Blog Post 4: Refection on What I have Learned

In the last five years there have been numerous standards and guidelines for librarians to follow. In the article “Recent Trends in Information Literacy and Instruction” by Arp and Woodard do their best to list the several different standards they even give a description of each set of standards.  It is interesting to see these standards and guidelines work together.  They all focus on the same things the words just are different so it begs to ask the question “Just how many times do we need to retread the wheel before we can get on the road?” (pg. 128)  It seems like every year there is some sort of new standards or guidelines out there to follow, it is making it hard to teach the students.  There has been some recent research that really has transformed the way librarians teach.  Mardis and Perrault said it best with this quote form “A Whole New Library: Six ”Senses” you can use to Make Sense of New Standards and Guidelines” “These new documents reflect an evolution in educators’ abilities to prepare students for the world with skills that unite classroom efforts with the school library (AASL), efforts from the school administration (ASCD), efforts from technology staff (ISTE), and efforts form the community and industry (Partnership for the 21^st-Century Skills).”(pg. 34) Librarians are no longer the lone teachers; the new standards and way of thinking want to make the classroom an extension of the library.  It seems the new way of thinking is that the teachers and librarians together are going to make lesson plans and try having a more team teaching environment.  Which makes sense the books and what the students learn in library should reflect the leaning that is going on in the classroom.  Then to take it a step farther the learning should reflect in and on the community.  To do this librarians should think about what Daniel H. Pink has to say “we need to think beyond fact based, routine, left brain thing and propel them to embrace personal, dynamic, creative activities that allow them to change and grow all though our lives.” (pg. 34)  When a person takes a step back and looks at all that we demand of students it is crazy insane.  So to get more of these creative juices flowing librarians need to find ways to make the learning personal for the student, which can be as simple as using Web 2.0 tools, or finding ways to teach to the different learning styles.  The Standards for the 21^st Century Learner seem to allow the students to grow and learn and find ways to evolve in to the 21^st Century adult.  Some of their standards follow closely to what the two articles say.  For example both articles mentioned that librarians have to teach student work together to reach a common goal, which is “Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of learners.” (pg. 6)  It is hard to pinpoint a standard in these standards because every stand can work for almost anything that a teacher or a librarian teaches the students.  Which means teachers and librarians should have no problem making sure that they address these standards when teaching.

Technology is a tool that can destroy a teacher or make a teacher great.  So when using technology one has to be careful not to get over zealous and use it all the time.  So to use technology in the classroom/library will be a challenge but very do able.  For example: have the students turn in one project a six weeks using a different technology making sure they are working in groups.  Make a presentation made for the students or help a teacher make one for a new or old concept that the students need to learn.  The possibilities are endless when it comes to technology.  Pink says that teachers and librarians need to find a way to engage the right side of the brain, which houses all the creative juices.  So in a way letting students use Web 2.0 tools that allow them to create something is a way to get those juices following and get the fun back into school.  

References:

Mardis, M. A., & Perrault, A. M. (2008). a whole new library: Six "senses" you can use to make sense of new standards and guidelines. Teacher Librarian, 35(4), 34-38. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/224874665?accountid=7113

Arp, L., & Woodard, B. S. (2002). Recent trends in information literacy and instruction. Reference & User Services Quarterly,42(2), 124. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/217924704?accountid=7113

Standards for the 21st-century learner. In (2007).American Association of School Librarians. Chicago: American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards