Closing Arguments…
The following blog post has been
composed to offer a summation of the overall course experience for LSSL 5391 –
Digital Technology for School Librarians under the leadership of Dr. Elizabeth
Gross from a participant’s perspective.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, let the record show…this course
was AMAZING! Though challenging to
manage within a limited 10-week summer session window, especially with multiple
other course obligations, it delivered maximum impact! Assignments were practical, interactive, and
relevant offering hands-on experience previewing, creating, and reflecting on current,
real-world technologies designed to make the presentation of information more engaging.
As a first year, ILS I struggled
with finding ways to advocate for and justify requests for funds, materials and
personnel to initiate the process of rebuilding a fledgling library program. With the sheer volume of PowerPoint, Excel Google
Slide and Sheet presentations that administrators preview over the course of a
month, never mind an entire year, it’s easy to see how and why even my best
ideas are passed over because after a while a slide, is a slide, is a slide…. What else is new?... But NOT THIS year! I’m going in armed, with a
few new tricks up my sleeve to make all audiences stand up and take
notice. Though I can’t promise I won’t be denied, I
can assure that more than a few “teach me how to do that” requests will be
made!
One of the immediate technologies
I endeavor to employ will be the use of infographics and school library monthly
reports. If I’ve learned nothing else,
it is this, “A closed mouth does not get fed!”
Librarians have to be their own PR machines sharing with the school
community the COUNTLESS responsibilities we manage on a daily basis to debunk
the notion that we are “shushing wardens” who do little else other than read
stories and check out books. We have got
to market our programs, market our skills, and demand to be viewed and regarded
as assets. Since a large number of
administrators request data to support claims, this is an awesome platform to
document circulation numbers, class visits, research units, technology
education lessons, programs facilitated, book fair sales, inventory highlights
and reports, contests sponsored…. The
possibilities are endless.
Another favorite discovery was the
creation of YouTube channels, Animoto video making and QR coding. I’m running with these like I invented
them! “Actions speak louder than words”
some say. Who can argue with hard
evidence of live teaching, learning, and production in the flesh! Text recommendations, digital book talks, program
video highlights, all accessed from a secret square code? Ummm…….yes please! Lights, camera, action – we’re taking this
show on the road!
The program I am most excited to
share with students would have to be the creation of comics and cartoons. As my classmates shared in multiple
well-composed blog entries, there are endless usages for this tool including, but
not limited to: vocabulary development
for language learners, summarization, storyboarding, documenting a sequence of
events, creating procedural manuals, and more.
I know students will appreciate this exciting presentation format as a
departure from stale written reports to demonstrate knowledge and understanding
at the end of a unit, as I’m sure their teachers will as well. Creativity will blossom, effort and interest
will be heightened, and the fun factor is the icing on the cake!
Though not a required task,
ThingLink is a bit of a bear. The creation
of a virtual floor plan with linked videos offering explanations of
configurations depicted is a bit over my head at the moment and will take a lot
of YouTube views and/or direct instruction to perfect. Its impact is apparent, but the time
constraint and exhaustion that has overcome me relegated ThingLink to a “rainy
day” / holiday break project.
Most importantly, the feedback
and community sharing fostered within the course has been its greatest asset. From one another, my classmates and I have been
able to benefit by viewing multiple products using the same tools to
demonstrate varied function and versatility.
We have been given the opportunity to gain feedback from colleagues highlighting
things we’ve done well and constructive criticism on ideas we might want to
revisit. We’ve test driven and tinkered
with tech toys that have frustrated, fascinated, and flat out invigorated the
ways we will approach integrating technology as teaching tools within our
school library programs.
I have bookmarked the blogs of my
peers and look forward to maintaining the connections we’ve shared over the
course of this learning experience. May
you all enjoy success beyond measure in your roles as information literacy
specialist now and forever more!
Literally,
Johtell B. Johnson
Summer 2016
I really enjoyed reading your blog. Reading the feedback and collaboration among classmates has being a rewarding asset.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra,
DeleteThank you so much for the positive feedback. I share your thoughts on the impact of peer interaction throughout this course experience.
I have bookmarked the Google sheet with all of our blogs and anticipate reviewing them throughout the year to implement some of the awesome ideas shared.
Best wishes for a dynamite year and career as an ILS!
Warm regards,
Johtell
Your blogs were always awesome to read. They pushed me to be better and reach a higher standard that you deliver each and every time. For me, this was the best type of feedback. Seeing what others brought to the table and in turn talking to each other about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jimmy,
DeleteYour kind words and genuine sentiment are most appreciated and mutually extended. As shared before, I would know your posts even if your name wasn't attributed. Your personality is unmistakeable. Best wishes for an amazing career.
And hey, shoot me the titles of the books on your "post-grad school can't-wait-to-read list"!
Warm regards,
Johtell
Johtell,
ReplyDeleteAnother superb post. I will miss your positive spirit. I agree, this has been an amazing class. So many new tools and/or new ways of looking at what we teach and how we teach it. Isn't it glorious? :0) I love your idea of using the info graphics with library reports. Your administration and PTA will certainly take notice (and colleagues and students will be asking how you created them). Thank you for sharing your ideas. I learned so much from you this semester. Wishing you a fantastic school year-your students, colleagues and administration are so lucky to have you. Good luck with your studies. ;0) Jill
Johtell,
ReplyDeleteYour posts are so enjoyable to read. I thought this class was amazing as well. We learned so much that we can integrate in our libraries. I am excited to begin the school year to incorporate all the new tools we learned.
Keeping in touch with each other is a great idea! the school library world is so small there's a great chance you'll actually meet in person one day. I'm so glad you enjoyed this course!
ReplyDelete