Inspired

Spent some time yesterday using internet to search for info on the Big 6. Went to the Big 6 Blog and found some very interesting information from people's comments and opinions including a fascinating point from Mike Eisenberg - is information literacy confined to literacy itself? He gave an interesting response to the question reflecting on its essential meaning. Says he will pursue the idea that information literacy/skills/information problem solving underlies everything we do. I think this point has been inspiring for me to keep going with my learning!

A pass

Have just passed (as in only just) the first assignment. OK! That will do for me.
Having studied ETL 501 before 401, I am at least finding the knowledge I learned in that unit to be very useful in 401. I know that there is more that I can do but at least I am finding that I appear to be using the knowledge gained from 501 more as I go through this course. I think, given that I am studying in a linear manner ( one unit per semester), that I can only gain in useful knowledge by applying what I learnt last semester to the next. At least that is the theory!

Reality check

Having just spent time reading forums and realising that I have not been using this blog for its real purpose, here we go.
I am not answering part C but am just as befuddled as some in this course - I also have not received assignment 1 while others have and therefore am wondering what has happened.
How am I going with my understanding of a TL's role?
Unforutnately I have spent more time bemoaning the fact that there is no TL at my own school and that while senior management is present, there won't be.

What did I know at the beginning of ETL401? - that is tricky because I have already done ETL501 - that was my first unit - therefore I already have some knowledge of searching the internet and the role of the TL in ICT. Therefore What did I know at the beginning of 401?

• information about the PLUS model by James Herring - primarily for secondary students but I feel it could be adapted for primary which is where I am right now.
• TL's role in assisting subject specialist or classroom teachers with research
• TL's role in collaborating with teachers to provide the means to enable students to research to produce results which are most agreeable to student/teacher/wider school community

What else?

• TL being the human face of the Library (or whatever it may be called in any educational institution.
• TL role in providing advice on best reading material for leisure or for research.
• TL role in administrative area of operation of Library.

What about now?

• The history of TL in Australia (Topic 1) really surprised me - had no idea what was going on in federal govt. while I was at school. Why did the good intentions not progress?
• Information literacy skills and school community - so much to do here in my own school - knowing about info skills being critical and knowing that my school does not have a policy of this nature - much has been learned and much to do to try and encourage implementation - one step at a time I guess.
• Curriculum and Collaboration - learned much more in these areas - clearly collaborating with teachers in areas of the curriuclum would make life so much easier for the school community.
• Leadership - probably the trickiest area - I am not a born leader - this would require more learning and probably support from my peers!
• Lastly very definitely did not know much at all about the information process models other than PLUS. Amount of info overwhelming but interesting. Like the Big 6 and Super 3.

Feel so much more to learn am finding it a struggle with everything else in my life. Also do feel that changes happening in my teaching role at school are impeding my ability to concentrate on course - I guess there is a lot I can learn about critically thinking about my situation and overcoming the circumstances hopefully to my benefit!

Have spent so much time reading. Have come to the conclusion that whatever results I actually get in my assignments, I am still learning about the role of TL. I don't have a TL in my school who could guide me and, as said before, the role is not valued in my school by the prinicpal. I have been moved into a 1/2 classroom for 2 weeks (possibly longer) and no consideration has been given to what might happen to the library now. I have tried to make the library user friendly for students but I cannot do what really should be done.

What have I done re PD?
Attended a PD for which I paid $200 and reorganised release time lessons so that I could attend - was from Ralph Pirozzo of Promoting and Learning International. Called Creating the most Engaging and Challenging Classroom where ESL & Indigenous Children will Thrive!
How did it help me?
Looked at theories of learning - over 53 - did not know that many - Constructivist Theory (Bruner), Laterial Thinking (De Bono), Multiple Intelligences (Gardner) etc.
Looked at Pirozzo's Learning and Teaching Wheel - discussion - put into perspective a lot of theory.
I find I am a practial person - I know much of learning is based on theory but I want to SEE evidence - I want to feel it, know that it is real!
Liked some of his Thinking Tools - BROW, LDC, Concept Maps, RedMast (I liked that for young, ESL and Indigenous kids), W, X and Y charts.
Matirx for planning and access to other teachers' kindly donated plans - excellent.
Second PD - Pearson Rigby - looking at Rigby Blueprints - core literacy programme and Making Connections plus Smart board presentation - very interesting for future reference.
Followed by: launch of Liz Thomspon Big Books of various Indigenous Community stories with some of the community children present - was great - very inspiring. So much potential to use story material of this nature - they all have some kind of message or moral - why not use these stories rather that Goldilocks or Red Riding Hood etc. I think the local stories would be more meaningful.

Learned a great deal for the future.

Readings - Appreciated Topic 5 perhaps more than the others - Oh dear probably not a good sign in my learning -
Collaborative Practice - that is maybe the role of the TL that I think is utterly critical - being a critical part of the curriculum and supporting the teachers and school community therein!
Evidence that collaboration boosts student learning - isn't that what it is all about? Yes Yes Yes.
Liked Gibbs and Todds articles. Montiel-Overall as well.

So much of readings are along the lines of learning all about the role - but the reality in the work place is far from comforting. I guess it is a case of keep on reading to learn so that the sum total will be able to change the reality!!!