Friday, April 29, 2011
Why do librarians ask you to "not reshelve the books"?
The marks are in
Thursday, April 21, 2011
ETL503.
I definately have forgotten what my initial impressions were. In a year from now, I will be completing a portfolio so it's important that I do this now so I don't forget.
Simply I had no idea about the unit was going to be about.
Resourcing the curriclum to me just a matter of weeks ago was merely about the process of obtaining resources for the curriclum. This would comprise of:
- What the syllabus requires teachers to teach
- What the school programmes require teachers to teach to satisfy currilclum requirements
- What resources are needed to satisfy learning outcomes? Do they contribute towards student learning? Are they relevant?
That is narrow and comes from my teaching background. I have had limited teaching opportunities since I graduated at the end of 2009. I am 100 % certain that there were elements missing.
We are now at mid semester and I have learn't in simple terms:
- How to select resources - What elements do I need to consider - such as information from publishers, web reviews and requests by teachers and students
- The types of resources available.
- The tools available for Teacher Librarians and teachers to select useful teaching resources.
- Creating a system for effective selection of resources.
- How to acquire resources - Budgeting, how to undertake an effective purchase of an item, and how they will be made available to library users.
Now I will have the chance to learn how to manage an entire collection. This is important if we want to resource items effectively. There needs to be a system for me to evalaute existing resources and how andwhy I would approach management of the collection.
While it has helped me grasp a greater understanding of the role of teacher librarian through examining a key element of their role, it helps me alot as a teacher in general. I have been exposed to selection tools that were previously unknown to me particularly online tools such as the Teaching and Learning Federation.
I now have the chance to create a collection management policy, and this is where many of the key concepts will be applied. It will be through this assignment, that I can get a key grasp of the ideas and concepts in ETL503.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Collection Management Policy
I am amazed firstly by the fact that are quite a number of them publically available:
Georges Hall Public School - http://www.georgeshal-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/collection_management_policy.pdf
Scone Public School - www.scone.ps.education.nsw.gov.au/.../ Collection%20Management%20Policy.doc
St Marys Primary School, Swan Hall (Victoria) http://www.stmarysswanhill.com.au/library/policy.php
These are excellent becaue they give me a template for how I can present the school in question. The school featured in the assignment is hypothetical because I am not familiar with the collection management policy of one school. The practical examples as listed above are there but I am not familiar with the school in a wider context, which has to be considered when writing one.
I am already in the drafting process of writing the policy. It feels straightforward. I do have make to sure it reflects the issues that I have identified with existing collection practices. Otherwise I won't get marks.
Teamwork and Collaboration
- Teamwork
- Colloboration
- Communication
Assessing communication is quite simple. The fact there are readings and resources that are out there to construct the rubric for that component are more than adequate.
But Teamwork and Collaboration are another matter. I have not come across one reading that actually explains the difference between both components.
Only one resource gave me any idea of what teamwork and collaboration are. They are individually defined but still share similar meanings
Teamwork is the concept of people working together towards while collaboration referred to the process of people working towards the goal
Still I cannot any system where you can measure both individually. I need to keep trying.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
ETL503 - Assignment One
- I knew nothing about the process of selection and acquistion
- I learnt that I don't have to rely solely on catalogues, publisher websites and online bookstores. There are a myriad of curriculum resources also that would be beneficial such as the Teaching and Learning Federation that appeals specifically to teaching resources. I also didn't realise professional experience or simple we searches are also part of the process.
- The process of acquiring resources - In ETL501 I gained insight into the evaluation of web resources. I was able to apply that to this assignment. Even more interesting the evaluation of the resource itself is undertaken as part of the acquistion process - because you have to consider factors such as cost and accessibility along with currency etc. With other resources, I gained a strong insight into the process and what I do need to consider. Assignment Two will help me spell it out clearly given what I have raised.
- The importance of online resources to learning and how to include them in a library collection. It doesn't feel so distinct.
- Able to provide reasons as to why resources have been selected and how they satisfy the resourcing needs of the library. That is most important given they will influence learning outcomes.
ETL504 - Assignment One -Looking Back
- Limited Resources - Balancing needs and wants of the school community
- Budgeting - Dealing with limited funds and making sure it is spent effectively to ensure that students gain most from their learning.
- Collaborating with teaching staff
The majority of all workers in Australia (70 %) do not possess adequate problem solving skills. To possess them will make me stand out.
Plus it allows me to be creative. I propose and implement solutions. It also encourages innovation? Why, because you actually remedy a problem with a solution that I actually propose. I may be inspired by others but I use that information and the outcomes to implement that strategy.