Technology
is an integral part of a teacher librarian's professional life. From
the circulation system to professional communications, technology provides
the tools needed in today's information-rich world.
Gain the perspective of Joyce Valenza, the teacher librarian at Srpingfield Township High School (PA) in her online article from Tech & Learning: 14 Ways K-12 Librarians can Teach Social Media (Sept. 2009).
One minute you may be on the cell phone talking to a teacher on the third floor about a technical issue. The next, you may be getting email from a professional colleague in China who wants to set up a video conference with the high school science teachers. In between, students are checking out books using the automated circulation system, locating materials using electronic databases, watching a documentary on the DVD player, and taking notes on the laptop.
All this is happening between 8:01 AM and 8:03 AM.
This project (Video clip below) was conducted as part of dissertation research implementing the use of networked learning and construction of personal learning environments in a 7th grade life science class.
What does your middle school library have to offer students like this?
Read S. Martinez's posting, Students say Teachers Limit Technology Use at Generation YES. She discussed issues related to technology use in schools; primarily issues on discrepancies between student use and teacher / school policy and practice. Food for thought, and perhaps we teacher librarians (teachers too) can share discussion with teacher and administrator colleagues. The posted article connects to related writings by Doug Johnson and Will Richardson; all worth attention.
Also read a recent report at eSchool News, Research Dispels Common Ed-tech Myths (June 2010). Are new teachers more likely to be savvy tech users than veterans in the classroom?
How do teacher librarians use technology?
The teacher librarian uses technology for information, instruction, administration, collaboration, and communication.
- Information
- Instruction
- Administration
- Collaboration
- Communication
Today's effective teacher librarian should serve a key role in the selection of, the instruction about, and utilization of electronic resources and technology tools such as online databases, Internet resources, and streaming video programs - - the varied equipment and technologies used in the school, classroom, and learning community. Teacher librarians should model the effective application of instructional software and technology tools in their planning documents, presentations and lessons, and professional communications. They can develop and distribute high quality, professional documents that convey evidence-based support for their ideas and programs. These communications often incorporate data from a library automation system combined with digital imaging and computer-generated graphic elements.
Read
Teachers’ Link
to Electronic Resources in the Library Media Center: A Local Study
of Awareness, Knowledge, and Influence by T.D.
Williams. School Library Media Research; 7, 2004. (Access requires login)
Also read Teachers’ Link to Electronic Resources in the Library Media Center: A Case Study of Awareness, Knowledge, and Influence by T. D. Wiiliams, B. J. Grimble, & M. Irwin. Knowledge Quest, Mar/Apr 2005; 33(4), 26-9. (Access requires login, download PDF document)
Read Brewer, S. and Milan, P. SLJ's
Technology Survey. School Library Journal, Jun. 2005;
51(6), 49-55. (Access requires login)
The article contains
the results of a survey on the planning, purchasing and instructional
roles of library media specialists in providing technology resources
in their schools.
In order to extend the school media center's presence beyond the constraints of their building location(s) and school day schedules, today's teacher librarian also can maintain a "virtual library" presence through online, digital collections that may incorporate student and teacher resources; collaborative projects, pathfinders, links to the online catalog and database resources, selected Internet portals, plus provide needed online instruction and assistance to users.
Read Looking to Ramp Up Your Library Web Site? Try a Blog byC. Foote (Jan. 2010). School Library Journal
Also read:
The School Library Media Center Web Page by D. J. Baumbach. Knowledge Quest, Jan/Feb 2005; 33(3), 8-12. (Access requires login, download PDF document)
Read Building Web Sites That Work for Your Media Center by D. Warlick. Knowledge Quest, Jan/Feb 2005; 33(3), 8-12. (Access requires login, download PDF document)
The teacher librarian must be proactive in helping teachers and students use technology resources and tools - - whether that be learning to use a digital camera or handheld PDA, finding information about using blogs in learning, or considering the educational value of online simulations and electronic games.
Teacher librarians are often centrally involved with a school's televison studio, distance education initiatives, and networking / media distribution systems. At any given time they might be creating step-by-step instructions for using a new equipment item, beginning the planning of an upcoming staff development session, developing a lesson presentation to use in the classroom, and finalizing a project proposal to take to the school board . . . all tasks involving technology. All of this means that an effective school media librarian must continually look for ways to effectively partner with students, teachers, administrators, and other support personnel in the effective use of technology tools. One person cannot do it all.
Visit and explore the ideas, information, and instructional strategies at An Innovation Odyssey from Intel and Technology in the Classroom Channel from Education World.
Is technology an effective tool in schools?
Many studies indicate that technology is important as a tool in teaching and learning.
Read the Impact of Education Technology on Student Achievement by J. Schacter (Feb. 1999), Milken Family Foundation (pdf download, requires free registration).
Why do we need library media specialists? With budget constraints, some schools are asking whether teacher librarians are really needed in this time of Internet and technology specialists. What do you think?
Read the article Why
We Still Need Libraries and Librarians (Mar. 2010) by J. McKenzie at From Now On.
Imagine a school without needing classrooms, where students can attend online classes any time day or night, and any or all days of the week. Imagine students working online, cooperating and collaborating with others from a wide variety of ethnicities, backgrounds, and geographic locations. Consider students being able to complete courses of study not available at their local school. What you are beginning to visualize are the possibilities of the virtual high school.
Many states (FL, IL, MD, MI, and KY for example), some school districts (York County, VA, Springfield, OH, and Clintondale Virtual School, MI), colleges and universities, and several enterprise organizations - - profit and nonprofit (Virtual High School, Kaplan Online High School, and KC Distance Learning) - - have established accredited virtual middle and high school programs. Learn more at:
- North American Council for Online Learning
The mission of the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) is to increase educational opportunities and enhance learning by providing collegial expertise and leadership in K-12 online teaching and learning. - United States Distance Learning Association
- Virtual High School Meanderings
This blog focuses on issues pertaining to distance education within the K-12 system, specifically the use of virtual high schools.
What if any do you think are the significant ramifications of this virtual high school movement for teacher librarians of the future?
What is a technology plan?
A technology plan specifies the manner in which technology is to be integrated into the school curriculum. In the state of Indiana, every school corporation must have an approved and current three-year technology plan (per Indiana Code: IC20-10.1-25-1.2).
Examine the Tech
Plan Guidelines and Checklist from Office of Learning Resources,
Indiana Department of Education.
Explore resources at the National
Education Technology Plan (Mar 2006) site.
Visit the National Center for Technology
Planning. Here you will find links to several technology plans:
Planning Section has state, district, and building level plans. Several of the
links are broken; however, there are some good example documents here. Several
articles on technology planning can also be read; be sure to look at Developing
Effective Technology Plans by J. See, MN Dept. of Education.
It is important that teacher librarians become familiar with their school district and building's technology plan(s). They should work to insure that needed revisions are made to to fit new and emerging technologyies and actual use and practices in the classroom and learning environments. Focus the pland on the actions and processes needed for completing identified goals and tasks. Be sure to include the measures to be employed in assessment and summarize results in followup reports.
Explore the Office of Learning Resources website from the Indiana Department of Education (Out-of-state readers my substitute and/or compare to equivalent website(s) of other state departments of education or public instruction).
Check Your Understanding
Information Power: The library media specialist is a primary leader in the school's use of all kinds of technologies - both instructional and informational - to enhance learning. (p. 54)
Read that section online in the preview of Information Power at Google Books.
Write about day in the life of a media specialist. How many different technology applications can you fit into a narrative describing one day? Keep in mind the use of technology for information, instruction, administration, collaboration, and communication.
Make It Real
The teacher librarian must be a teacher in the use of all kinds of technologies. What are your strengths and weaknesses in the use of technology?
As you reflect on the use of technology for information, instruction, administration, collaboration, and communication, develop a list of priorities for your own professional development.
Read More About It
Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary
and Secondary School Students: 2002. National Center for Education Statistics.
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/2005010/
Early Connections from Northwest Educational
Technology Consortium & Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
http://www.netc.org/earlyconnections/
Connecting technology with the way young children learn: resources and information for educators and care providers.
Educational Technology in Public School Districts (Fall 2008). National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010003
Enhance Learning with Technology
http://www.enhancelearning.ca/
Links portal links on to help teachers discover what a useful tool technology can be in the classroom, develop the processes of integrating computers into the learning environment, and locate good resources for professional development.
Minkel, W. A Smarter System. School
Library Journal, Nov 2003; 49(11), 48. (Access requires login)
http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/cgi-bin/proxy.pl?url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=tru
. . .
Automation software is better than ever – even encourages sharing (alludes to need, costs, etc. related to technology updates).
Related Article:
Minkel, W. Automation Systems Update.
School Library Journal, Dec 2003; 49(12), 30. (Access requires login)
http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/cgi-bin/proxy.pl?url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direc
. . .
National Educational
Technology Standards Project (NETS)
from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
http://cnets.iste.org/index.shtml
Includes the updated ISTE Standards.
Savage, C. Lights, Camera, Action.
School Library Journal, Aug. 2002; 48(8) 39. (Access requires login)
http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/cgi-bin/proxy.pl?url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&Au
. . .
The ample rewards of turning your media center into a student-run TV
studio.
Pew Internet & American
Life Project
http://www.pewinternet.org/
The Project produces reports exploring the impact of the internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. Check out the Topics index.
Technology and Young Children from National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.techandyoungchildren.org/
To lead discussions, share research and information and demonstrate best practices regarding technology so it can be used to benefit children aged birth through eight years.
Teenagers
on the Web: 60 Usability Guidelines for Creating Compelling Websites
for Teens. Nielsen Norman Group Report (pdf download).
http://www.nngroup.com/reports/teens/
This report is based on usability research with 38 teenagers, who varied
by age (13-17) and by country of origin (mainly United States).
Other Tech Resources
CNET
http://reviews.cnet.com/
Product information portal with new software and equipment reviews added weekly.
Related section at CNET:
http://download.cnet.com/
PC Magazine Product Guides and Reviews
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1738,13,00.asp
WhatIs
http://whatis.techtarget.com/
Technology terms defined . . .