ETL 401 Part C where am I now?

Part C

Where am I now in my view of Teacher Librarianship?
At the beginning of the course, I had some idea of the role of the TL in terms of collaboration, promoting literacy and reading and in the general operation of the Library. I’ve looked back at March 15th Interesting Reading and I wrote about the TL being the human element/face of the library. That is one theme of the role that I have continued to believe in. However:

1) Information Literacy skills and process.H Although I have studied ETL501, I am still learning about Information Literacy and Information Literacy Processes. I reflected on Harada, (2004), talking about Information Literacy skills in getting students to examine the real world in their school yard – insects. A few months ago at my school, Transition and Year 1 students, were terrorising Rhino Beetles (killing them). The students were criticised, remonstrated with and punished. Having read Harada, I thought, would it not make more sense to turn the experience of interacting with these creatures into an exercise of examining them, learning about them and appreciating them through Information Literacy Skills Processes. Circumstances are such that it was not possible for me to take a role in the exercise but I certainly considered the possibilities for my own future in the role of TL. Working in a school without an Information Literacy Policy and where teachers are told to “teach research skills”, the readings have been most informative in shaping my knowledge of the role of the TL. Teaching Information Literacy through Resource Based Learning using Information Process Models, would appear to encompass a more effective, progressive and productive means of learning than anything I knew before. The letter mentioned in my previous Blog of 7th June, makes the role of the TL in schools all the more critical.

2) Leadership. I was unaware at the beginning of this course, of the role of TLs as leaders. The readings throughout the course express the importance of the TL as a leader and that leadership is considered to be part of the role of the TL. That the TL should be knowledgeable of the latest information on pedagogy, curriculum development, ICT, having expert knowledge of Information Literacy, to provide professional development to staff on the skills of Information Literacy and Resource Based Learning and to be part of the leadership/management team of the school, is extraordinary on top of the basic running of the Library. The second reading from Covey, (1990), provided some thoughts to consider – that trust is integral in the role of the TL and that being effective is more important than being efficient. My earlier view of the TL would be of an efficient operator of the Library. I view the role now as one of striving to be effective as the human face of the Library, leading the school community to become Information Literate. Todd Gilman’s article was also interesting particularly with reference to collaboration and communication.

3) Collaboration As an ESL teacher I am involved in collaboration with teachers but my current practice is both inclusive and independent . The TLs’ collaborative role is far more complex – being involved in curriculum development, resourcing and implementation of it, teaching with teachers using information literacy processes to undertake research to produce the end product, conducting PD about Information Literacy, being part of the leadership team, serving the school community.
Yvonne Hodgson, Topic 4, 23 May Stripling, Brown, Batz and Rosenberg, summarises the collaborative role of the TL. Mila Nackovski, Topic 5, 31st May, Topic 5 Thoughts, also talks about collaborative practice. Both these forum posts express similar views to my own as I have progressed through the course – collaboration of TL, teachers, principal and all others in the school community makes the school an Information Literacy rich community of students learning how to learn.
I see the role of a TL as one of being the human element of learning in the school: a teacher, collaborator, leader, service provider and above all communicator with all, so that the school community will develop the skills of learning how to learn in a rapidly changing society of the 21st Century. The role of the TL is critical in teaching students how to seek, find and use information in a purposeful and meaningful manner.

References

Covey, S. R. (1990). The Seven habits of highly effective people: restoring the character ethic (Part 2), New York, Simon & Schuster, pp. 165-182
Available from CSU Library Reserve Database
Gilman, Todd. (2007). The Four Habits of Highly Effective Librarians.
Accessed from: The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/cgi2bin/printsblr.cgi?article=http://chronic le.com/jobs/news/2009
Retrieved 4th April 2009


Harada, V.H. (2004). Action Research: How teacher-librarians can build evidence of student learning. SCAN, 23, pp. 27-33
Available from CSU Library Reserve Database

http://www.slasa.asn.au/rolestatement.html

Hodgson, Yvonne. (2009). ETL401 Forums posting to Topic 4
Stripling, Brown, Batz and Rosenberg

Nackovski, Mila. (2009). ETL401 Forums posting to Topic 5
Topic 5 Thoughts

P & K Pets. Rhino Beetle Care Info Sheet #20
Available at:
http://www.pkpets.com.au/files/Info%20Sheet%2020%20-%20Rhino%20Beetle.pdf
Accessed on 12th May, 2009

School Library Association of South Australia, (SLASA) (2003). Teacher Librarian Role Statement
Retrieved 24/09/08 from

Young, Fiona. (2009). March 15, June 7, 2009
http://fjy-soggythoughts.blogspot.com/