The education shift @ your school library
Many schools and school boards have dropped or lowered amount of staff in the school library. Many of us in the field are asking why and what we can do to change the status. What library staff need to understand is the change in how education is being delivered to students in the 21st century. Not only has the classroom physically changed but the method of delivery to students now is technology based. Classrooms are also changing from a teacher led to student inquiry based education.
“Today’s schools are experiencing a great deal of change. Just as the rest of the world’s political, social, economic, and scientific realities have been shifted by swift advances in information and communication technology, so too has education. These forces are altering the way people work, play and learn.” (Together for Learning 2)
The question is has the library / learning commons changed as well to keep up with this shift in education. Staff should be on the leading edge of technology and the library the hub of the school to learn new and innovative ideas. If we as library staff are seen as leaders and an integral part of the education system it would be less likely that we are overlooked when it comes to funding.
For many staff the idea of jumping into the world of technology is daunting. There are so many areas to fill with twitter, blogs, websites, apps, robotics, social media and more everyday. The easiest way is just to take one thing at a time and divide and conquer. Don’t try to do everything but assess what would help your school and students the most. If that is twitter or creating a webpage then start with that. Once you feel comfortable with that area then move onto something else. Maybe the library needs a floor plan redesign or a self checkout system started. Still feeling overwhelmed? Talk to your colleagues! There is always someone whether library staff or teacher that would be happy to give you tips.
“Stay current with new technology and educational innovations. In addition to keeping our spaces flexible, we need to keep ourselves flexible, or we run the risk of making ourselves extinct in our own natural environments.”
(Harland 22)
Once staff has changed their mindset into being an innovative leader in the school then the library space also needs to be changed into an innovative space. Self checkout is an integral part of this new flexible space. Managing time and allowing others to manage their time has a tremendous effect for staff and students. When they realize that they are responsible for their own book exchange and scheduling management then they become empowered, responsible and take ownership of their educational needs.
This new space also needs little niches or collaborative zones for students to work in small groups. “These are small tuck away areas where students can work in small groups. We design these spaces by arranging furniture and shelving in such a way to create barriers from other groups working. Working in smaller zones helps keep students enthusiasm and ideas contained so more work is accomplished. “
(Baker, 25)
A flexible schedule allows students to come and work, exchange books and collaborate with other students. This means that the 30 min. library time may look very different according to the school and student needs. The teacher may choose to send a few students throughout the day to exchange books. The 30 min may allow time to teach technology, coding or makerspace. Maybe the library would have stations set up in which students choose to use micro:bits, tinkercad, overdrive, coding or other technology based zones.
Many library staff are mourning the loss of reading to their students as schools are asking them to integrate technology, It is those innovative leaders that find a way to combine books and technology so both worlds are still a part of the learning commons programming.
Resources
Baker, Patricia. “Creating a learning commons for the 21st century: with design thinking”. Patricia Baker Publications. 2018. Print
Harland, Pamela Colburn. The Learning Commons: seven simple steps to transform your Library. .Santa Barbara CA: Libraries Unlimited, ©2011. Print.
Together for learning: school libraries and the emergence of the learning commons. Ontario Library Association, ©2010. print.