This week I have begun broadening my connected self. Up to this point I have primarily communicated through email and face to face. That’s it. Blogging is a very new concept for me. What stands out for me this week is that I am moving my way around in this connected space (blog) I am trying to express my understanding and learning with many people and it is very scary. It has been a long time since I have shared with teachers what I am learning in a writing format for all to see! It is clear to me that I need to try some new ways to communicate with my students. This is where I would like to start. I am not sure if Im ready for a conversation to take place but I would like to share ways to enrich what they are learning in the classroom and have a place to visit to share their learning in ways that don’t involve teacher direction. Sometimes I feel that I have to make big changes but what I really need to do is start with something manageable, something I can practice every day so that I can continue growing and making myself more connected. Once I can master this, and I don’t think it will take long, I would like to expand outwards to my colleagues in music and in the north van teacher librarians.
Why School: I like how Richardson asks us to take charge and begin making change. Our school has had administrators come and go over the past 12 years. Unfortunately many come to work at 8 and leave at 3. We have learned as a staff that it is up to us to develop a technology plan for our school, to lead the charge on professional development. We spent an entire year bringing various people in from around the district to do lunch and learn seminars in various technology applications: iphoto, imovie, inspirations, kidspirations, smartboard applications, digital photography, word,excel, website building (now completely out of date) Teaching staffs need to work together older teachers have a ton to offer even if they are scared of all the changes in technology and communication. Younger teachers bring an energy and new expertise in their digital literacy. If both groups can work together to be respectful and learn from one another a school will move together to embrace change.

Based on the model for Coquitlam School District their focus is to expect their TL’s to commit to the concept of a District Wide Learning Commons where teachers make a commitment to work together to “re-align” their school based libraries to a more centralized, virtual place which is curated by TL’s, provides service to teachers and students, and has a single point of access
School Libraries will strive to “connect as many people as possible with high quality Information for learning and decision making” , promote collaboration within schools and move outwards to others while focusing on reading, research, literacy, and resources.
A District Wide Learning Commons
*would be the product of our school based learning commons.
*front page of a virtual library – for educators, parents, students, support staff, and administrators
*share resources for teachers
*research sites approved and collected and recommended for grade level use
* be accessible from any device
*managed by ???
* promote literacy for grade level by teachers and TL’s
* create a space for teacher learning, and a dialogue for sharing
* affirm and promotes positive learning/teaching practice
* be an interactive learning and meeting space, a common classroom, a common office and a think tank”

District Wide Learning Commons –   Why ?

“Canada’s institutions are rooted in values of equity, fairness and accessibility. Whether we’re talking health care, education, or political participation, we pride ourselves on the vision that all Canadians have a right to receive the full benefits of citizenship, regardless of class, creed, or cultural background.

It seems both reasonable and important, therefore, that any honest discussion about Canada’s schools needs to begin with that vision of equity and how close we are to making it a reality:”

Do all Canadian students have equitable access to quality education?”1

We all know the answer is no.  There are many factors that influence equity, fairness and accessibility. Geography, where we live is a huge factor for Canadians.  Access to facilities, resources, technology, professional development, all play a role in how viable teaching institutions are. I believe that by centralising our learning commons we are embracing the best of what we have, the question is how do we begin?  From this question arises another do we begin with ourselves and move together or beginning together and move outwards.  I am not sure but I am beginning to believe that it happens at the same time. In my next blog how?, I will explore that concepts of collective learning  In Michael Fullan’s book “Stratosphere  Integrating Technology, Pedagogy, and Change Knowledge”  which is excellent and Canadian!

I was reading this book on the bus home yesterday and a man stopped and said to me, “ How do you like the book?  I answered “It’s really interesting and enlightening.” He responded I know Michael Fullan, he is an amazing writer and teacher”.  I would have liked to continue the dialogue, but he hopped off the bus.  Today as I was researching, I was lead to a website CEA (Canadian Educators Association ) and began reading very currant blogs about change in Canadian Schools and  sure enough Michael Fullan’s work was brought to attention immediately. More to come!:)

1 Hurley,Stephen,Equity in Our Schools; Transforming Education; CEA;< http://www.cea-ace.ca/blog/shurley/2010/09/3/equity-our-schools>