(Thank you Naomi, for helping me figure out how to embed this infographic in my post.)
I didn’t really think of it today when we were in the throes of searching for websites that could be relevant to world libraries but then I realized that I am always the “searcher” and rarely the one contributing to those who are searching the world wide web. So today really opened my eyes up to these three things:
- access to technology (the internet ) should be a basic human right for without it we cannot fully participate in nor take advantage of the opportunities and knowledge provided by our global online world
- access to the internet is a privilege, as is contribution, and we should partake of both
- access and contribution to “world libraries” needs to be integrated into my class website/blog and our library website
There is a lot to sink one’s teeth into. The great thing about today’s search on world libraries is that it brought about a deep awareness, for me, of social injustice with regards to those “who have” and those “who don’t have” free access to the internet. Examples of organizations fighting to change that are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, IREX and Beyond Access.
As a leader of cultural change, I can seek ways to get my school community to contribute to the fight and bring about change. We can contribute to the global voice by partnering with other schools and with public libraries to build initiatives that would create opportunities for “have not” communities to gain free access to computers and the internet. This sounds like the beginnings of a school club where we could look for ways to fundraise for a particular community to bring technology and training to them.
This course has forced me to be a daily contributor to an entity that lives forever, in a digital format, that the world could potentially have access to. It has taken me some time to get used to this daily online participation as face to face settings are more my comfort zone when it comes to interacting with people. I have definitely been more of a voyeur in the online world yet if I am to be a part of this global community and world library, I feel I should be able to freely access its offerings but should also provide worthy contributions. What those contributions could be are still unclear but things that come to mind are sharing lesson/unit/project plans that I/my colleagues/our students have created and developing partnerships with other schools and school libraries to create a buddy system where students and teachers mentor those who may just be entering the world of technology.
The class website/blog and our library website need to be interactive and collaborative. I want an abundance of information to be available for the accessing but want to ensure that opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way exist as well.
You found some GREAT graphics Anne-Marie! I found them informative, easy to read, and inspiring.
“This course has forced me to be a daily contributor to an entity that lives forever… I have definitely been more of a voyeur in the online world…” This has been true for most of us, myself included. I feel that most of the time we as teachers are very busy and look for things to use in class, but do not always reciprocate and put out our own information, edu-helpers, creative ideas, or thoughts and opinions “out there.” Breaking out of one’s comfort zone is a difficult thing to do, but at least 30 people are now more aware and will hopefully do something about it. It sounds like you already have some ideas!
“I feel I should be able to freely access its offerings but should also provide worthy contributions…sharing lesson/unit/project plans that I/my colleagues/our students have created and developing partnerships with other schools and school libraries to create a buddy system…” What a great way to give back to the online community! Teachers are always looking for new ideas or examples of lesson plans and ideas for the classroom!
“The class website/blog and our library website need to be interactive and collaborative. I want an abundance of information to be available for the accessing but want to ensure that opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way exist as well.” using your library blog or webpage as a HUB of information is a great start! There are often ways to link you local public library to your website or database search engine. There are also Shelfari and Goodreads to help foster the community of readers in your school. Book reviews or book talks can also be done digitally and put onto blogs and websites too! Double check your school’s’ policy on digital materials and bring eBooks and eReaders into the mix as well! See what you can do about Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and eBooks that way too!
There are lots of ways to bring your library into the ICT world, just know your resources and rules, and then go for it!
I think everyone in the class admits to taking lesson ideas or lesson plans from the mass quantities that are stored “out there”. We are searching for the best. It is similar to being on a treasure hunt, but one that never ends. We try new searches, and different links that lead us in every direction. You raise a good point. Why can’t we give back to what’s out there (meaning online), and share the best? A community cannot be only made up of takers. Jenny has given us ways to contribute by using blogs and websites. Yes, lets get our students involved in contributing to the vast online community.
I definitely think world libraries will be up and running in the near future!
It is interesting that you mention the B & M Gates Foundation and their work in education. I highly recommend you look into critical discourse about the effect their policies are having on the lives of teachers. It is one thing to understand the role technological phenomena is having on human societies and the role education should be playing in preparing sophisticated technology users for the formation of future human societies. It is quite another to propose high-stakes standardized testing systems to bring about educational change and prepare teachers for teaching in 21st century education systems. The whole standards-based education reform as a means to implement creativity, collaboration, criticality and communication in education is just an oxy-moron. Teachers have a real responsibility to frame the method and the means for bringing change to educational systems. That said, yes, teachers have a great opportunity to contribute to the development of world library networks. I would say teacher librarians could play an important role in this development.