School Library Program Technology and Insights

  Welcome to part four of a four part series on how practicing school librarians implement the  AASL (American Association of School Librarians) National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries . This series will delve into four of the   standards for school librarians: Explore ,  Collaborate,  Engage , and Inquire .   Shared Foundation: Inquire (Standard 1) The AASL standards are unique in that each shared foundation can apply to all grade-levels, thus easily adapting to student needs at each level. At the high school level, students are going beyond learning foundational concepts of information, but are instead preparing to enter into the “real-world” of life after graduation. High school librarians like Anne Lemeiux, therefore, have the opportunity to create experiences that allow for real-world problem solving and inquiry . Engaging students with the “ inquire” standard is thus critical in ...

 Welcome to part three of a four part series on how practicing school librarians implement the  AASL (American Association of School Librarians) National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries . This series will delve into four of the   standards for school librarians: Explore ,  Collaborate, Engage , and Inquire.   Shared Foundation: Engage (Standard 6)  “Ethical use,” “validity,” and “attribution” are just a few of the words within the AASL Standard's “engage” shared foundation for school librarians (American Association of School Librarians [AASL], 2018). Most elementary students would have no idea what those words mean and certainly not how they apply to information. However, a well-trained librarian, like elementary school librarian Betsy Long, understands both the vernacular and how to teach students to engage with information in a responsible and ethical way.  With so many resources a...

Welcome to part two of a four part series on how practicing school librarians implement the  AASL (American Association of School Librarians) National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries . This series will delve into four of the   standards for school librarians: Explore ,   Collaborate , Engage, and Inquire.   Shared Foundation: Collaborate (Standard 3)  Not only do school librarians foster collaborative relationships with teachers, they also show students how to effectively collaborate to make the most of their learning. Veteren elementary school librarian, Besty Long, uses partnerships with teachers to create meaningful collaborative experiences with students at her school. Through these collaborative experiences, she is able to both engage students and meet the AASL’s National School Library Standards in the “ collaborate” foundation (American Association of School Librarians [AASL], 2018). W...

Welcome to part one of a four part series on how practicing school librarians implement the  AASL (American Association of School Librarians) National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries . This series will delve into four of the   standards for school librarians: Explore, Collaborate, Engage, and Inquire.   Shared Foundation: Explore (Standard 5)  School librarians have a unique opportunity within a school to provide opportunities for students to explore learning in a cross-curricular and information-rich environment. Elementary school librarian Abby Spitzer enjoys using technology, makerspace activities, and STEM lessons to support the curriculum (A. Spitzer, personal communication, November 13, 2020). Through these activities, she is able to meet the AASL’s National School Library Standards in the “explore” foundation (American Association of School Librarians [AASL], 2018). Elementary school librarians typically...

          In deciding on entering into the Master’s in Library and Information Science program, I had major anxiety and worry about my ability to complete the program with a full-time job and a small child. However, my passion for literacy and being a support to other teachers outweighed my fears. I ultimately decided that by becoming a school librarian I would be able to have an impact on a wider audience than my classroom affords me. As I have been in the program for almost a year now, I have certainly learned a great deal about libraries and technology. However, this was the first class where I really saw the full potential of what a school librarian has to offer.           It is difficult to pinpoint one takeaway from the class as I have learned a great deal and tested my technology prowess in new ways. However, I feel that overall my greatest takeaway is that school librarians can have a great impact, advocate for their necessi...

             When you cannot physically go places, books allow you to mentally explore new worlds. As writer Katrina Mayer states “a book is a magical thing that lets you travel to far away places without ever leaving your chair.” With technology, there are now other modes for people to travel to far away places - some of which actually do require movement. Virtual reality or augmented reality are Image from Pixabay certainly no substitute for the experience books provide their readers, but they do allow participants a new and exciting way to learn and experience new content. School libraries are thus ideal places for students to not only travel through books, but also have new visually immersive experiences using virtual reality.  Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headsets - Where to Buy and What to Know          There are a plethora of virtual and augmented reality technology tools; some which are as simple as a smartp...

        Writer Dorothy Parker once said “the cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” In a time where cell phones, television screens, and video games take up a large portion of childrens’ time each day, many would say screens are the cure for boredom. However, as the current situation of quarantine amidst the Covid-19 pandemic shows, screens do not stave off boredom completely. One look at social media, will provide ample evidence that screens do not equate to an absence of boredom. Those who are living their best quarantine life are likely making and creating instead of passively sitting in front of screens. Image from Pixabay         Within the last few years, schools have been creating Makerspaces, not to necessarily keep students from being bored, but to show students how much fun CREATING can be! When one creates, curiosity blossoms and boredom withers. School libraries are at the forefront of the Makerspace movem...

      When I think about bullying in general, but especially cyberbullying, I am reminded at how invisible it can be, yet it can leave deep internal bruises and scars. I am further reminded of a picture of two apples I once saw as a illustration of bullying. The two shiny red apples looked almost identical - from the outside. Yet, when cut into, one apple has bruises in its flesh; it had visibly received trauma, but this trauma was not visible to the human eye from the outside. Cyberbullying, because it occurs in the digital world, may give the initial impression that it is more noticeable. However, it too often goes unnoticed by outsiders who are not paying attention or who do not want to pay attention. As a teacher in a K-12 setting, I have dealt with bullying issues every one of my eight years of educating middle school students. Within the last two years, the number of cyberbullying accounts I have learned of has increased. And if the statistics are true, then there ...

What is EdPuzzle?               Edpuzzle is a free, educational website that educators can use to share and edit video content with students. It was named by the American Association of School Libraries as one of the "Best Websites for Teaching & Learning in 2019" (American Association of School Libraries, 2019). The videos on the site come from popular sources like YouTube and Khan Academy, and they can range in level from elementary though high school. The video content includes a wide array of topics that allow for inclusion of the technology tool into many different content areas.  Additionally, with Edpuzzle , interactive elements exists where questions can be embedded in the video for students to answer as they watch the video. The video will pause as a question appears for students to respond to; questions range from multiple choice to open-ended. Data in the form of student answers and progress in watching the videos are then sent to...

My Aunt Wendy is an extraordinary person. Many would look at her and see “disabilities,” but she has many abilities. She makes crafts, is an expert at coloring, can beat most people in Wii bowling, and enjoys writing down people’s names and phone numbers. She was born with Spina Bifida and uses a wheelchair; she also is deaf and has the mindset of a child. She just celebrated her 47th birthday! When she was in school, there were not as many tools that could assist her with her education and daily life. However, students who have challenges now have many technology tools that can make their lives easier and their learning more enjoyable and meaningful.  Using Bookshare to Make Reading More Accessible  Librarians often spend a large amount of time developing their book collection, but for many students a print book is not the most accessible format. Bookshare is an online tool that can make reading more accessible for students. According to their website “people wit...

What are Drones?  Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can be flown a utonomously or by using a handheld controller. What once was thought of as a military piece of equipment has rapidly moved into the consumer world. Drones are available at a variety of retail stores and online ranging greatly in price. Some more simplistic drones are smaller and can only fly short distances from the person manning the controller. Other drones are more sophisticated and have GPS and cameras with the capability to take pictures and video. Even Amazon is working to use drones in their package delivery - known as Amazon Prime Air . With military, commercial, and residential uses, drones have become easily accessible, quickly recognizable, and of great interest for the future. As Smith and Image by  moerschy  from  Pixabay Sefton (2015) explain, “when students understand how drones work and use them in applications at a local scale their understanding of drone us...