Power of the Search

Spotted this video today after ICT techs were fixing my library computers... again. It seems to add yet another dimension to the search. Looking forward to experiencing it, to see its benefits. There are so many options out there in the search for information. The goal is to determine the most appropriate ones to access.

Big 6... further impressions

Here I am reading Eisenberg (Information Literacy: Essential Skills for the Information Age, 2008, Vol28(2) from The Journal of Library and Information Technology) and finding that a model I was initially quite skeptical about is starting to ring true. Its emphasis on context is a driving force, and reinforces the importance of information literacy.

Thought the point that he made about moving away from just teaching computer skills to integrating it into the "information problem-solving process" was quite valid. This was an issue that was also brought up at our SDD on Monday, where at the moment there is a checklist of computer skills that needs to be covered. Integrating these more into the curriculum and, more "real" tasks make these more powerful tools.

And the model isn't linear which I felt showed a more realistic approach to how learners study. Have to admit know that doing my assignments I was jumping from one stage to another and back again. This takes into account different learners and different tasks. Some tasks may require someone to engage more in locating and accessing information, than another where there is little need to.

On with the reading...

The Agony and the.... well not the ecstasy

After completing my first uni assignment a couple of weeks ago for my Resourcing the Curriculum course, had thought that the next one would be easier. It seems that many years away from having to write an academic paper has made the task oh so painful.

Thought I did have a plan, but putting the words down proved extremely difficult. I could spend hours and get very little completed. Maybe those years back there of drinking and such, played a part. Anyway my latest assignment was shot off into cyberspace earlier tonight.

Am feeling that the assignments are really bogging me down. There is lot of interesting and stimulating reading- definitely more stimulating than staring at a computer screen for hours trying to put down my thoughts.

Need to start planning how I am going to tackle those next assignments. But now, time for a good nights sleep for a change.

Oops.... technology issues... thought I'd lost that post.... it's all a learning process... well.... good morning.

Information Specialist

As I have been trying to complete my assignment on the roles of the teacher librarian, I realize that there are a broad range. One I have been focussing on has been that of the information specialist. I am finding that there is a plethora of info tools and resources out there.

How does one stay abreast of it all? Have to admit I don't feel like the specialist yet. Trying to remember it all and put it all together is proving to be a chore. Housework I suppose is a chore too, but there is satisfaction in seeing a clean and tidy house.

I am using tools like Evernote to take note of "stuff" I find along the way, some of which I have not yet fully taken in yet, but wish to revisit or use in the future.

Well, reality calls.... or should I say my assignment, which is feeling like a battle at the moment- trying to piece it all together. Ok, must get back to the fight.


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Overwhelming but stimulating

Oops, it appears that I have fallen behind in my blog postings. It seems that learning is not always easier  as one gets older. Writing assignments can be arduous tasks. I am finding that the words do not always come easily. One of the issues has been circumnavigating the multitude of new technologies. This to was alluded to in much of the reading dealing with teacher librarians and the curriculum.

If as a teacher librarian we are to assist in making your students information literate or as 21stcenturyfluency.com note fluent it means that we need to become more au fait with the technology and be prepared to not always be the expert. In a way we are modelling learning to students.

There is a barrage of new information.  I find that as I read more, there are more questions to ask myself. It's exhausting... so with that it's time for bed.

3 Perspectives Of the Teacher- Librarian

As I was reading about the 3 perspectives on the role of the teacher librarian by Herring,  Lamb and Johnson, and  Purcell it became obvious that they pointed to a T-L with a multifaceted  position. A major difference is where they place their priorities

Herring puts learning 1st and foremost above resources.  He emphasises placing the T-L within the constructivist theory of learning. Teaching and embedding information literacy into the role is imperative.  We are as our title suggests teachers first.

Lamb and Johnson's  model seems to put technology above teaching. They give lip service to focusing on the curriculum, but it is in relation to developing and supporting technology. Even the title of the role has morphed into “school library media specialist". They  also, like Herring  describe someone wearing many hats.

Purcell, again uses the American term media specialist, yet is clear that teaching is an important part of their role. In fact, when she breaks the position down into 5 roles,  Teacher is clearly one of them. The responsibilities that she places on the TLs   are quite thorough.

After the readings it made it clear that the role of the teacher librarian at my school needs to change. Although some of the responsibilities that the authors put forward are being implemented  there is still much to do to keep library viable and relevant. Much of this change may have to wait until the  end of this year's study, but it is an exciting prospect. And daunting!

Overload

Am a couple of weeks into my Teacher Librarian course and finding that there is a plethora of information and resources.
I find it is easy to be engrossed in all the technology. I can no longer just rely on hardcopy. I am having to make decisions on how to take and store notes. Am still using pen and paper, but have also downloaded apps to annotate, convert to PDF and store my notes. Being an incredibly inept user of the keyboard (that is, a slow typer) I have even installed a speech recognition dictation program.
These however are issues that many of our students will also face as they become more involved in this new age of learning. 
It's a steep learning curve.

A New Awakening

It appears that I have started on a new journey of discovery. 

This year, as Bette Davis once quoted, it's going to be “a bumpy night". But night turns into day. There is a lot to take in, as I aim to get to the end of my Teacher Librarian course. The library is not the same place I remember as a child. The world has changed and so has the library. Technology has made great advances and I hope to learn much this year so I can, in turn assist my students and peers in their teaching and learning.

Early readings, such as the writing of Herring(2007) describe  school libraries that contain much more than books. School library collections now contain many different forms of technology, and many of these items are not even stored in the library. It is an exciting concept but there seems a lot to get my head around.

Here is one hurdle I am crossing. Blogging! Who would have thought I'd  be placing my writing down in an online journal. I hope to share  my reflections with others, but more importantly I do hope that this  blog will display the awakening of a more competent and confident Teacher Librarian.