collaboration why is it important? what does it look like? how do we make it happen? what is it?
Post on 17-Jan-2016
222 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Collaboration
Why is it important?
What does it look like?
How do we make it happen?
What is it?
For years…
School librarians had many hoops they thought were important!
Teaching how to care for books.Teaching the Dewey system.Teaching author, title, and subject
cards in the card catalog.Understanding the importance of
stamping the due date on the date due card.
Understanding the importance of library-user signatures on those little cards in the back of each book.
Ordering books that mightmight support the curriculum.
All done in isolation – without
direct knowledge of (or
involvement in) classroom
activities or direct input from the
teachers!
What Hoop Is Important for School Librarians Today?
Establishing and MaintainingEstablishing and Maintaining Information Literate Technology-Rich Programs…
That are aligned with the curriculum
• Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) teaching together– Teacher - responsible for content – Library Media Specialist - responsible for
information literacy and technology
• Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) assessing student learning together– student mastery of content– student mastery of the process (information
literacy skills)
Collaboration Means…
Classroom Teachers
Library Media Specialist
Classroom Teachers Library Media Specialist
Integrated curriculum linking content, information Integrated curriculum linking content, information literacy, and technologyliteracy, and technology
• Constructivist learning– Students building new knowledge – Scaffolding
• Information explosion• Technology integration• Student achievement
– State standardized achievement tests– SAT/ACT– Reading – End-of-Course testing
Collaboration supports…
• Evaluation– Schools/Districts (State Report Card)– Teachers– Library Media Specialists– Library Media Centers
Collaboration supports…
Collaboration
Why Is It Important?
“More is accomplished
jointly than could have
been individually.”
Mattessich, Paul and Barbara R. Monsey. Collaboration: What Makes it Work: a Review of Research Literature on Factors Influencing Successful
Children. Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1992.
Steps to Collaboration
Coopera
ti
on
Coor
dina
ti
on
Colla
borat
i
on
No Involvement
Full Integration
Steps to Collaboration
• CoordinationCoordination is informal. No commonly defined goals or planning effort. No communication between the classroom-based teachers and library media specialist. Activities in the media center coordinate with topics the media specialist thinks are being taught in the classroom.
Steps to Collaboration
• CooperationCooperation is a more formal working relationship. Some communication between the teacher and the media specialist exists. No formal curriculum planning. Teacher often asks for resources to be checked out for use in the classroom. Media specialist continues to coordinate library instruction which is now based on requests from teacher.
Steps to Collaboration
• CollaborationCollaboration is a formal working relationship. Communication channels exist between the teacher and the media specialist exists. Joint effort in curriculum design. Classroom and media center instruction planned and delivered jointly.
Collaboration is…
• Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) planning together– Determing what students need to know– Teaching how to access information– Teaching how to evaluate information– Teaching how to interpret information– Teaching how to apply information
Collaboration means…Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) jointly
• plan how and where the lesson(s) will be taught• plan the content, the information literacy skills,
and technology skills to be included• plan how these skills relate to the content• decide each person's role(s) and responsibilities
Collaboration Moves From• Competing to consensus building • Working alone to including others
from different fields and backgrounds • Thinking mostly about activities and
programs to thinking about larger results and strategies
• Focusing on short-term accomplishments to requiring long-term results
Benefits of Collaboration
Students Benefits
• Learning turned into action– Involved in learning– Excited about learning– Transfer of learning
• Independent use of relevant, integrated information & technology skills
• Connections between subject areas• Independent learner-information and
technology literate• Improved student achievement
Teacher Benefits
• "Two heads are better than one"• Lightens teaching load• Makes teaching more effective• Renews excitement about teaching• Provides additional resources for classroom
instruction• Assists with interdisciplinary instruction• Improves student achievement
Benefits for Library Media Specialists
• Changes others perceptions of who the media specialist is and what he/she can do– Teacher– Technologist– Program Administrator
• Integrates library media center resources and instruction into curriculum
• Expands leadership role of library media specialist
• Creates advocates for the library media specialist
• Renews (or creates!) excitement about library media center
• Improves student achievement
Benefits for Library Media Specialists
Administrator Benefits
• Changes perception of who the LMS is and what the library media specialist can do
• Integrates library media resources and instruction into curriculum (Return On Investment)
• Expands connections to community• Improves student achievement
Collaboration
Making it happen
Roadblocks to Collaboration
• Perception of the role of the library media specialist – By Administrators– By Teachers– By Library Media Specialist
• Library Media Center schedule• School Master Schedule• Library Media Center staff
Overcoming the Roadblocks
• Start small• Be enthusiastic• Build rapport and trust• Offer to serve on curriculum
planning committees• Begin/expand dialogue with
principal
Overcoming the Roadblocks
• Keep all stakeholders informed• Compile bibliographies and
research guides• Develop a curriculum map• Develop a collection map• KNOW the curriculum and
content standards and DEMONSTRATE that knowledge!
Overcoming the Roadblocks
• Teach students in front of teachers • Offer professional development
classes• Research issues that affect
teaching• Build library media center
professional collection• Model/teach effective use of
technology
For collaboration to work...• School environment must be positive and
supportive.• Media specialist must be seen as a part of
"the group."• Media specialist must be a part of the
decision-making process.• Communication must be open, two-way, and
continuous.• Vision and purpose of the media center
must be shared with all stakeholders.• Media center must have adequate and up-
to-date resources that are aligned with the school’s curriculum.
Collaborate Successfully• Know where you're
going;if you're unclear about some of the issues, talk with knowledgeable associates
• Build relationships and alliances. Know who the key players are and what their priorities are. Find out how to help them.
• Disarm the opposition. Understand where potential opponents stand and why. Get their perspectives and learn from them.
• Practice win/win when problem-solving. Your ultimate objective is student achievement.
Collaborate Successfully
• Respect individual strengths• Advertise your successes, esp. word-
of-mouth• Remain flexible• Be willing to compromise• Keep on keepin' on!
Collaboration
• Ensures that learners have access to relevant resources at the point of instructional need
• Provides professional development for faculty, staff, and administrators
ImprovedImprovedStudent AchievementStudent Achievement
Collaboration
+
Reading Literacy
+
Information & Technological Literacy
Bibliography
Buzzeo, Toni. Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher/ Librarian Partnerships for K-6. Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing, 2002.
Donham, Jean. Enhancing Teaching and Learning: A Leadership Guide for School Library Media Specialists. New York, NY: Neal- Schuman Publishers, 1998.
Noah, Carolyn B. and Linda W. Braun. The Browsable Classroom: An introduction to E-Learning for Librarians. New York, NY: Neal- Schuman Publishers, 2002.
Olrich, Karen Browne. Making Flexible Access and Flexible Scheduling Work Today. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2001.
Thomas, Melody. "What Is Collaboration to You?" Library Talk 15, no. 2 (March/April 2002): 17-18.
Tschamler, Addie. "Top Secret: Collaborative Efforts Really Do Make a Difference." Library Talk 15, no. 2 (March/April 2002): 14-16.
top related