As I read through the readings and watched the video for this week’s module, I could not help but think about my essential question (How do learning commons better help schools achieve their goals?). Although a step-by-step guide is not specifically stated (i.e. A learning commons helps schools better achieve their goals by…), it is definitely intertwined throughout. Sulivan and Lunny (2014) even specifically state, “The Learning Commons is the ‘Implementation House’ for school, district, and ministry goals” while Leading Learning (2014) quotes, “Over twenty years of research shows that student achievement and literacy scores advance where professionally staffed and resourced school libraries are thriving” (p. 4). From these readings, I am starting to see how even the simple design of a learning commons can play a pivotal role in helping schools achieve their goals and how important relationships and collaboration are. As Hayes states in Library to Learning Commons (2014), “[I]t is great staff, not great stuff, which is the hallmark of a thriving school library learning commons.” School goals are met when schools work together, when innovative teaching practices are used, and when collaboration, reflection, innovation, transformation, and celebration take place. The whole point of a learning commons is to transform the library into a “participatory learning community” that “is designed to engineer and drive future-oriented learning and teaching throughout the entire school” (CLA, 2014, p. 4). It is the catalyst to higher learning, to teach students how to learn and how to navigate in both a physical and digital world. As Sulivan and Lunny point out (2014), “Students will need the highest level of literacy in human history to function in a wired world.” When students know how to learn, are provided with the skills in different literacies, and are supported in their inquiries, achieving school goals will follow. I am looking forward to making more connections to my essential question as we delve deeper into our course readings.
With these thoughts in mind, I created my own recipe for a school library as a place of literacy and learning. This recipe, when used together, will definitely help schools better achieve their goals. I decided to use a program called emaze, which is an online presentation software platform that allows you to create and share presentations that you have made. You can even “emaze” power point slideshows that you have previously created. The program offers a ton of templates, which include 3D animations and videos. It is a free program, but you can “upgrade” for certain additional features. It was actually really easy to use and I loved all the different templates to select from. It also had sample slides within each template and different variations (such as colors). As with bubbl.us from last week, the user interface was simple to use and understand with a reasonable amount of options to choose from (i.e. not too many to be overwhelming, but more than enough to make it fun to play with). I would definitely use it in the future.
Below is my recipe for a school library as a place of literacy and learning using my emaze slideshow. I recommend that you open it up in full screen (clicking on the bottom right icon on the screen). If the presentation transitions too quickly for you, you can click the pause icon on the bottom left of the screen. You can also use your keyboard arrows or the screen arrows to scroll forward or backward at your ease. Enjoy!
References:
Canadian Library Association. (2014). Leading learning: Standards of practice for school library learning commons in Canada. Ottawa:ON
Hayes, T. (2014, 54:3). Library to learning commons. Retrieved from: http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/library-learning-commons
Sulivan, D., & Lunny, J. (2014, June 28). Imagine the possibilities. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_QnbQxnNCl