And so it begins... again

Here we are, school holidays, and looking towards the 2nd semester of my teacher librarianship course. Reading the 1st chapter of James Herring's  text “Improving students' web use and information literacy", he makes it clear that at the heart of it a TL's main role revolves around learning.

There are various definitions of learning. Herring refers to Pritchard,  such examples as change of behaviour resulting from experience or practice, knowledge from study lawn constructing understanding from experience or sources.

Education has generally moved away from behaviour is to theories towards constructivism. The constructivist approach notes that students construct new knowledge from what they already know, make connections and reflect on them the social context is important in how they learn.

Killen identifies several steps for teaching on student learning. The steps are:

• to describe what you want your students to understand 
• select content will help your students gain understanding
• develop a suitable learning environment
• allow opportunities for students to publicly demonstrate their understanding 

The web can be used in teaching . It may be the source of resources or may be used in planning student activities. It may also provide students with sites that the TL has vetted.

Herring emphasises the importance of collaboration and knowledge is shared, lessons planned jointly and there is mutual understanding.

It is an exciting and daunting period that we are in. Change is the only certainty as technology and information expand exponentially. Our role as TLs  is to assist our students navigate this information, then to become lifelong learners.