Libraries and Learning

Are you a Web 2.0 TL? What compelling argument caused you to become a TL? Many of us started in school libraries as we loved books – that is not enough nowadays. In an article from the Times Online, a university academic has stated that

“Technological change is now so fast that it is hard to predict what the next development will be but Broughton insists: “The professional who is trained in the principles of managing information will not be fazed by this change. The medium is not the message – you respond as the medium changes.

“Do not go into library work if you do not like IT. If you really prefer books, think about the book trade or publishing, not librarianship.”(Cilip.org.uk)

Teacher Librarians have aresponsibility to engage with digital tools even more so than librarians. We are primarily concerned with student learning and our students deserve and need learing at a variety of levels and witha  variety of digital media tools.

Do you consider you have the skills and curriculum ideas to work in a Web 2.0 environment? Have you developed online learning products or strategies to use for your students? Whether the school is small with a half day per week TL or a large school with more than 1 full time TL, consider how you can provide the right mix for your students?

Check these out and then keep an eye out for ASLA NSW’s new course online for TLs:

WebTools4u2use

Web 2.0 for Teacher Librarians

In a recent interview, Alan Moore of V for Vendetta fame stated:

“All too often education actually acts as a form of aversion therapy, that what we’re really teaching our children is to associate learning with work and to associate work with drudgery so that the remainder of their lives they will possibly never go near a book because they associate books with learning, learning with work and work with drudgery. Whereas after a hard day’s toil, instead of relaxing with a book they’ll be much more likely to sit down in front of an undemanding soap opera because this is obviously teaching them nothing, so it is not learning, so it is not work, it is not drudgery, so it must be pleasure. And I think that that is the kind of circuitry that we tend to have imprinted on us because of the education process.”

Is this what we do? If so, how can we turn this around? As teacher librarians, we often discuss how to engage kids in reading – perhaps we need to turn the circuitry off that Moore is talking about.

Consider graphic novels – Di Laycock and Carol Snowball have researched this and found one way of engaging kids with books, teaching strategies also exist. Or perhaps a re-organisation of our libraries to reflect a colour bias!

We (ASLA NSW committee) have been tossing around the idea of running some online professional development. In particular, we thought it might be useful to run some tutorials on Web 2.0 skills.

I was wondering what your thoughts were on the concept?

Would you be interested in participating?

Would you be interested in mentoring participants?

Thoughts? Advice? Ideas?

Leading Learning through Literacy & Literature

When: 8.30am to 3.30pm on Thursday 15th May

Where: Panthers World of Entertainment, Penrith

Cost: $110 for members, $135 for non-members.  All prices include GST.

Some of the feedback we have received over the last few professional learning events indicates that you (our members, teacher librarians and/or other information professionals) would really like to attend workshops run by your peers.  You are interested in seeing and hearing about what other innovative programs are being run in school libraries.

Therefore, we have endeavoured to put together a program that includes teacher librarians from primary and secondary schools sharing about what they are doing in their libraries.

Topics include:

• Gaining literacy skills through blogging
• Reviews of CBCA Award nominees and the latest fiction
• Promoting literature through reading programs in secondary school
• Engaging reluctant readers
• Critical thinking through literature
• Investigating Visual Literacy
• Reading schemes

In addition, we have several authors who will be sharing their thoughts and experiences:

• Donna Rawlins
• Suzanne Gervay
• Queenie Chan
• Jeni Mawter

I have the delightful jobs of announcing that the following library and literature ’stars’ will be attending our conference and presenting keynotes, workshops or participating in panel discussions:

• Deb Abela
• Kate Forsyth
• Libby Gleeson
• Lyn Hay
• Stephen Kemmis
• Paul MacDonald
• Judy O’Connell
• Lisa Shanahan
• Paul Stafford
• Karen Tayleur
• Kirsty Williamson

For more information about each of these speakers, visit the conference website

While visiting the website, download a registration form so that you can ensure a seat at what is shaping up to be a great conference!

Both Gary Green and Duncan Ball have been confirmed as guest speakers at the upcoming conference.

Gary will be presenting two mini keynotes (topic to be confirmed – stay tuned!), while Duncan will be the guest author at our Celebration Reception.  Numbers are limited for the Celebration Reception, so make sure you register early.

Registration is now open for the ASLA NSW State Conference 2008: School Libraries Leading Learning.  Jointly organised by ASLA (NSW) Inc. and the School Libraries and Information Literacy Unit (NSW Department of Education and Training), the conference will include addresses and workshops from leading educators, authors and researchers from Australia and around the world.

Speakers include Dr Ross Todd, Lyn Hay, Paul Stafford and Dr Kirsty Williamson.  Keep your eye on this blog and the ASLA NSW website for updates on who else will be joining us.

Interested?  Head over to the ASLA NSW Conference pages and download a registration form.  Join teacher librarians, ICT teaching staff and other leading educators from all over NSW in this fabulous opportunity for networking and learning.

The last Web 2.0 tools for learning workshop for 2007 was held in Nowra at St.John the Evangelist High School. Thank you Cecily!

Image source

These workshops have provided teachers and teacher librarians with an opportunity to learn how Web 2.0 can work for learning. Collaborative tools are essential for teacher librarians and other library staff but how can we ensure that these tools move into effective learning?

Have you checked out the Heyjude blog? Judy O’Connell was the John H Lee Award winner for 2007