Academic Skills Tutoring Service

For the first time in 2015, I will be providing my services as an Academic Skills tutor to secondary school and undergraduate university students. More information can be found by clicking here.

Study Ties College Success to Students’ Exposure to a High School Librarian (Article from the School Library Journal)

An article recently landed in my inbox (hence the title of the post) about the three way relationship between the Teacher-Librarian, teacher and student in shaping the success of students in their studies at tertiary level.

Research has found that the development of information literacy skills is shaped during a student's schooling. Students that were exposed to the expertise and skills of a teacher librarian are more likely to result in better academic achievement at university. Also collaboration with teacher made it even more likely.

I found from my own experience as a student, that we were not necessarily prepared for the requirements to engage in learning effectively at university level. For example, I did not know what a database was and how to use it, nor to reference effectively.

These experiences have helped me as a teacher librarian. I encourage students to make use of databases that may be available to them, either through the school library, their local library or the State Library of NSW. I have found them to be amazed at what they do end up finding.

Or teaching students where to locate books on a certain topic e.g. Music in the 700's.

Also I have encouraged students to not just focus on websites, but also on printed, electronic and audio visual materials through Resource Based Learning.

And finally I have been an advocate of Guided Inquiry because it allows for that reflection on the learning process, right from start to finish. I have guided senior students in writing up a research question/s, recommending resources (as mentioned) or reflecting on the usefulness of a resource.

Waverley College Reflection 2013

This is an opportunity to reflect on the term that was (Term 3) and to list some of my key achievements:

Achievements

• Involved in the setup of the reading list for the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge including stickering listed items. I think I managed to do about 300 items on my own. 
• Facilitating Overdrive E-Book presentations to Year Nine Students - This included the creation and publication of support materials on the library webpage on Haiku. 
• Updating library databases.
• Facilitating the Homework Club after school for four afternoons per week. 
• Responsibility for a roll call group. I got to establish a good rapport with the students in that group. 
• Recommending items for addition to the E-Book collection through Overdrive. 
• Promote the Annual Writing Competition for 2013 including creation of posters and promoting it to English Teachers. 

The most important aspect of this role would end up taking half of the term. This was the relocation of the library to a temporary site while awaiting construction of a new permanent location. Even before the move, I had begun some tasks including shelf checks of the non fiction collection, some weeding (Term II) and relocation in anticipation of movement. Relocation was aimed for start of term, but the date was pushed back several weeks due to construction delays

There were the general setup duties e.g. shelving collections and shelf checks. As the setup continued, we also had to reconfigure shelf allocations as the numbers of available shelves had changed (particularly non fiction) where more shelves were allocated than planned. As I mentioned back in October, this became challenging and was able to work around it with ease. 

After the store room was ready, I was then given the responsibility to set it up. 

With the library closed (except for study classes and Homework Club), we also managed to do some testing of the new facilities and sort out the teething problems such as our new monitors. I was able to produce a Powerpoint Slide to welcome students to the new facility. 

I was fortuante to attend the official opening on November 14, and was able to explain to those present some of the new features of the new facility. The general feedback was quite good.

Reflection

I look back and I think the most important skill or activity to me was the library relocation. As a Teacher Librarian, I have to be able to effectively setup and manage a learning space, just like a classroom teacher would do for their classroom. I attained skills in how to effectively setup a library space and had to consider the challenges and limitations based on the resources and spaces that were available to my colleagues and myself. This also requires consideration of the latest trends in learning and library management. As the library was slowly opened for student use (though not fully even by terms end), the effectiveness of our setup could be measured based on the library users experiences e.g. seating arrangements for booked classes. Like a classroom, we have to manage student behaviour. I found the new layout actually encouraged better management. The computer areas were not in a classroom like setting anymore and all screens were easily visible. I could keep a presence that looked "minimal" to the student yet I could see what they were doing. If suspicious, I could move closer as needed. 

In the preparation stage, the shelf check made my work much easier down the at the new site, as I had already ensured that the items were in order. 

I still may prefer printed literature but I've slowly begun to embrace it in an electronic format such as viewing school newsletters, magazines and newspapers online through an Ipad which I purchased mid year. Through the Overdrive Sessions and recommending resources for inclusion in that collection, I begun to apprecipate the reading options available through that medium. Students have much more to gain from it because it allows them to read on devices that normally appeal to them like a tablet computer or their smartphone. It removes some of the "baggage" that comes with having to read.  However I felt that Overdrive itself is still limited in the literature available. Australian Literature is limited at the moment and I hope they add more. However it did open me to new items that otherwise may not be available to them. 

As for the Homework Club - I will take this to any school that I work full time in or retain if such a service is already offered. I think having a service like this to students helps them with their learning. Apart from having access to full library services, it gives students a chance to consult me or library staff in a more relaxed setting. We dont have the time limitations that before school or lunch brings. Teachers can come in and do seminars or assist students for instance (It didn't happen in Term 3 but I'd support it). It gives the students an option to complete homework or study in relaxed and familar settings with support right at hand. Even I felt more relaxed for some reason as well. I liked being available to help the students as needed.