Media Specialists Unite!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cullen Weeden on February 5, 2009 at 8:47am

Rachel, I am fortunate at my school to have technology integration specialists who handle the jobs you mention above. However, I want to learn how to use the web 2.0 tools and to learn how they can be incorporated in our library classes. We are on a fixed schedule (PK-5, 6th is on a flexible schedule). We correlate our lessons with what the students are studying in their subject area classes but find it hard to have a time slot to collaborate with the teachers as much as we would like. There are two librarians and we have 609 students.

How do you manage to collaborate with your teachers? Any good tips?

Cullen Weeden
Teacher Librarian
Presbyterian Day School
Memphis, TN

Cullen Weeden

Permalink Reply by Rachel Brockman on February 5, 2009 at 5:19pm

Hey Cullen -

You and I both are very fortunate to have technology integration specialists! Is yours for your building only? Mine is shared over 4 large buildings, and then additionally we have Technology Team Leaders (I am one) in each building to handle the little stuff... But we end up helping a lot with training and hand-holding, too...

My school is a K-2 school with about 850 students. Because of our size we have to run an 8 day "week" rotation rather than a 5 day rotation of specials. I am on a partial flex/ partial fixed schedule - I see each class every other "week," while our counselor sees them on the opposite week during the same time slot. This allows her to see small groups and individuals, and allows me to have slots open for collaboration and maintenance time. I have flexible checkouts all day long for individuals, and also schedule a checkout time for classes on their counselor week.

We have been using this schedule for the past 3 years, and it has taken time (and still IS taking time) to build collaborative relationships and a bank of lessons that many of my teachers like to encorporate into their instruction each year. Studying the state standards and curriculum maps has been my biggest ally - knowing what they must teach and when they are teaching it allows me to throw "feelers" out there for potential collaborations. I still have MANY teachers who do not take advantage of the resources and extra hands available at the media center, and with 48 homerooms, it may always be the case that I will have a few that just won't participate.

I do a newsletter each month, too, that highlights a class that I have collaborated that month, and the great things that we do together... It is an ongoing process - sometimes a battle. As we have begun to use Skype more with experts, authors, missionaries, etc. and incorporate more technologies (taught a kindergarten class a digital camera lesson today) I seem to get more takers. What has been successful for you?

Rachel Brockman

Permalink Reply by Cullen Weeden on February 24, 2009 at 11:20am

Rachel,

Thanks so much for your great reply. I'm sorry I'm just now responding to it.

We have three tech integration specialists. One for each of our divisions: early childhood (PK-SK), lower school (1-3) and upper school (4-6). They handle all of the teachers' tech needs. They also work with us on our tech needs.

We are on a 6 day rotation and that is hard enough to keep up with. I can't imagine being on a 8 day rotation! Grades PK-5th are on a fixed schedule, with 6th coming to check out as needed.

We study the curriculum maps also, but more so that we can correlate our lessons with what the teachers are doing in the regular classroom. I like how you are using them as a way to come up with good ideas to collaborate with your teachers.

Our school is having a math emphasis this year. I will soon be collaborating with a 2nd grade teacher by reading Math Curse by Jon Scieszka in the library and then she will do a follow-up activity in her classroom. I searched Math Curse on Google and found lots of lesson ideas. I shared those with her. She choose to do the one where the students interview their parents as to how they use math in their jobs.

I love your newspaper idea. Do you feel that the teachers actually read it? With email, blogs, podcasts, Ning, professional journals, curriculum mapping, etc. I sometimes feel that our teachers do not read messages sent to them.

Permalink Reply by Rachel Brockman on July 20, 2009 at 5:59pm

Cullen - No. They don't read it all. They can't - just like we can't. It's overwhelming, no? So much good info out there - not enough hours! Where is your system? I can't believe you guys have 3 tech integration specialists! How amazing is that! I am thinking of organizing something for Read Across America Day ( Feb 2nd) - Still trying to wrap my brain around it - maybe something like seeing how many states our school can share a Skype session with reading a Dr. Seuss book... Interested in participating and maybe helping me design it? I need some more brains! Once I can hammer out details, I want to post an invite here...

Permalink Reply by Andy Meyer on February 17, 2009 at 4:30pm

You have echoed my own thoughts in your blog. I am in a large district in Montana, where half the teachers are terrified of technology and the other half use it with great ease. Age and education level doesn't make much difference. It is the desire to learn that determines where they are on the techno-plane. I often the desire to help kids love to read takes a backseat to so many other things we are required to do in our jobs. Technology seems to be a necessity, but often without much instruction. I am blessed to be involved in a Technology Integration program at our district where the teachers get to immerse ourselves first, then teach others how to use what we have learned. It is a dynamic and inspiring program!
This will be a wonderful forum to share ideas, problems, concerns and successes. I look forward to reading what many people have to share.

Permalink Reply by Rachel Brockman on July 20, 2009 at 5:52pm

Hey Andy! I completely agree - this site is a great tool. It sounds like you are in a wonderful situation - and that your teachers up there in Montana are no different than those in AL. Those that want to learn do... We are just having to find our own way, no? Learning to meaningfully integrate technology into our curriculum with little guideance is challenging. Even in systems like ours that see that our schools must prepare our students for living, playing, and working in the future.

Permalink Reply by Wilma Fitzpatrick on April 3, 2009 at 8:06am

Hi, I've just joined this site so I'm still getting my bearings. I'm glad to see a Media Specialist group already formed. I teach in a small Jr/Sr High school in New Jersey across the river from Philadelphia. Our total population 7-12 is @ 950. The school is unique because all of our students walk to school. The town is about 1 sq. mile and is surrounded by many larger districts.

My perspective may be a little different because of the grade level. My teaching is done differently than the elem. But as far as collaborating with other teachers I see them as much as possible. The Media Center has a computer annex that is attached and they come in to schedule class time. I try to know what they'll be coming in for ahead of time. Whether they'll need books reserved, database passwords, SmartBoard, laptops, work sited instruction sheets, etc. One of the best pieces of advice I received when taking classes was to never eat at your desk no matter how busy you are. I really think that by eating with the other teachers it gives me time to talk and plan.

I also subscribe to several educ. & tech newsletters and get daily e-mails from them. I forward these to the appropriate departments. I agree about the tech. duties. Even though we have an EMS department to handle the distribution of equipment - when it comes to using it I get the call. I go to the classroom and troubleshoot problems all the time.

I do a 7th grade orientation at the beginning of the year which is like a scavenger hunt. They have to find certain things in the library to become acquainted to their new building and use the online catalog. I also facilitate the workshops during in-service days.

I've noticed that not as many teachers or students need help with the software programs compared to a couple of years ago. Now they are interested in learning how to do webpages and podcasting.

Permalink Reply by Julie Sloup on June 30, 2009 at 12:41pm

Rachel,

I will be taking over our elementary media center in August. I've been using some 2.0 tools in my classroom this past year, but I'm ready to take those skills and more into the media center. Our school no longer has technology instructors and the media center has a very rigid fixed schedule. I would love any and all members of the Ning to give me their best hints, tips and tools for a newbie like myself.


Julie

Permalink Reply by Amy Baumgart on July 3, 2009 at 10:29am

Rachel,

I also run a library with a rigid fixed schedule. This fall, due to my other position as an instructional technology leader, I will be instructing in the computer lab half of the day (grades 3-5) and the other half day in the LMC (grades K4-2). I am also looking for best hints, tips and tools that can keep me focused on students being actively engaged, whether they are in the lab or the library.

Amy

Permalink Reply by Rachel Brockman on July 20, 2009 at 5:41pm

Amy - I am reading a great book that you may want to pick up. It is put out by ISTE and is called It's Elementary! Integrating Technology in the Primary Grades. Here is the site: http://www.iste.org/source/Orders/isteProductDetail.cfm?product_cod... It talks a lot about project based learning. I have to say that I am a little envious of your involment in the lab - how amazing could it be if you could allow collaboration within both areas? My lab teacher and I have been in many conversations about just that. The budget is the only thing killing us - if she goes out of the rotation, then we have to have somthing take her place... Spanish? Keyboarding? I have several suggestions, but not the $ to pay for a new unit! :(

Permalink Reply by Rachel Brockman on July 20, 2009 at 5:45pm

Hey Julie - my first year was on a rigid schedule, and it was all about survival! I knew little about integrating web2.0 technologies at that time, so you are already a step ahead! I have to recommend the book It's Elementary! Integrating Technology in the Primary Grades - don't know your grade level, but it does a great job of talking about collaboration and project based learning. Does your state have any guidelines for the media center about information skills that your students need to be proficient in? Check your state site... I made a timeline for each grade level, and estimated how much time it would take to teach each concept. My goal this year is to infuse more technology into those info skill lessons. I'm right there with you - still learning !