Blog Post 4: Technology Leadership Role of School Librarians

The benefits of using technology in education are endless and will continue to expand as new technological advancements are developed.  The librarian can play a major role in the advancement and implementation of using technology throughout the school.  Perez (2013) discusses ways that a librarian can be a "Master Librarian" in school by becoming a technology leader, building relationships, mentoring teachers and helping teachers reach technological independence.  The librarian needs to be current on new technology applications and programs and be able to instruct and give guidance and support when introducing new tools. When the librarian has the skills and knowledge of a new product, they need to pass and teach this information to others on the faculty.  The librarian also needs to build positive and healthy relationships with not only the students but with the fellow staff and teachers.  The librarian needs to friendly, nonjudgmental and accessible when teachers and students need assistance or training (p 23-24).  Building these strong and collaborative relationships will make it easier to share ideas with each other and be willing to compromise and do what is best for the student's education.  Becoming a technological mentor is a great step in assisting busy teachers find the time to acquire new skills in technology.  The librarian should pass on their own knowledge and offer training and assistance before or after school.  The librarian also needs to provide the means that teachers and students can become independent learners and technology seekers.  The librarian needs to provide the tools and the knowledge on how to function in our technological world and then step back and let the teachers and students experiment and succeed in their own (p 25).  Self-reliance and the ability to accomplish a task by oneself is the ultimate goal in education.

The school librarian sometimes has to take on the role of technology specialist for their location and other times there is another individual who is the school technology specialist.  When there is a school librarian and a technology specialist at one location they can work and team together to create and develop a technology program to assist teachers and students achieve technological and educational success. Librarians and teachers need to provide learning situations and environments where their students can gain needed skills for success in their futures educational and career paths.  Johnson (2013) describes strategies that librarians and technology specialists can do together to enhance the the relationships between teachers, librarians and technology specialists.  She states that is is vital to set up and define roles and responsibilities that all participates know what is required of them when collaborating and sharing ideas. It is important to share the knowledge and skills that one have learned with others, but also be willing to learn new ideas and skills from each other.  Be willing to communicate openly and not only through written communications, but take the time to meet face-to face to discuss new ideas and challenges.  It is necessary to work as a team and accept differences and learn to compromise for the betterment of the school and students.  Plan regular scheduled times to meet after school, grade level meetings, faculty meetings or meet on campus for a different venue.
The librarian needs a presence in the school and demonstrate their skills, talents and abilities so that their position remains a valuable options for learning and technological support.

The librarian can assist students become 21st Century Learners by helping them become familiar, comfortable and proficient with using all aspects of technology for research skills and enjoyment.  The librarian needs to lay the foundation and provide the tools for the students to succeed in the learning process.  One of the main goals is to ensure that students have access to all formats of reading materials be they print or digital.  To be successful in the future it is important that individuals know how to read and interpret all media formats (AASL, 2007).  The librarian needs to make sure that students are educated and informed about ethical behavior when using or citing resources.  The student needs to be instructed in the proper ways to be responsible when using outside reference materials.  The librarian provides the gateway or path to an unlimited supply of information that the students will need. They provide the skills to study and decipher the information that has real value and is usable in the required setting.  Librarian are a needed guide to direct students to the paths that will take them on successful journeys throughout their lives.  They can provide the needed tools and resources that will help them achieve greatness in the future.

References

Johnson, M.P. (2013). School librarian + technology specialist: Partnership for effective technology integration. Knowledge Quest, 42(1), 70-75.

Perez, L. (2013). Master Librarian. Knowledge Quest, 41(4), 22-26.

Ameican Association of School Librarians (AASL).  Standards for the 21^st –Century Learner (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf

Blog Post 3: Technology Implementation Strategies

Using technology in the library and the classroom and be a challenging and rewarding experience. The article <i>Implementing Technology and Gaming Lessons in a School Library</i> discusses many valid reasons and examples for using different technological methods or ideas. Three of these ideas are that it takes time for a library to change and evolve into a 21st Century Library, use computers or laptops while teaching and reinforce the materials that are being taught in the library.

The use of technology in the library involves time, training and financial funding to purchase materials that will enhance and strengthen the role of technology in the library. Time is a major factor in the success of using technology correctly in the library. The librarian needs the time to create lessons and assignments for the students.  There is also the issue of knowledge and training of new programs and websites. Libraries might not have laptops, tablets or computers to allow students to have access to the tools and sites that are available for learning.  Creative fund raising and asking administration for extra funding to support technological advances is critical in the growth and development of the library. It takes time to and flexibility to create and maintain a technological learning environment, but just do a little at time and the library and the students will flourish.

The author suggests that all students should have access to a laptop when teaching lessons. This way, they can follow along and have a hands on experience. This works well when students are using the computers to complete games and other lesson assignments on their own computer.  Students can works at their own pace and on their own learning ability levels as they are learning library concepts though the use of games on the internet.

Reinforce the concepts that are being taught through the computer.  It is important that the librarian still discuss and guide the students in their journey of technological learning.  The librarian needs to ask questions about their experiences on the computer and what they learned from playing the game.  The students can demonstrate what they have learned by creating presentations or demonstrations. The students in the article created movies about a lesson on respecting others.  They wrote scripts and then used Flip Cameras to produce their own movie creations.

I am going to use our iPad labs so that each student can have mobile access while I am teaching a lesson.  I am going to create a lesson about using the card catalog to locate books in the library.  The students can take their iPad directly to the shelf where the book is located. I will be able to have instant knowledge if students understand the concept of call numbers and book location.

I am going to create some games to help teach about library skills and procedures.  The use of technological games in the library can be another way to help students learn about concepts from a different format.

I am also not going to panic when I don't have time to accomplish the entire lesson projects that I want to create for my students. I have to flexible and know that I can still teach and instill the love of reading even if I am not using the newest technology for every lesson, I just need to learn new tools and teach students and teachers how use them properly.

References

Mashriqi, K. (2011). Implementing technology and gaming in a school library. Knowledge Quest, 40(1) p. 24-28.

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Blog Post 2: Handheld Devices

Karen  Bromley is an educator who is using technology to enhance her own personal knowledge  as well as designing new classroom procedures for expanding education.  In her article she discussed the educational and well as personal knowledge that can be achieved by using a smart phone as an educational tool.  She was reading the book Kakapo’s Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery. The book was fascinating and left her wanting more information.  She picked up her cell phone and started researching the topic. As she was researching, she realized that by using a smartphone, she was able to meet and fulfil common core state standard requirements and that she could have her students complete this same task when reading.  Three of the standards that are met through the use of a smart phone are increase vocabulary knowledge, increase comprehension and identify skills using technology and media.  The ability to increase vocabulary was accomplished by using the smart phone to look up words that were not located in the glossary of the book.  There were some words that Karen did not know the meanings, but by using online dictionaries, she was able to locate the correct usage and meanings that correlated with the story.  She was also able to increase her comprehension as she located the meanings of the terms in the book which led to a more complete understanding of the text in the book. Karen was able to interpret what the author was conveying to the audience and she found definitions and examples to help clarify her questions. She was able to use different websites to locate information and she had to evaluate the materials found just like she had taught her students to do when they are researching topics in the internet.  Karen was able to take her experience using her smartphone and turn it into a positive experience as she processed the steps that she could teach her students to use to further enhance their reading skills in the classroom.

I would use smartphones in the library as an extra way for students to research informational topics.  What a great idea to have the students bring their smartphones to school and have them use them to search for relevant websites for their research topics.  My school district has a no cell phone policy in elementary schools, however with permission they are allowed to bring them to school, or have them out of their backpacks.  This could work out as an incentive program that they would be able to bring their cell phones to the library for “research”.  I would also like to set up some QR codes that have book reviews that students could scan using their devices and read or watch a review.  We have eBooks and audiobooks in our library, so I am already working with the teachers and my principal to adapt our handheld device policy so that they can listen to or read books on their personal devices at school as well as at home.

References

Bromley, K. (2012). Using smartphones to supplement classroom reading. Reading Teacher, 66(4), 340-344. doi:10.1002/TRTR.01130

Blog Post 1: Technology Strengths and Weakness

What are my weaknesses and strengths in using technology in the school library? There are five main statements that the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) use in the assessment of teachers using technology in school. They are to instruct and inspire student, to create digital learning experiences, model the technology, promote and teach digital responsibility and take professional development classes to continue to gain knowledge and skills (ISTE, 2008). I think that I am striving to meet these standards as I instruct my students in the library. There are two main weak points in my use of technology.  They are lack of time and lack of funding. The elementary school setting in Utah is set up as a prep time schedule, where the students attend the library for thirty minutes each week.  Teachers are not required to stay with their students.  This would be a fabulous time for me to collaborate and work together with each teacher to better serve the needs of the students. The students take ten to fifteen minutes to check in and check out books and then fifteen minutes to teach the lesson.  Sometimes, it takes longer than that to get the computers all up and running.  I am excited for next year’s schedule, because we are losing half of our student enrollment to a new school.  This will allow me a few free hours in my schedule that I can plan to work together with classroom teachers, so that the students can receive more technology training.  There is always a lack of funding, so I have to get creative in using the devices and services that we have access to in the school.  We have three computer labs and have just this year acquired four portable apple iPad labs.  I am going to use these next year to teach the online catalog and Pioneer Utah library sites.  I only have eighteen computers in my library, so students have to double up when we are completing an assignment.

My strengths consist of I am not afraid to try new things, I am not afraid to make a mistake and I am not afraid to ask someone for help or guidance. I am the first library in my district to purchase and use the Follett Catalist Digital App for audiobooks.  It has been a trial and error project, but it is now running smoothly and the students and parents love having this extra service.  I have just added eBooks and I introduced the Follett Bookshelf program and students are already checking out and reading books online. I make errors and open wrong windows or have technology problems, but my students see that I am able to solve the issue and sometimes it is one of my students who assist in resolving the problem.  This is great future training for problem solving and troubleshooting. I also am not afraid to ask teachers, parents, students and vendor companies for assistance if I am struggling with a certain program or app.  I don’t know the answers to all of the technological problems that could occur, but I know that with help and guidance from others I will be successful.

As an educator, I plan to use my technology strengths to help my students become better prepared to enter the workforce or continue with their educational pursuits. I want them to be able to have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the world. I know that I can always use more professional development classes and training so that I can keep informed of all of the new tools and programs that are being introduced into the technological world. It is important to be informed and also trained so that I can train my students and teachers how to use new technology in the library, classroom and the world.

References

International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE Standards Teachers. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf