Presenting….Coldstream Library Learning Commons!

Here is how the new and improved Coldstream Elementary Library Learning Commons webpage looks:

You will find my final vision product through the link, Mrs. Acob’s Website !!!!

      I loved doing my final vision project, as I am walking away with a useful, helpful, engaging, safe and curated space to house resources and links as a means of communication for my learning community!  I have wanted to do this for a few years and am so happy to have it started!  Initially I set out to create a link for teachers to learn about the technology available to them in our school.  I was looking for a one stop option to house this information for teachers.  My vision adapted to become a central and inviting library homepage that would be useful for my whole learning community.  I believe my site is a welcoming first impression to our school library and I hope my goal of it being easy to navigate has been attained.  I have information in place for students and teachers, but in the future I plan to have more for students, teachers and parents: perhaps study tips for students, e-books, a place for book reviews, internet safety for teachers and parents, more video tutorials on technology, and updated links.

      I feel things went well with this project, but with only 300 words to reflect here I cannot go into all the details of my MANY technology speed bumps I navigated through!  Safe to say I have stepped out of my comfort zone and spent way too many hours talking at my computer and asking it questions, like “why can’t I move this tab over????”.   I originally started with my given school website (Scholantis), but was too frustrated with its tricky-to-use interface.  It was way too technical for me and I felt confined to their style of webpage, as well. 

retrieved from: https://www.weebly.com/ca

I moved to Weebly, which allowed for different templates and it was much easier to make a simple website where I learned to embed videos, add links, and make new tabs.  It was a HUGE learning curve for me, but attainable with Weebly.  I can also share that I definitely took longer than Aaron with his one-go-at-it

retrieved from: https://screencast-o-matic.com/

screencast-o-matic videos.  However, it is a simple site to use and one I will be using again to add more videos to explain technology our school has to offer.  I know many of you are expert tweeters, but I was a virgin tweeter at the start of this course so was proud of myself that after some trial and error, I managed to add this to my home page.  It is going to be an excellent way to communicate with parents, share out ideas, display student work, and demonstrate the learning taking place in our space!

Screencast-o-matic on Microbits

      I use the word ‘final’ vision project loosely in this post, as I have more to add and this is in no way a finished project.  I know my site will need to change and adapt to meet the learning needs of my learning community as my community grows and changes.  A big focus  on my site is resources for our school wide inquiry for students and teachers.  I know this will be an area that will be added to and changed, as we journey on this inquiry path as a school. I will gladly take feedback from all of you to make my site better (please note…the sd22 digital resource link will NOT work for you, as you need to be on one of our school computers).   I will say I feel triumphant with my final artifact and know that with my new found knowledge, I can be sharing out the site to my colleagues and students!

References

- Coldstream Elementary School. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.sd22.bc.ca/school/coldstream/Programs/library/Pages/default.aspx

Heather, A. (2018). MRS. ACOB'S WEBSITE. Retrieved from https://coldstreamlibrary.weebly.com/

Screen Recorder & Video Editor | Screencast-O-Matic. (2018). Retrieved from https://screencast-o-matic.com/

Weebly is the easiest way to create a website, store or blog. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.weebly.com/ca

500 Hats

retrieved from: http://500hats.edublogs.org/

      I cannot agree more that teacher librarians are looked to for everything from evaluating and acquiring new resources to developing new skills.  I like Barbara Braxton’s blog on the 500 Hats of a TL, as our role is certainly becoming quite varied!   My favourite way to share what I learn with colleagues is through collaboration with them IN their classroom.  I get to connect and learn with students.  It also allows me to share the new technology or learning strategy with a teacher as they learn to use it, which I hope gives them the confidence to be able to try it on their own the next time.  If lucky they may even collaborate with another teacher and the ripple effect will take over!  We have a technology crew (District Technology Innovation Coordinators) in our district with each having a family of schools that they connect with, introduce new technology to, and help with guidance and expertise.  They, thankfully, see the value in a TL position and like to train us with new technology with hopes we can go back and share with everyone. 

retrieved from:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-the-microbit

Last year they gave every TL a set of microbits for their school, if we attended the workshop on how to use them!  I have placed an emphasis on building teacher relationships the past 4 years plus getting to know the needs of my learning community and I hope this helps me be able to share out these kind of new ideas.

      As far as my admin goes, mine is energetic, supportive, and forward thinking.  We ran into each other at our last pro-d day where we were at an innovative education conference.  We spent our whole lunch hour bubbling with excitement about plans for the school with our newly acquired ideas.  I am not sure I will be able to keep up with her, but together we share, plan, and support new ideas and our visions for the school.

      To be honest, I think I have more I need to be doing than I am actually doing to be more responsive to the needs of my fellow educators, staff, and parents.  I do think a library website with lists of tools and links to resources and teaching ideas would help meet professional development of staff.  Having it all organized in one easy to find place would at least give staff an idea of what is out there!  Videos on how to incorporate technology into their class would give them inspiration I hope.  I like this quote from 7 Reasons Why Digital Literacy is Important for Teachers: Digital literacy doesn’t require that teachers become experts, but it does require that they understand the digital tools that can unlock their deeper teaching potential.   Although I have emphasized mutual respect and trust with colleagues in the past, this year I can spend more time helping teachers on HOW to use resources with the redesigned curriculum and help teachers’ exploration of curriculum topics and competencies.  I think it is important to gain input from staff in regards to areas we need to explore further.  I have always wanted to get a library committee together that would include staff, parents, and students to create a solid vision for our space and to discuss areas requiring improvement or change.

      I have done well at weeding the student library collection but not the teacher resources.  This week’s assignment has me thinking about how I could handle this.  I am thinking I will put on display teacher resources at a staff meeting.  When it is my turn to share I can remind teacher to browse the resources and ask them which they use and then discard those that no one is using.  Once that is weeded we can then look to see what areas we would like to see broadened.   I came across Anna Crosland’s great idea to get books circulating.  I could do this with teacher resources and our regular collection:

 

Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/crosland_a

      To continue to be responsive to the needs of my educational community, I plan to carry on being receptive and available to teachers’ needs, continue to model my own personal inquiry and improve and share my own teaching skills.  I will continue to bring in experts or skype with them where my expertise cease.  I’d like to follow the Working with Colleagues, A Guide for ICT Mentors as it states that a TL is to provide colleagues with training, support, and advice, and collaborate with them as they move towards more effectively integrating ICT into their teaching and learning (2002, P.14).  Okay, so this article dates itself with the older model computers on the front cover, but some great nuggets of advice in the write up like how to assess the needs and interest of teachers and setting personal action plans.  One other piece of advice I took from it was to start small and build on success (2002, p.23), as you can start to feel overwhelmed with so much one is trying to do! 

      In addition to starting small, I think it is important to work at the comfort level of each colleague.  Edutopia has some good ideas on how I can work with teachers with the tools they have or are willing to use.  For example if you only have one computer in a room, I can offer a bite size option such as: starting a collaborative blog, curate resources, build a google site to house class content, or record screencasts for providing onscreen instruction.  

retrieved from:
http://500hats.edublogs.org/

Finally, we have revived our TL LSA and this means we have the opportunity to share with each other, but also a chance to start a TL mentor ship program to work together with newer TLs.

References

7 Reasons Why Digital Literacy is Important for Teachers. (2018). Retrieved from https://rossieronline.usc.edu/blog/teacher-digital-literacy/

(2002). Retrieved from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/kindergarten-to-grade-12/teach/pdfs/curriculum/appliedskills/mentors.pdf

Braxton, B. (2018). 500 Hats | 500 Hats. Retrieved from http://500hats.edublogs.org/500-hats/

Crosland, A. (2018). Anna Crosland (@crosland_a) on Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/crosland_a

How to Integrate Technology | Edutopia. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-implementation