Sharing is Caring

I had a really rewarding day today as I was able to share some of the sites I’ve been coming across with the stage 3 team and it was so rewarding to show the staff things they didn’t know about…proof positive that all the late nights are paying off! The curriculum corporation site, which has now merged with Education services Australia (ESA) (http://www.esa.edu.au/) has some amazing resources. The National Digital Learning Resources Network (http://www.esa.edu.au/national-digital-learning-resources-network ) provides some great digital resources and tools and as a result of sharing what I’d found the stage 3 team and I are now in the process of planning to teach our first digital online novel together using Kuhlthau’s guided inquiry approach. “Inanimate Alice”….here we come!

Topic 3: The TL and the Curriculum

There is so much to take in and once again I’m feeling like my head’s just spinning around and around and around with all the information needing processed! The “Lifesavers of Learning” webinar was so informative and packed with links and ideas to ponder.

I particularly liked the idea that inquiry learning is at the heart a TL’s work. When reflecting on personal experience in my school library, I think it’s going to be a long hard road to encourage others to become involved, with collaboration being a necessity for success.

The number of technological tools and media that I was completely unaware of to aid in the facilitation of learning is mind boggling and exciting at the same time. Through websites such as http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/ and others that I’m slowly working my way through, the possibilities and opportunities are endless. It really is quite sad to realise that the wealth of unused information out there online is overlooked because Google is so visible and people always tend to choose the obvious or easiest route.

The Future of Libraries?

Sunday, 1^st April2012:

Hay, L. & Todd, R. (2010). School Libraries 21C: The Conversation Begins. Scan, 29 (1), 30-42.

What a fascinating article that gives an enlightening peek at what a school library of the (not too distant) future will/ should look like. The moderated blog, with Colleen Foley as leader, gave 25 people the opportunity to re-imagine the library of the future. Some exciting principles evolved as a result:

·        Fluid library design allowing for personalised learning styles

·        Blended learning environment – physical and digital learning spaces

·        Learning centre focused on building capacity for critical thought

·        Centre of innovation where teachers and TL’s creatively design together to promote best outcomes for children

·        Learning environment demonstrating the power of pedagogical fusion

·        Technology to support conversation, inquiry and discovery

·        Balanced print and digital collections to support literacy learning

To enable these things to occur the learning needs of the school need to be the “core business” of the TL (as opposed to information collection and management). The TL must be seen to collaborate with the whole school community to inform practise and be a “leader in learning” who is pro-active and engages in horizon scanning.

Invisibility of outcomes-> invisibility of role-> invisibility of need for TL’s!!!

The library of the future requires changes from not just the TL but also at school level and system level to achieve success. The 16 recommendations made as a result of the discussion require action for change on all levels.