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Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fanDecember 3, 2008I've been thinking about change for quite some time now. I knew, when I helped write the proposal more than three years ago, that our state's CFF program was going to permanently change the way the way our students learn, the way our teachers teach, and the way I do business. Heck, that ball was already rolling and rolling fast. This week it seems like the laptops finally hit the fan. Both the state library listserve and the CFF listserve are abuzz. It started when one librarian expressed surprise and dismay that the school's CFF (technology integration) coach was unaware of our beloved Access PA POWER Library. Some of the librarians on the list noted that their coaches were aware of and promoted those resources. Others reported that their coaches either were unaware of them or ignored them. Those posts clearly revealed a high level of librarian anxiety. Among the big issues . . . With laptops now in all English, science, math, and social studies classrooms:
The argument is itself a wake up call. Fact: Librarians are information and communications technology specialists. Our Standards for the 21st-Century Learner demand this of us. We are not allowed to pass on new strategies for gathering, evaluating, organizing, understanding, and communicating information. Whining about Google vs. databases and books makes us look old and small. We are also all about RSS feeds and information portals and wikis and Nings and blogs and personal information portals and social networking. In fact, we should be leading in the use of new tools. We should lead the charge advocating for their use as an intellectual freedom issue. We should also be helping our CFF coaches and teachers integrate the tools we know and love so well, as well as the skills we commonly value. To be fair, the CFF coaches in our state were treated to grant-funded bootcamps and online training. The teacher-librarians were not, though we were invited to collaborative sessions prior to our own state conference. Brenda Boyer, who is one of several coaches who is also a librarian, weighed in and gave me permission to share her response: To all of you despairing over the encroachment of territory, or of simply feeling ignored by your teachers, I must say stop complaining and start doing something about it! Don't just sit back and watch the world pass you! It is your responsibility as a librarian to keep up with technology, educational trends, and the best research methods. It is also your responsibility to market your library AND yourself as the key to research success. If your teachers don't know about Power Library, then seize the opportunity to teach them! Push - pull -drag... whatever it takes! Be creative.I know a few things clearly. I must teach in and outside the library--through my website, my pathfinders, my wikis and my online lessons. Sometimes I must leave the library and teach where the laptops live. Sometimes the laptops will walk back to our library learning space for our resources, our environment, and for me. I must partner with our coach, Ken Rodoff. For me that's a joy. We've always worked well together. We've always learned from each other and share. Of course, the elephant in many of our rooms is personality. What happens when you throw two people, who don't necessarily love each other or respect each other's skills, together in a school? What happens when the librarian (or the library) is misperceived or perceived as a technology dinosaur? As merely a room rather than as laboratory, production, presentation space? What happens when that perception is close to truth? Clinging to databases as your superpower is not going to cut it. Librarians cannot wait for the killer free seminar to hit their counties. We must train ourselves, not only in specific apps, but in embracing new strategies that engage and promote learning. We must also smile and laugh and play a little and not be afraid to make mistakes. We must see opportunities instead of roadblocks. No more yeah buts. Shift happened. Our response is not optional. Posted by Joyce Valenza Ph.D on December 3, 2008 | Comments (8)
December 3, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan dmcordell commented: Joyce,
December 4, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan MichaelNailor commented: Just an interesting example -- High school students across the country in December are debating the topic that social networking sites have "on balance" a positive impact on the United States. It has been very difficult to find voices in our profession that have anything positive to say about social networking. Lots of fear of loss of control and lots of concern about privacy and predators. We really need to pay attention to Joyce's call to embrace new learning strategies -- or at least discuss them in a "fair and balanced" way.
December 4, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan Karen Douse commented: Amen, Sister! Library programs and librarians will continue to be relevant and necessary as long as we keep learning ourselves. Our school adopted laptops for all students in grades 7-12 in 1999 - librarians were part of the planning committee and the program's biggest cheerleaders. Since then our circulation has increased steadily - this year it is higher than any year in the past. Our students use an appropriate mix of print and online materials for their research. Our students also read for pleasure - a lot. We had to add an additional librarian to our staff - because of requests from teachers. We collaborate with teachers to plan student research projects. Yes, we still promote books - when they are the best resource. We also blog, help teachers set up wikis, and show student how to use OneNote for research organization. Most of us have Facebook pages and belong to several Ning networks. We are in an academic department that includes both library and technology. We work WITH the tech integrator as part of the school's technology team. And if we can do it, anyone can! However, a change in mindset, patience, and persistence is needed to move this type of program forward.
December 4, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan joycevalenza commented: What powerful comments! Thanks. So what's the disconnect? Are we, as a profession, really in two different camps?
December 5, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan Sharon Ellner commented: Wow! This is straight and to the point! The librarian of the 21st Century is a key person in each school IF they have the skills for information, literacy AND technology. These positions are greatly needed and will be used as long as the librarian or LMS is up-to-date on skills. Talk about job security! Learn about these new tools and then teach others! You will find much more traffic in your library once you start bringing these new tools to staff and students. Joyce, this is very well-written!
December 10, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan Nancy White commented: Wow! Bravo, Joyce! It does seem that we are in 2 different camps. I believe the role of the teacher-librarian has evolved - to the point where we are most valuable as an instructional coach, helping teachers to create powerful learning experiences for students using a variety of resources - while integrating opportunities for students to polish their 21st century skills - of which information literacy (or fluency) is just one category!
December 10, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan CHAD LEHMAN commented: "Personality" is not often discussed when it comes to collaboration between librarians and teachers. As a library media specialist myself, I seek people I get along with the best when I'm looking to try something new or am trying to find a teacher willing to "take the leap." Not enough is said about the relationships needed to make all of this week. Thanks for sharing this.
December 11, 2008
In response to: Wake up, for real--The laptops have hit the fan Despairing commented: What do you do if you're the sole librarian responsible for keeping the librarian open during a multi-schedule day with no separate classroom space nor any other adults to help manage the room for a school of 1500?
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