We discussed (in varying depths) and viewed many different types of tools and resources for location and access of information in the last few days -- search engines and directories, free websites, library websites and pathfinders, databases, -- all with the goal of steering students toward a variety of resources relevant to their search. How might you make these available to your students and teachers and provide opportunities to teach awareness and successful use of these tools and resources in your library? (We're beginning some vision thoughts here...) Joyce Valenza created a page, which explains the search tools we discussed (and more!) if some of them are fuzzy:
http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/searchtip.html
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17 comments:
As a teacher librarian, I would create a power point presentation about how to use me - just as my group is creating for assignment #4. Really, I think it is a pretty touchy subject to present new information to some teachers. I wuld want to do it in a very lightly suggestive way. Hopefully it would excite the teachers - not burden them.
I'm particularly interested in using parthfinders- for staff and for students. For me, the most time-consuming part of internet research is finding relevant, valid sites, so being given a list of resources would be a godsend. To implement their use, I would probably offer them/make them for teachers (and their students) to match their curricula, then slowly teach them how to create them for their students as well.
I agree with Debi about presenting the information in a very careful way. As a newbie teacher librarian, I really want to meet with teachers in the different grade levels, become somewhat familiar with the curriculum being used, and prioritze the needs the teachers tell me they have before I determine what approach I will take with each person. I will definitely have a much better response to this blog by September. However, in the beginning, I will serve Irish Soda Bread with fresh raspberry jam for some inservices...
--I think of particular people when a site of interest is unveiled, just as I would think of a person that a book might interest. A personal email might work well explaining you thought the link might help them.
--If you have a webpage, you could continuously be editing your choices to include in your pathfinders.
--Maybe a monthly(?) email going out to staff regarding new and recommended sites to visit and categorize them for ease of use.
--I haven't thought of my food bribe yet ...hhmmm... pumkpin sheet cake or Bailey's Irish Creme Bread via Loy of Loyal Heights Elem
I'm going to Bette & Shelly's inservices! Mmmmmm...soda bread. So, maybe a good way to empower teachers to access library services would be to create a Resource Wiki. The librarian would probably be the main person editing; however, teachers have lots of great resources already. Great place to compile & reinforce the wealth of knowledge in a building.
I think I would definitely use a library website as well, though, to manage an all-inclusive, student-accessible place for finding what you need. Maybe a monthly email with a link to the site get feedback & promote.
Bailey's Irish Creme bread?! You're bringing that on Friday, right, Shelly?
I like all the ideas people are considering. I think to keep things as streamlined as possible for teachers,students, and myself, I would devote a section of my media center web page to search tools and tips.
As Bette suggested, keeping track of what different classes are doing and listening to/anticipating what they need would be helpful.
Perhaps, as Shelly stated, some kind of a monthly research tip would appeal to staff, or perhaps a list_serve for those interested in more frequent updates.
I think some of you have stole some of my wonderful ideas. I would also have an in-service for teachers and classes. Give an overview of what is out there and how to access the information. I would have a manageable amount of websites so I wouldn't overwhelm everyone. I really liked the idea of having a Resource Wiki. That is a great way to collaborate with staff members.
I’ve been thinking about a power point presentation as well. Agree with other participants that it might be a touchy subject for some teachers. So, first I will try to approach students with my power point presentation having in mind that our teachers will see it and get excited about some of the sources. If it is ready and easy to use- they will use it. The ability to provide sources of information and tool for better learning require a great deal of knowing of curriculum. This is the very first assignment once I get a job.
Two things jump out for me.
1) Pathfinders. Love 'em. I have pages and pages of bookmarks I've made for myself over the years, but how much better they would be with a short descriptive tag on each one! I would keep a list of them on my main website, but also (like Shelly said) send out "personalized" ones periodically to individual teachers. Nothing fancy, maybe just one or two, but I think teachers would be more likely to look at them that way. Like, "Oh, I saw this site and thought of your unit on the decline of honeybees."
2) I would want to pick maybe one subscription database, like maybe Proquest, to subscribe to (if my district didn't already do so) because I find it so frustrating to do hours of research, find one article that might help, and be told that it's available by subscription only.
oops, sangwij, that's me, Mirjana
I also think that creating pathfinders is a great way to help teachers and students. I am a bit addicted to delicious but also think that creating a pathfinder page linked to the library website would be helpful. The websites would be for general needs such as lesson idea sites as well as sites to help with specific units of study.
PS
I'll take the Bailey's with out the creme break, please.
Debi - I'm glad you recognize that offering short tidbits to teachers in order to pique their interest is a say to get them excited. If we go on and on during a staff meeting, we'll lose them for sure. Maybe even get a negative result.
Cate - Yep, find out what their teaching and offer to comb the web locating resources for them. Any teacher, who has done this for themselves, knows it's time-consuming and would appreciate the offer.
Bette - Yum! Sounds like you should practice your baking on us! :)
Shelly - the email idea is a great one. Keeps reminding them that you're working for them and their students.
Heather - that virtual library really needs to be a "portal" for your school's information needs. You really have to store your lessons, downloadable helpful documents, pathfinders, etc. there to make them accessible 24/7 to your constituents. Good thinking!
Anne - yep, streamlined. good
Katy - Offering 'mini-lesson' on skills and tools your staff has been asking about and needing, maybe a couple times a month is great. Or perhaps you just have a "come on in to the library" on Wed. afternoons and have it more-open ended. OR you can go to them in their rooms. They don't always have to come to the library.
Lana - Your teachers do need to feel that you understand what it is that they do. That's why I'm glad most librarians have been teachers first. Implied credibility and all.
Sangwij/Mirjana - I like what you said at the end of your first idea, it shows you're thinking about them and what they might need. They'll see you as an advocate for them. :)
Debbie - putting your pathfinders on your library page IS preferable than Del.icio.us. However, delicious can be share with your staff and students as a way to store bookmarks for themselves. You can even "push" suggested websites to them if you know they have an account.
I agree with Cate about creating pathfinders for staff and students. I would post these on the library web site but also offer to put curriculum specific pathfinders on teacher web sites. I also think that it would be very useful to share my pathfinders with my district librarians and/or work together to improve out pathfinders.
My custodian makes a to die for rum cake. It involves pouring a bottle of rum over the top after it has baked and then letting it cool. Everyone seems very agreeable after having a piece so I think I'll be serving that.
Wow, you all have great ideas. I find one of the best ways to get teachers to see the usefulness of something is to show them in a grassroots way. Teach the kids and have them show the teachers what they are able to do. Make sure you have a couple of student "experts" to help the teacher back in the classroom. Make sure you are available when the teacher comes to you asking how to do it. Sometimes all it takes is one teacher to get excited about something for it to spread through the school. I'm referring to my experience in an elementary school.
Add that to a power point focusing on a select few informational tech strategies that teachers can use right away and I think you would increase informational tech use immediately as well as making yourself indispensable as a resource.
I agree with Cate in that pathfinders would be top on my power point list.
I think, after reading all these great comments here, that we have a plan: getting familiar with the curriculum and units of study, offering information in small doses, being responsive to individual needs and sensitive to people's workloads, building relationships, enlisting the help and support of students and other teacher librarians, using PowerPoints, e-mail, school websites, inservice, and personal contact to convey information. I like all of the ideas people have suggested. I'm especially interested in pathfinders, and I'm intrigued by the notions of using wikis (Heather) and list_serves (Anne) as communication channels. I agree with Laurie that having teachers see what kids can do might have an effect (hearing the WillowWeb podcast today increased my interest in the use of podcasting). Having several teachers you've helped or who are already comfortable with some kinds of instructional technology share what they've learned and done might have an effect as well.
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