Create your own mind maps at MindMeister
In our class, we have been talking about the importance of why we use ICT in our teaching. I decided to use the MindMeister mapping resource to create a map showing all the possible users and the motivating factors behind their use of my blog. As I am a visual learner, I really found this mind map particularly useful in giving me an overview of what I needed to do to make this blog successful. Successful meaning that it would be a platform where we could start conversations between school community members about learning in the 21st century. What role do they want the teacher-librarian to have in the school? I want to facilitate this discussion where normative practice in schools will be evolving with the digital age. Especially with teachers, as discussed in class, we will become “irrelevant” if we do not evolve. Furthermore, the statement that Jenny made in class about teachers becoming a niche like vinyl records really hit home. This is not another passing trend in teaching. This is a revolution that has permeated our society and we can no longer choose to stand still bystanders.
After creating the mind map, it gave me a greater sense of direction for my blog. However, in another sense, it completely overwhelmed with how much ground I needed to cover if I were to possibly meet the needs of all the users. First and foremost, I realized that these were presumptions I had about my possible audience. When I begin to work in my school, many of these presumptions may be refuted as well. Secondly, since it would be a too arduous task to reach all possible readers, I think it will important to focus on the immediate school community (i.e., the staff and students) first because they are the ones I interact with everyday. Their contributions and usage of the school blog will indirectly effect those not in the immediate school environment too. For example, a student may show their parents the books I have been purchasing for the school and this may encourage them to comment on the blog as well. Lastly, I realized that usability and consideration of the linguistic cognitive domain will be huge factors in reaching all members of the school community. This will be especially relevant as the school has a high ESL population. Overall, I think this mind map will help drive start my blog and will continue to evolve as I work with the school community in the future.
Creating a TL blog is an especially big challenge because there is such a diverse potential audience (students, staff, administrators, other libraries and librarians, parents and the community). There is nothing that you post that will be of interest to everyone, but there is still the desire to keep people coming back. The more collaborative you can make your blog, the easier it is for people to contribute and invest in it as a resource. I suppose the question is, which platform is best for an interactive, collaborative library website? How do you balance the time it takes to filter through content to make sure it’s appropriate? I feel like these are the types of things we could use pro-D about, but who is qualified to teach this type of workshop?
Because there is an absence of substantive discourse about using ICT in education, there is also an absence of discussion about what it means to create an educational online site. Often the conception of the learner, or participant, or interlocutor is not well developed and then there isn’t good engagement with the site. When a reader goes to a site that ‘feels right’ it is because the site designer considered the visual literacy and the visual language of their reader. Developing online sites for engagement is an acquired skill that becomes more refined and sophisticated with practice. It addresses both the teacher’s personal and professional presentation online, and also the needs of the learner. The kinds of questions you are exploring are an important prerequisite for creating a useful online site. It might not be easy, but it is certainly worthwhile.