The Lighthearted Librarian

Hello again! Today I bring you more thoughts on technology tools and technology integration. I do have a tech tool and ideas for using it, but first – let me tell you something about technology models that I recently learned: I taught for four years in a public high school and two years in a charter school (also public but there are some notable differences) before beginning this journey into library science. In those years, the SAMR technology model was something that was pushed on us teachers when we were trying to integrate new technologies into the classroom. Standing for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition, this model categorizes the use of technology in the classroom. We were actually assessed by our administration on which level our technology integration fell into during observations. I didn’t realize until reading this article  ("Through the Looking Glass") by Dr. Lucy Green, that this model is a hoax! Well maybe hoax is a strong word, b...

Today I bring to you one of my favorite blogs to follow, the Teen Librarian Toolbox , written by Karen Jensen and a post about one instructional strategy to use in Makerspaces. Makerspaces have transformed the library scene from a world of just books to a world in which the possibilities are endless; technology has provided a bridge for so many students and so many teachers to take learning to the next level. A lot of schools are able to make maximum impact with smaller budgets by creating Makerspaces in the library rather than providing expensive technologies to every classroom. But what do you do with all those nifty gadgets and tools? You’ve still got to teach the standards, your teachers still have end of course testing at the end of the year, the curriculum still stands. Melissa Johnston says it well in her article in School Libraries Worldwide : The key to technology integration in education is that technology is used to enhance the learning experience and develop ...

Information literacy and technology skills are a part of the fundamental 21 st century skills every individual need in order to be a contributing member of society – skills that must be taught to every student who walks through the doors of our schools. As librarians, we stand in a position to greatly influence the ways that information literacy and media literacy is taught within our schools. It is our responsibility to step up and make sure our teachers and administrators understand the importance of information literacy and places a high enough value on it to warrant explicit teaching within he walls of the school. So what then is information literacy? It’s about being able to use technology effectively, access and evaluate information from various resources, use and manage that information, analyze media and effectively communicate using technology.  Clay Johnson, author of The Information Diet , says that we all suffer from overcomsumption of information; keepin...

Intellectual Freedom & Comparing the AASL and ISTE Standards When you visit a country you’ve never been to before, you have to learn a few of the laws. You have to know the rules to stick by, so you don’t end up finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unintentionally. You’ll also want to learn some customs and traditions – often these govern more than the laws of the land. Nobody wants to be the tourist who offends every shop and restaurant owner they encounter. The same goes for a new librarian – you have to learn what governs you as a librarian as well as the trends and major issues facing the profession. It’s important to know the standards and understand how they govern the world of libraries but it’s just as essential to know them in terms of the issues librarians are currently facing. Two sets of standards govern modern school librarians – the National School Library Standards from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the standards from...