information to find what is relevant to their needs and whilst keeping up with the speed at which information changes. The Library landscape is changing, with the shift in reading format, Purcell states that people have access to information anywhere, anytime and on any device. Frey concurs and explains that the Library of the future will need to consider the changing needs of the Library user. The implications for this changing information and Library landscape are that the way we access information is changing constantly and the Library landscape needs to change and meet the needs of its users for it to remain a valued resource within the community. The question then arises,’ How do we change?’

Getting to know me....

I am employed .2 as Primary TL in a large K-12 Catholic School on the Central coast. However I am doing 3 extra casual days in this role so I am currently working 4 days a week. Luckily I have a college Librarian guiding me and answering many of my daily questions. I have not worked permanently since having my children, so over 16 years, I have been doing lots of casual and been casual in my current school for the last 2 years, where a stint in the Library sparked an interest.... I have 4 school aged children and a supportive Husband! I last studied when I completed my degree in 1990 I have never studied online but I would say that I have an OK grasp of technology! (I think!) I am both excited and apprehensive about the course.... Let's see how we go....