In January, I started as a Teacher Librarian at a K-5 elementary school in the Saanich School District. I have been very busy settling into the library, familiarizing myself with the collection, and re-organizing and changing the layout of the library. It has been a busy few weeks, but I am keen to provide a new, fresh approach to the learning that happens in the library. I\u2019m very lucky because I work three days per week in the library and because it is a small school, I am able to collaborate with all of the classes in the school. This allows me to work closely with all of the teachers and provide them with lots of resources and ideas to support the learning that is happening in their classrooms. Because of the flexibility I have, I have some definite goals and interests that I hope to explore further in this class.<\/p>\n
Collaborative Publishing Learning Commons Personal Questions<\/span><\/b> Key Words to Explore<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n collaborative publishing Resources to Explore<\/span><\/b> Monkeying Around with Technology. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from: \u00a0http:\/\/monkeyingaroundwithtechnology.blogspot.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n Mrs. Lodges Library. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from: \u00a0http:\/\/www.mrs-lodges-library.com\/blog\/<\/a><\/p>\n Fried Technology: Blogging in the Classroom Retrieved January 17, 2014 from: http:\/\/www.friedtechnology.com\/2012\/10\/blogging-in-elementary-classroom-from.html<\/a><\/p>\n Robin, B.R. (2008). Digital Storytelling: A Powerful Technology Tool for the 21st<\/sup> Century classroom. Theory into Practice. 47: 220-228. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from: http:\/\/digitalstorytellingclass.pbworks.com\/f\/Digital+Storytelling+A+Powerful.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/b>The current school goals are engagement and outdoor learning and I feel that as a teacher-librarian, it is important to support the school goals. We have recently installed an outdoor natural playground and have a beautiful school garden that was a huge success last year. I believe that documenting the progress of the school and the learning that is taking place would be beneficial to promote our school as a great place to be. Using technology would ultimately increase engagement amongst the students and help them to document and publish their individual learning. Through the use of Wikis<\/b>, blogs<\/b>, digital story-telling<\/b> and various other programs, I\u2019d like to look at how this could be accomplished.
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\nResearching Safely on the Internet
\n<\/span><\/b>At the District level, we have access to some online databases such as World Book Kids and Searchasaurus that I have begun teaching to classes. We also have a school website that all of the teacher-librarians in the district collaborated on to create a website that students at all grade levels can use to access relevant websites on topics that are popular at a particular grade level. You can take a look at ours: http:\/\/prospectlake.sd63.bc.ca\/course\/view.php?id=41<\/a><\/b>
\n<\/span><\/b>This website links students to appropriate sites where they can find information on a particular topic. Ultimately, I think it is important for students to be able to research independently and therefore it is a goal for me to teach students how to safely access good information that is relevant and up to date.<\/b><\/p>\n
\nOur school district is transitioning into learning commons, which has been completed at the middle and high school levels. At the elementary level I struggle with what this will look like and how it will function. At this level we have smaller spaces, and the emphasis is still largely about books. I\u2019d like to look into how elementary schools have transitioned to learning commons and what successes they have had with the changes they have made.<\/p>\n
\nHow can I combine outdoor learning and technology?
\nHow can technology help to improve overall student engagement?
\nHow can I promote the use of technologies with staff outside of our collaboration time?
\nHow do I transition the space to learning commons?
\nHow can I better use technology to introduce new topics to students?
\nHow can I foster inquiry and student centered learning in the library?<\/p>\n
\nlearning commons
\nonline learning
\nweb 2.0
\nvideo sharing
\nwikis
\npodcasting
\ndigital story telling
\napple TV
\nicloud
\nvoice and video recording
\nelectronic classrooms
\ndifferentiated instruction
\nipad\/ereaders
\nebooks
\ninternet safety
\nstudent-centered learning
\nQR Technology
\neducational Apps
\nethical online use<\/p>\n
\nBlogs
\nTechnology in the Elementary Classroom. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from: http:\/\/technology-in-elementary-classrooms.blogspot.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n