Information Literacy

What differences are there in the definitions of information literacy that you have been introduced to?

I never realised how important Information literacy is to learners. Although the term is relativity new to me, I am sure that I have seen it with other titles!  I am also amazed at the number of information literacy models there are.

I think so far, I like Kuhlthau model. I like the fact that Kuhlthau talks about feelings .I certainly felt anxiety at the beginning of starting our first assignment.

What are your views on Guided Inquiry? What advantages, challenges and/or disadvantages do you see for a TL wishing to implement a GI approach?

I love the fact that students are responsible for their learning and that teachers and teacher librarians are there to support and guide the students. Guided Inquiry seems like a fantastic teaching strategy for middle and senior schools. As lower primary teacher, I wonder how this strategy can be used in the effectively in the classroom? Concept mapping is a great strategy the lower primary so was rather excited to read the article by Herring using concept maps.

How can teacher librarians and teachers encourage students to transfer information literacy skills and practices?

·         Time to plan collaboratively with teachers and TLs is essential.

• Being open to try new ways of teaching
• Asking for feedback from students to see if the teaching strategies are working and to see what areas the students want more help

Has the school in which you work (or know best) developed an information literacy policy?     

Not that I am aware of but I will investigate and ask my former colleagues if there is one.

Should this be an essential policy for a 21st century school? 

Absolutely essential now that literacy has changed and developed so much in the last 30 years.  Being information literate is now of vital importance to being a functioning member of society no matter what your profession.

How is information literacy approached in your school or experience? Do you see gaps in the approach used, and if so, where? 

Information Literacy in the form of internet use and connection has been brought forward greatly in the last few years but teacher professional development to use these new technologies is lacking.

How can a transliteracy approach expand the teaching role of the TL beyond the traditional information literacy paradigm?

No idea! Will need to do more reading and research!

Overall all thoughts on Information Literacy

I’m beginning to see the reasons for the blogs and forums!! I great way for us as students to reflect on what we know and define our thoughts further! And for our lecturers to monitor our progress in learning.

I am wondering what information literacy in the early years looks like as most of the reading were based on middle and senior years of schooling. Something else to investigate in my spare time!

Overwhelmed

This week I have felt completely overwhelmed with the amount of reading that needs to be done. It doesn’t help that I began this week a week behind as last week all I could focus on was my assignment! This week’s topic of Information Literacy is so big and there are so many readings including case studies, full of lots of big words that I just want to bury my head in the sand and forget about this topic! However, I know that a major part of the next assessment in based on Information Literacy so this may not be the smartest idea I’ve had!  

I’m in two minds about receiving my marks back for my first assignment. I am fairly happy with the first part and not so happy with the second part. Part of me is looking forward to seeing how I can improve for the next assignment and the other part of me is a little afraid that I may not have passed! Anyway nothing can be done now but to wait.

Best get back to the readings!

Topic 3 – TL and the Curriculum

Webnair notes

·         Literacy is a passion and purpose that underpins all our work!

·         We need to teach students how to read words, images, sounds, video interaction simultaneously.

·         http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/

·         There are many ways the TL can be connected with the curriculum

·         http://www.bie.org/about/what_is_pbl

·         http://www.edutopia.org/10-tips-assessment-project-based-learning-resource-guide

·         http://www.pbl-online.org/pathway2.html

Problems/ Barriers to Inquiry based learning:

·         It’s a different of teaching and some people are reluctant to change what “has been working”!

·         May initially take more time as the students are not spoon fed but need to find information themselves

·         Teachers and TLs need to develop new skills and teaching strategies to use inquiry based learning

Inquiry based learning : children learn by doing it

Reflections on my teaching practice

I guess over the last few years, while either being pregnant or having very young children, teaching become a just a job that paid the bills. Before children it was easy to spend hours planning, preparing and marking. Since children I found that I had to find the quickest way to get things done. Professional Development became non-existent as I was just trying to keep on top of the essentials! I am finding that studying is opening my mind to how much help and professional development is out there, you just have to find it. I think that when I return to teaching in the future, I will be better prepared to get the balance better and continue to improve my teaching.

http://del.icio.us – a useful site where you can bookmark important/favourite pages.

Just finished reading the excerpt from Boss and Krauss, and found it really interesting. I have heard of Project Based Learning but not seen it in practice. It seems like a great way to for students to learn. I was really impressed with the way they gave some very basic instructions regarding how to set up blogs, etc. For someone who is learning lots about technology and its uses, I found this reading very informative. It has also shown me ways to improve my teaching practice.

Forum Questions

What is an appropriate role for the teacher librarian in curriculum development?

TLs should be collaborating with classroom teachers, to ensure the resources available for appropriate and useful and to keep current with that classroom teachers need.

What benefits can a school obtain from the active involvement of the teacher librarian in curriculum development?

Should a principal expect that teachers would plan units of work with the teacher librarian?

As ideal as this would be, I don’t think it is practically going to work all the time. It would be physically impossible for TLs to be involved in all units of work and not all teachers would appreciate/see the value of this. However, being available for teachers may be a more practical way.

How are students disadvantaged in schools that exclude the teacher librarian from curriculum development?

More heads/thoughts= more ideas/better outcomes

Done!

Have just submitted my first assessment in over 10 years. I must say  a rather scary thing! Overall, I think I am happy with what I have written and am hoping for a pass. Well, now I must go and spend some time with my family and then catch up on this week module! Good luck to all others still going...

The Role of the Teacher Librarian

Topic 2 - Activity - My thoughts to the following questions!

How should TLs prioritise the roles they play in the school?

I think that the priorities of the TL’s role will change depending on the school they are working in. Some schools will be more up to date with technologies; therefore the TL needs to be up to date as well. Some schools are not so up to date, so I think that part of the role in these schools would be to help these schools (over time) get up to date.  The TL role in the school should also be discussed with the stakeholders and the TL to see how the TL can best assist the school, teachers and students to learn and use the facilities most effectively. Once this has been established the TL could spend some time working out and planning where he/she wants/needs to take the Library.

Are there other roles played by TLs, e.g. social roles?

Schools are social places and therefore the role of the TL needs to involve this. Simple ways to effectively and positively play a part in the social aspect of the school, could be to be approachable, be happy to help, asking teachers and students what they need.  Another aspect would be to be involved in other aspects of school life, eg sports carnivals, so that the TL is seen as a person and not  a stranger who lives in the Library.

How do Lamb and Johnson's views on the TL's role compare and contrast with those of Purcell?

Lamb & Johnson identify 3 roles, Technologist, Teacher Leader & Collaborator. I think that Purcell extends these and gives them more defined roles. Technologies matches with Purcell’s Information Specialist, Teacher Leader has been split in to 2 separate parts.  I think that Collaborator incorporates teacher, and leader. I think that Lamb & Johnson fail to incorporate the Program Administrator, even though these mundane tasks can be done by anyone, it is important that the TL oversees this aspect.

What existing tasks/roles do you think you as a TL could give up in order to be as proactive as Lamb and Johnson want you to be?

I think the Lamb & Johnson want the basic tasks, such as cataloguing, shelving books should be given up. To a point I agree however,  these tasks need to be done. I guess that they want a Library assistant to complete these tasks. I think however that it would be a shame if a TL was above this basic tasks and from time to time should do them to ensure that they are involved in all aspects of the Library.

Whether you agree with the roles Purcell identifies

 I do agree with her roles, as I think that she identifies that each role is varied and can involved more that what she has stated. Maybe that’s were Herring’s article is more descriptive. Maybe she is trying to be more concise!

 Whether you would change the order of the roles she identifies, e.g. should teacher come first.

I don’t think that any one part of the role of the TL is more important, as all are important and when they are combined it is the most effective a TL can be!

This Week!

I spent last week trying to get ahead in the modules so that I could spend this week focussed on my assignment.

Some of my thoughts on topic 2 are as follows:

      I think that the role of the Leader needs to come first as it is essential for the TL to be leading the way. However, the leadership needs to ensure that collaboration occurs with teachers, principal, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Library is working with the school not its own agenda! TL’s need to lead by assisting those who use (or could use) their facilities.

      I love the thought that Teacher Librarians are a vital element in vertical integration between year levels (Purcell, 2010, p. 32), I think that this is often something that is overlooked in many schools.

      I’m a little worried about the emphasis of Teacher Librarian as technologist, especially with my lack of skills in this area. Hopefully over the next few years, I will become more confident and competent in the area of technology!

The last week has been filled with continuing my research and starting to write my essay. I felt rather silly trying to work out the basic structure of an essay, as it has been over 10 years since I have written one. Teaching year twos how to write a narrative is just a little different. I am so grateful my sister is a senior English teacher and willing to give me guidance with the basics of how to write an essay! My aim is to have my essay written by the end of the weekend before the MasterChef finale on Sunday night!! Here’s to a weekend full of writing, in between nappy changes!

Technology

Technology has never been something that has come easy, I think that I generally do it the hardest way possible! After being unable to view the webinars till this afternoon, thank goodness for the hints on the forum, I felt that I was unable to get anything else done until I had view those webinars! 9pm Friday night and that is done. My next task is to work on my blog, which needs lots of work! I tried adding a few blogs to follow and think that was done successfully.

My aim for this week was to continue to research for my first assessment. I was a little freaked out earlier on this week that it was all a bit overwhelming and had to remind myself that I will be able to do my study, even if it is 5 minutes between changing nappies and feeding children! Every 5 minutes counts.

I have been thinkg about what I think the role of a Teacher Librarian should be in a school Library and I am finding it difficult! From the readings that I have done over the last 2 weeks, I am beginning to realise that is (or should be) much larger that I thought. I guess my initial thoughts would be to say to work with classroom teachers to best prepare our students! I am sure that over the next few years this thought will change and develop into something much deeper!