Rationale for Primary Library Skills

My final project has changed since my last blog post. I had one of those moments of panic, about why and what I was doing for my final project. So, naturally I sent one of those “longer/panic emails” to Aaron, to help sort out my thoughts., which was very helpful. The conclusion, perhaps a website or set of video instructions (as discussed in my previous post), might not be the biggest priority for my school and community right now. Throughout discussion, I began to think about how my primary students do not have the strongest library skills. 

My prep classes are with the primary students in my school and I know library skills are something that I need to improve my teaching on, and it would greatly benefit the teachers and students to learn library skills from a younger age. I feel library skills, such as locating a book, how to select good literature, locating subject areas in the library are transferable skills for the students.They can use these skills in both the classroom and community. So, I will be creating a package with some research to support library skills as well as lessons, and activities. I will keep the package online, and also on the library shelf for staff to use in up coming years. I plan to share the document with other librarians in our district as well. (Perhaps a living document, where it could be added to).

Although, I most likely won’t get to use this idea until September, as I have another project that is ready for the primary students in 3^rd term, it will be extremely useful for September. I am really excited to have lessons that will be ready for the beginning of the year, and be able to spend time in the first semester teaching students how to best use their library.

The challenge will be remembering that some of the students will not know their alphabet at this point yet, so creating lessons that are not based around reading skills will be important. I feel it will be beneficial for student to be able to find books, even if their understanding of the alphabet is limited. Currently, I notice my kindergartens always go to one area of the library to get books, almost like the other areas are off limit…. This is a problem. I do not want this to be a trend year to year. Lessons that make the students feel that they can access the whole library if they desire from a young age opposed to waiting until their literacy skills are higher in grade 2 or 3 will solve this problem. Then, if a student chooses to zoom into their favourite area, I will feel more comfortable with it because they will have working knowledge of what is available to them in the library already.   

Image #1

http://www.macworld.com/article/2027201/how-to-troubleshoot-a-kernel-panic.html

Image # 2 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/89368373831009468/

Blogs, websites, videos series, a step towards a Vision for my library

For my future vision of my library I would like to have technology more integrated as part of the library. I am thinking of two ideas that would be beneficial to both staff and students.

First, I would like to create a website or blog with features about the library and information about certain books.  Here are a few of my considerations.

a.)   Website vs a Blog

 I wonder which would be better in terms of time and maintenance. I already have experience setting up and using a blog from this course, so I would feel more comfortable with a blog. However, a website has click able links, and places where I could keep consistent information, which is easy for staff and students to find.  I wonder, how easy a website would be to maintain and update. I have been reading about the difference and am still unsure about which one would be best for me. 

b.)  Features:

I need to think of the features my website would have.  I was thinking a place featuring new books, projects and activities done in the library, internet safety and a “ how to” section.

My second idea is to create a set of 1-2 min videos explaining how to use different features the library has. For example, a video on how to use the follett shelf, access tumblebooks, how to do a better search (visual search, ect), how to use EBSCO to access magazines and how to access different websites we have subscribed to through our district.

I think the videos would be an aspect of my website, but if I worked on making a video series, that would be my main focus opposed to the website or blog.

I think both would be beneficial to our school, parents, students and staff. I am still thinking of other ideas as well and as I read others blog posts other classmate’s ideas are beginning to inspire me.

The website would great because I know our school has not had a library website or blog in the past. Additionally, I give little chunks of time to the intermediate students for library in order to make room for collaboration in my schedule. Having online short videos would be way to share information and library skills with students outside the library.

Reflections on a Journey in technology and other topics

At beginning of the course, we were given time to inquire about a topic of interest to us. I focused on Aboriginal literature and integrating teaching principals. It is a focus of my school, so it was valuable for me to take the time and research the topic, read some links and information that had been shared with me previously, but didn’t take the time to read in depth, and research new sources. It was nice motivation to jump deeper in the topic.  Since then, I have begun developing our year C kits on aboriginal topics for teachers; I also decided to have aboriginal storytellers come to the school, through the talking stick festival to further demonstrate the importance of oral stories in aboriginal culture. I've begun to feel more confidence when choosing aboriginal literature for our school, and have better idea of authentic and respectful literature (not perfect, but better). Moving forward, I want to share what our school is accomplishing in terms aboriginal content so that others can use some of the ideas from our school. I can tweet about a book on twitter, post a kit content to my blog, or send out a video message. I have been learning different ways to share information with other librarians.

In Phase 2- Inquiry Posts

Reading Culture

 I learnt a lot from the inquiry process, especially reading my classmates post.  Thinking back, I am really surprised how valuable not only posting myself, but also reading other classmates posts has been.

For example, my first inquiry post about promoting a reading culture, was reflective in itself. I posted about projects and things I had been doing over the last two years in my own library, and was able to reflect upon my two years, and think what was successful and worth sharing with my classmates. (Perhaps, next time I might share some unsuccessful things too, and get some feedback on improvements). 

I found exploring my classmate’s blogs valuable, I learnt a lot from them. For example, Megan posted about using skype for author visits in the school, which is something I had been curious about and thought about trying, I had the chance to learn about it and ask questions.  Also, Shelia’s post about breakfast with books and tweeting about books, were other ideas that will stick with me, and would consider trying in the future.

For me, the inquiry about promoting a reading culture gave me idea’s I could start implementing right away. For example, I am setting up the graffiti wall, when the students come back from spring break.  I feel "promoting a reading culture" was the most “fun” topic for me when exploring other blogs and research.

Sharing with colleagues 

The post about "how to share information with our colleagues" resonated with me the most. I learnt a lot form my own reflection, and struggled with this post a bit, because, I felt stuck on how to share information with my colleagues at my new school after the winter holiday. At the beginning of the year, I sent out quirky emails and discussion posts about books, but never got much response. Writing this post and doing research about how to share IT, stuff has helped focus on this topic more. Not only have a learnt from other post, I also changed my own focus. For example, last week, I went to a workshop on French Digital Magazines, and how to use EBSCO, ect. At the workshop, I asked the question “how am I going to share this with my staff to promote the use of the articles with both staff and students?” All of sudden my colleagues at the workshop had tons of ideas about how to do this, posting a coloured print out of an article in the staff room, having mystery monthly magazine articles and linking them to QR codes for the students to explore at home, etc. There were tons of ideas going around. I don’t know if a month ago, I would have asked that same question, or even had that workshop as a priority.

Technology 

Writing the inquiry blogs, has “forced” me in some ways to begin exploring technology in the library, and read about how others are using it and in turn technology becoming less intimating. Technology in the library has been something I had honestly been putting on the back burner, now I have more of a willingness to explore it.  I am even considering having some Kindles in the library for reading after doing our inquiry on digital libraries in the developing world. I learnt how e readers can increase the amount of literature a person is exposed too.  Kindles would be great for the students that wanted to read books we don’t have avaialble, or books I would hesitate buying. Buying books online would be way cheaper, and could be enjoyed by more than one person. It would also be faster for the students to gain access to new books as well.  (Another librarian does this is our district, so I am talking to her about the pros and cons).

I feel the inquiry has put not just technology but lots of topics at the front of my mind, even in terms of the workshops I am choosing to attend and the questions I am asking. I know I still have a long way to go in terms of promoting digital sources and being more present in the digital world. But now I feel the conversation is rolling in my mind, and that a good start from someone who had been avoiding it. 

Sources: 

Shegirltopia.  Retrieved March 7, 2015 from

http://shegirltopia.blogspot.ca

Ms. Cordeiro TL. Retrieved March 7, 2015, from http://mscordeirotl.blogspot.ca/2015/02/developing-ict-skills.html

Mobile Device providing better access to literture

When I taught in China, I remember during the first week asking about the library. My Chinese colleagues were a little confused to why I was so eager to go explore it. Some of my students didn’t know where it was, or hadn’t even been before.
When I was finally  able to go, I entered a big building full of books, with a very few people wandering around, for school with thousands of students. I was not able to read the Chinese books, so I immediately went to English section. I found some books, but they were either really difficult to read, low interest or  out-dated books.
My Canadian colleagues and I and immediately began to try to find English books, so our students would have more access to English literature. It turned out to be a difficult task in our city. So when we returned back to Canada we went shopping to bring back books. However, we could only bring a certain amount, the school district was worried about customs. We struggled to find good books for our students in English, this was often a topic of discussion and not once did we think of encouraging our students to use their mobile devices as a tool for literacy. Every student in my class had one.  

Here are some of the projects and research that I found during my search

I found this one project in India, called the “VisionLibrary.” The library is geared toward adults and professionals in the vision and medical field. The project teaches professionals how to share information and access research/information online in order to continue learning and serve the needs of patients with vision impairments in their own communities.

One thing that really struck me and the main reason I wanted to post this video was one participant who mentions in the video, 

“At first I thought libraries were all about books, but here we learnt the importance of internet in a library”

I feel this is such a powerful statement and really encompasses a common stereotype of libraries, as well as the potential of libraries.

Library’s educational e-readers programme improves rural children’sreading skills in Kenya

This library was created by  'Dr Robert Ouko', who won award for setting up this library with e readers in Kenya, Africa.

Previously, the library was understaffed and had limited books. He introduced e-readers preloaded with textbooks and over 400 African/international titles.

The goal was to provide access to digital books at school, and a free lunch for motivation. 

The result of this project is truly inspiring. 

The project has also begun to teach teachers how to use the e readers in their own teaching in the classroom. 

With the e readers and access to a variety of titles, the school is now able to host read a thons and reading promotional days.

Without access to books, we are unable to provide some of those important events that encourage and promote reading. Such as, reading campaigns.

Additionally, the e reader's have saved the school a lot of money! 

More access and Less cost

'Mobile readingrevolution' takes off in developing world”

 I found this one article, which summarizes a study done in 7 developing countries with 5,000 people participating in the survey. The study was conducted by Unesco partnered with Worldreader

'Mobile reading revolution' takes off in developing world”

Here are a few key points from the article:

•       People in developing countries read more when they read on mobile devices and say they enjoy reading more.
•  people in developing countries also commonly read books and stories to children more often when they have a  mobile devices
•        Data from the UN shows of seven billion people on earth, more than six billion now have access to a working mobile phone.
•         Mobile devices are huge tool of empowerment for women
•       77% of mobile readers in developing countries are male ...But......
•       Women spend an average of 207 minutes per month reading on their mobile phones, compared to men who spend about 33 minutes.
•         In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman is 23% less likely to own a mobile phone than a man, with the gap widening in the case of data-enabled phones.