1.

Getting Started

Learning in an online world – learning spaces framework

Technology, architecture and furniture

Education Queensland – School Resource Centre Website

EQ BER Information

Fran’s Wikispaces link

Research in constructivist learning and student information seeking in complex and diverse information environments tells us that our resource centres should be drivers of teacher and student learning. We cannot afford for our resource centres to be underutilised or bound in a twentieth century learning paradigm. Fixed class lessons, closed doors, program development and inflexible instruction need to be replaced by flexible, anytime and anywhere learning by staff and students. With new and refurbished facilities in many schools and a demonstrated need for us to raise expectations and improve the higher order thinking skills of students, this is a good time to focus on the role of the teacher librarian and the resource centre. Schools can invigorate their resource centre to be the hub of teaching and learning – owned by everyone in the school. Clive Dixon Regional Executive Director Far North Queensland

2.

Doug Johnson says all

libraries will need to

redefine their value-added

qualities and suggests

three primary things

libraries can do. 1.

3.

‘Today more information is stored digitally than in all the libraries in the world combined. We simply don’t need to ‘remember’ everything. The output of our digital mediums exceeds the wildest dreams of nineteenth century industrialists, and alters our view of memory; forgetfulness; creativity and originality.

That’s why schools need to extend their vision of learning beyond ‘memory-arts’. We are in a hyper-dynamic world of connections, relationships, and adaptive tools that help us make sense of the information flooding about us. We are standing at the entry of an age of infinite recall, where the lines between original works and derivatives are blurred because duplication is simple and storage cheap.

Our students need to develop insights into how to navigate and select a pathway in their learning world, how to juxtapose text, sound, media, and social connections in real time, and how to mix and match what they see, hear and experience to build personal knowledge and understandings.

For that they need help from 21st century teacher librarians – by managing better school-wide library services; by creating better learning resources; by using better tools; and by developing better information literacy frameworks.

Rethinking our structures and learning frameworks is central to meeting the demands of 21st century learning. Along with the information revolution, we have the social revolution of new media which has created new relationships and new forms of discourse.’

Writing about emerging technologies and innovation in information services, Judy O'Connell, Head of Library & Information Services at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill offers us the challenge to rethink and re-imagine what school libraries can do in a multimodal global society. Read her blog at http://heyjude.wordpress.com

4.

Today as Thomas Friedman notes in ‘The World is Flat’ we are preparing students for jobs that don’t exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, to solve problems we haven’t begun to think about. As a result, the definition of what it means to be educated in the light of the modern world has changed and continues to change.

“ The primary task of the educational system must be to give learners the right tools and provide them with a critical mind, so that they can ask the right questions and make the right connections.

20th Century Learner

Acquisition of knowledge/facts

Teacher is the audience for student work

Learning happens at school

Book based resources/information

De-contextualised skill based tasks

Passive learning Individually completed

tasks Teacher is assessor

21st Century Learner Creators of knowledge World is the audience for

student work Anywhere/anytime learning

Web based

resources/information Authentic tasks Active learning Collaborative tasks Assessment by a variety of

audiences

‘The

illiterate

of the

21st century

will not be

those who cannot read and

write, but those who cannot

learn, unlearn,

and relearn.’

-Alvin Toffler

In the information age, citizens will need to work with information in all forms to fashion content products that have value, that entertain and teach. But if all learners do is learn the traditional literacies, they may be literate by 20th Century standards but certainly not by 21st Century standards.” 2.

5.

20th Century Library Static collection of

physical resources Inflexible teaching

space Fixed scheduling of

timetabling Resource hub of

school Computer labs Whole class

instruction/meeting areas

Library viewed as T/L domain

21st Century Resource Centres

Trim and relevant collection

of physical resources in conjunction with access to virtual resources.

Flexible learning space Flexibility of timetabling Learning/resource centre of

school Learning pods Variety of group learning

configurations Library viewed as learners’

domain

‘We

should

stop

seeing

libraries

as places

of function –

storing this, lending that,

checking the other, and more as

places of free and shared

exploration

and learning

via all media.’ 4.

‘Microsoft believes that if they build it, we will come—and buy their product. Google’s approach is different: if they build it, we will integrate it into our lives. We use Microsoft products on their terms, but we use Google products—from iGoogle to Google Docs—on our terms, to construct whatever we want. What has to happen for school libraries to become relevant? If we want to connect with the latest generation of learners and teachers, we have to totally redesign the library from the vantage point of our users—our thinking has to do a 180-degree flip. In short, it’s time for school libraries to become a lot less like Microsoft and a lot more like Google. No longer will the library be something that students andteachers need to remember to come to—instead it will be integrated into their lives. Finally, the library will become the hub of teaching and learning—a place that everyone owns and contributes to—one giant conversation that’s

both a social and a learning network.’ 3.

6.

‘As

the

information and communication

landscapes continue to shift, do

you know where you are going?

Do you plan for change?’ 7.

“The real role of teacher librarians is one of instructional

intervention that moves students beyond information

seeking and helps them to transform found information

into personal knowledge.” 6.

20th Century Teacher Librarian

Keeper of knowledge

Information literacy teacher

Isolated skills lessons

Technical support officer

Resource worker – event manager

21st Century Teacher Librarian

Facilitator of learning

Information specialist

Collaborator

Media advisor

Resource manager –

physical, virtual and human

resources – vision

‘Credentialed school library media professionals promote, inspire and

guide students toward a love of reading, a quest for knowledge, and a

thirst for lifelong learning.’ 5.

7.

A 21st century Teacher Librarian working within an

aesthetically pleasing and flexible library will not achieve

21st century learning for students without a shared vision and

understanding by all stakeholders of the needs of 21st century

learners and the implications this will have for teaching and learning

across the school. All stakeholders should be actively

involved in the reinvigoration process. A starting

point for these discussions may include co-operative planning, collaborative

learning and flexible timetabling and how current practice may be adapted or

changed to ensure the principles of

21st century learning are embedded.

‘School leaders need to facilitate closer connections between the library and the

classroom. Eisenberg refers to a continuum of involvement of the library and

classroom, which moves from isolation to collaboration. Where does your school

sit on this continuum?’

Invest in school libraries to create 21st Century learning communities

‘… the belief that teaching skills in isolation does

little to extend student learning, while building on prior knowledge at the point of

need leads to greater retention and application of knowledge.

Just how flexible are we?

‘Consider a capacity building approach to ensure that school libraries are

seamless, flexible learning centres which engage students to become discerning

readers and critical information users.’

School libraries building capacity for student learning 21C

‘Effective collaborations with teachers helps to create a vibrant and engaged

community of learners, strengthens the whole school program as

well as the library media program, and develops support

for the school library media program throughout the

whole school’

‘Waiting a week until the

class’s regularly scheduled

library period is inappropriate

and counterproductive. The

library media program requires

flexible and equitable access to

information, ideas, and

resources for learning.’ 14.

‘

Collaboration: Where does it begin?

‘In a world of constantly

changing information and

technology, it is timely to

reflect upon our vision for

schools.’ 15.

8.

‘A library may look like a

single building, but please don't be misled by the walls. It's a single link in an

enormous chain. It's a single being in a gigantic

ecosystem of words and thoughts and ideas.’ 11.

The library as a facility needs to be considered in terms of the physical space

and the resources. The space itself, the design and the furnishings, will impact

not only on the functionality and flexibility of the venue but also on the appeal to

clientele. From signage to seating, all aspects of the centre need to take into

account both purpose and aesthetics. The

resources within the library must also be given due

consideration. To ensure resources are relevant, accessible and multi-modal,

collection development policies need to reflect this.

The links below will provide information to assist with

decision making about these issues.

‘We could benefit immensely from applying

tried-and-true retail practices, especially since we have so much in common…’

etail interior layout for librariesR

‘Gone are the days of independent study with a stack of books and a librarian

who glares if you sneeze and hushes if you read out

loud to yourself.’ The transformation of the library

‘The importance of clear patterns of circulation, of

architectural and spatial legibility, and of coherent and attractive signage cannot

be over-estimated.’

21st century Libraries changing forms, changing futures

‘What I hope to do is change your thinking from "build it and they will come" to "build it right and they will come back."

10.

Crying over spilled milk

9.

Misleading information Ugly Superseded by better works Trivial – may have been more valuable to the collection years ago Your collection has no use – irrelevant to curriculum, student, or teacher needs

M

U

S

T

Y

‘Libraries need to provide better signage, better displays and better presentation of stock. The institutional feel of the library needs to be

removed.’ 12.

‘In today’s interconnected, technology driven world,

learning typically takes place in physical, virtual and remote

places. It is an integrated, highly technical environment in which

learners learn.’ 21st Century learning spaces

‘A learning space should be able

to motivate learners and promote learning as an activity, support collaborative as

well as formal practice, provide a personalised and inclusive environment, and be

flexible in the face of changing needs.’ 13.

‘The library media centre collection should not be an

interactive museum of equipment, media, and information from past generations.’

Crying over spilled milk

‘Great 21st century libraries are more than books and computers.’

Today’s libraries from the inside out

‘Just because it doesn’t fit in a display case doesn’t mean you can’t make it

visible.’ Managing the Intangible: Digital Resources in School Libraries

‘Weeding is a professional responsibility. It is what librarians in all types of libraries

do.’ Crying over spilled milk

‘For inspiring library designs…. ‘

Demco Interiors

‘A collection development plan that limits the

library’s holdings only to subjects directly included

in the curriculum will deny youngsters the

opportunities to reach their full educational

potential.’ Leading forward by looking backward

‘ What would make teens use the library more?’

Teen third space

Images to stimulate Flickr (compiled by the

Kimberly Bolan Cullen –

http://indielibrarian.blogspot.com

‘ We have no textbook

for this. We have no

pedagogical guides. And we

need to work a bit harder to share effective practice at this point. We are just

beginning to develop models to point to when folks ask us what a school librarian

looks like today, what a 2.0 school library program looks like today.’ 9.

It essential for Principals, school

leaders and Teacher Librarians to understand

the role of the 21st century Teacher Librarian, to shape that role within the school

context and promote the importance of that role to

education in the 21st century.

The following links will help develop a deeper

understanding of the contributions Teacher Librarians/Media Specialists can make

and to assist with the shaping of this role.

‘Principals are paramount in setting the tone and

expectations for teaching and learning and as such are also paramount in

developing and supporting the role of the Teacher Librarian / Media Specialist.’

Principal Support of Teacher Librarians

‘A teacher librarian has the expertise to build the

capacity of students as effective information users through class-based, group and

individual instruction.’

School Libraries building capacity for student learning in 21C

‘Halting the drift to mediocrity requires that Teacher Librarians stop and look at reality

objectively, that they clarify what really matters to them and focus their energies on

achieving those things.’ Teacher-Librarianship and Change: Why Institutionalization has Failed

‘There is one role in education that has been

forced to keep up with changes brought about by the information age, computers and

the changes in society ~ the Teacher Librarian.’

The changing role of the Teacher Librarian in the 21st Century

What does an excellent Teacher Librarian look like? Australian School Library Association You know you’re a 21st century librarian if….

10.

‘One of the biggest challenges facing librarianship is relevance. .. We struggle to remain relevant because we are

a hidden profession.’ 8.

11.

Rolf Erikson’s hope for the future:

� More and more school administrators will

recognize the growing body of research that

demonstrates the positive effect of school libraries

and school librarians on student reading abilities and

academic achievement;

� Architects and school facility planners will

recognize that their end product will benefit

from working with experienced school

librarians who have expertise in school library

facility design, and they will bring someone

with that unique expertise and perspective to

the design process;

� Recognizing that there are no good reasons to

design school libraries that are based on an outdated

model, that are too much like school libraries from the 1960s,

everyone involved in the planning of new school libraries

will work together to achieve innovative design;

� School libraries as a “place” will continue to be

important, but library staff will expand programs beyond

the library walls and create virtual libraries capable of

reaching and serving students wherever they are, both at

and away from school.

1. Johnson, Doug. Imaging the future of the school library. Designshare.com http://www.designshare.com/index.php/articles/school-library-future (accessed 14 June 2009) 2. Juke, Ian. The committed sardine. http://www.committedsardine.com/index.cfm (accessed 25 May 2009) 3. Loertscher, David -- Flip This Library: School Libraries Need a Revolution, 11/1/2008. Schoollibraryjournal.com http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6610496.html (accessed 15 June 2009)

4. Dolan, John. Head of Birmingham Libraries Development Agency.

5. Smith, Ester G. (2006). Student Learning through Wisconsin School Library Media Centers: Library Media Specialist Survey Report. Madison, WI: WisconsinDepartment of Public Instruction. 6. Hay, Lyn and Foley, Colleen. School libraries building capacity for student learning in 21C. Scan • Vol 28 No 2 May 2009 (pp17-26) http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/assets/pdf/Schoollibraries21C.pdf (accessed 2 July 2009) 7. Valenza, Joyce Kasman. Manifesto for 21st Century School Librarians. Information.wikispaces.com. http://informationfluency.wikispaces.com/You+know+you're+a+21st+century+librarian+if+.+.+. (accessed 12 July 2009) 8. Brown, Myra. Can I have your autograph? American Libraries, November 2004. 9. Valenza, Joyce . A few new things. LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION April/May 2008 (pp10-13) http://www.linworth.com/pdf/lmc/reviews_and_articles/featured_articles/Valenza_April_May2008.pdf (accessed 13 June 2009) 10. Gunether, Kim. The evolving digital library. Computers in Libraries, February 2000

11. Klinger, Shula Richmond, BC. Quoted in Beyond Words: BC's Public Libraries Are Changing Lives. 12. Fisher, Graham. Director, London Libraries Development Agency.

13. JISC, 2009, Designing Spaces for Effective Learning: A guide to 21st century learning space design http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/learningspaces.pdf (p3) (accessed 20 May 2009)

14. Creighton, Peggy Milam. Just how flexible are we? LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION November/December 2007 (pp10-14) ‘You see, I don't

believe that libraries

should be drab places

where people sit in

silence, and that's

been the main reason

for our policy of

employing wild animals

as librarians.’

"Gorilla Librarian." Monty

Python's Flying Circus

http://www.linworth.com/pdf/lmc/reviews_and_articles/featured_articles/Milam%20Creighton_November_December%202007.pdf (accessed 13 June 2009)

15. Hay, Lyn and Foley, Colleen. School libraries building capacity for student learning in 21C. Scan • Vol 28 No 2 May 2009 (pp17-26) http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/assets/pdf/Schoollibraries21C.pdf (accessed 2 July 2009)

Collators Nicola House – Education Coordinator – FNQ Learning Development Centre ICT. Kim Johnson – A/Principal Advisor Regional Projects. Sue Biggs – A/ Principal Education Officer - School Improvement.

12.Photos from www.iclipart.com