2011 - More of the same?

Now that I also manage a library blog, most of my work is linked to this: http://bacirc.edublogs.org

My personal learning so far this year has been to investigate and integrate new technologies into my work as Teacher Librarian and then advocate their use to other teachers on my staff.
Lately I have been experimenting with Glogster and Prezzi which both have their place in presentation and sharing work. I am currently investigating Scoop.it! and think I will use this to collect links for students and teachers on various themes as the need arises. As more of my fellow Teacher Librarians make Scoop.it themes I can also share these with others and link them on the library blog or on the Intranet website of links for teachers and staff.

I have also purchased an iPad and am investigating ebooks and the many educational Apps that are available, so that I am in a position to advocate for new tools and methodologies in my school.

Supporting teachers through Guided Inquiry continues to take up my teaching time at school with many more teachers asking to be supported as they learn this pedagogy.
This year I have supported Year 5 (two classes), Year 7 (three classes), Year 10 Commerce and, next term, Year 4 (two classes). I have also shared my work from 2010 at four Teacher Librarian conferences assisting others to begin using this constructivist Inquiry approach to learning.

I have gathered more evidence from my work in classes this year and this will be published on the BACIRC blog later in the year when all the reports are completed.

2010 Highlight: Students promote Guided Inquiry

The highlight of this year's work was when two students from one of the classes at my school, and whom had been using Guided Inquiry for research, came with me and presented their experience and articulated their learning path from information to deep knowledge in front of Teacher Librarians from around the State. They proved that this process really works and is relevant to today's students. They had worked on a class wiki for sharing and they also discussed how useful this tool had been.
I have placed footage and description on my library blog at www.bacirc.edublogs.org

Bridging the Divide: Online K-12 Conference begins

Guided Inquiry presentation 'gets the ball rolling'

Last term I organised and assisted in the implementation of an 8 week integrated Guided Inquiry unit of work with four Year 7 Humanities classes and their teachers.

We are currently having two Professional Development days and this morning I headed up a presentation of our AGQTP/AIS funded Guided Inquiry action research project. I briefly introduced the theory of Guided Inquiry and a brief overview including photographic illustrations and screen dumps from wiki pages. I also showed the analysis of reflection sheets the students completed during the project and how their knowledge and Information Literacy skills had grown.
This was followed by a teacher speaking of her experience and then three students, who had come in just for the presentation (in fulll uniform), spoke of their perspective and showed some of their work. Another teacher finished off by speaking of her experience of being a 'facilitator' rather than a 'fount of all knowledge' and how this had changed her perspective of her role as a teacher. She also told of the many areas of application she could see for Guided Inquiry.
The response from staff was extremely positive and planning has begun in a number of faculties to change pedagogy for aspects of topics next year - oh dear it will be a busy one for me!

Reading activity for those "too cool for school"

We had a great 'Book Week' in the library last week. I took the idea suggested by a colleague from another school and set up a room for classes to come and have an experience of "Speed Dating with a Difference". [This followed on from last year's "Library Lover's Day" (Feb 14) when we 'wrapped and ribboned' many 'good reads' and students took them home to read and review.

The English teachers were keen for the experience this year and booked a total of 18 lesson times in the library for classes ranging from Years 5 to 10.

We had tables set with tablecloths, flowers, 'candles' (battery operated of course) and a centrepiece of a basket of appropriate books of various genres for each age group.

After a brief introduction to set the scene students were given four minutes to 'date a book' before giving it a rating and recording its title and author for future reference should they want to go on another date! They 'dated' five books in total within the lesson.

Even the students the teachers thought might be a bit "cool for school" and not want to take part, did enjoy the activity and the teachers want to repeat this type of activity occasionally to encourage borrowing and wide reading. A large number of students came back to borrow the books they had 'met'.

The HSC 'Game' - Do they want to play; how can we help them?

Last night Dr Michael Carr-Gregg spoke to our parents and students about facing the challenge of the HSC years at school. He discussed, using reseach findings, how the brain functions and what it needs for optimum performance when it comes to study and retention.
Should we let our students listen to music and chew gum while they study?.... Yes!!!
Listen to the talk here - excuse the writing - it is linked!

http://www.livescribe.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?sid=Hzs6Qd6bz24v

Recognising the signs - reducing student risk

Just came from hearing Dr Michael Carr-Gregg speak to our staff about the teachers role in picking up the signs of teen depression. Very serious statistics about the state of the Ygeneration and he said we shouldn't even 'go there' when it comes to the Z generation! Again I took notes with my 'Smart Pen' and can share them plus audio - of course I asked permission to capture the session.

http://www.livescribe.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?sid=Gjx1Fq1wC1DD

ICTs in the Classroom - a revolution?

Mal Lee spoke at the Blue Mountains ACE group yesterday on the revolution that is really not happening yet in Australia. 'Normalisation' of technoloigy has not happened yet in our schools. He said that the technology is not as important as the expert using the tool - the TEACHER - we have all heard that before... and he went on to say that most teachers just replicate the old technology with the new. He spoke of nine critical variables and finally took questions where his views on current government initiatives, the secret of the success in the UK, and educational outcomes from additional use of technology. Again, here is a link to an audio plus my untidy notes!
http://www.livescribe.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?sid=mjCPclr2mNKv