LLED 462 Essential Question

Carly Monroe

LLED 462

Assignment 1:LC submission 1

EQ: I want to find ways of working with colleagues that will further my understanding of how to use the technology in our learning commons in effective and relevant ways for the school community.

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Libraries have altered their function over the past ten years. In Surrey where I work, libraries were being referred to as learning commons and during this time I became interested to learn more about what this meant. I had no idea the same path would be enticing to me as a career possibility until an opportunity presented itself a few years later. I received a library position in a school where I had worked, and it became the beginning of my career today that I enjoy so much.

The library program was based on a traditional model with the teacher librarian (tl) delivering prep and having the occasional research block. I didn’t know that I should have been drumming up learning opportunities during these times to work with teachers and students rather than waiting for them to come to me. Instead, during these times I learned some administrative library tasks. I learned some basics about purchasing, cataloguing, circulation, reporting, fundraising, budgeting and managing library monitors. Over the span of the job I enjoyed creating engaging lessons based on stories read with students and developing relationships with the school.

Two years later, I had the opportunity to come back for a full year.   This time the library had been chosen as the recipient for a learning commons grant. With the money, the school chose to purchase some new technology. I helped implement the learning commons plan that year by collaborating more with other teachers using the iPads mainly to create digital student projects. I noticed students were engaged while creating and sharing their learning using these devices. It was a good school to be a part of to learn technology skills, because the staff was also committed to learning about and using technology. 

I have since worked in two other libraries that range on the library-learning commons continuum. The next school had a traditional library program and I set out to incorporate more use of technology in student learning opportunities. I felt my own learning around technology was affected in the two years I was there because the majority of staff did not engage with technology in their classrooms or student reporting.  Again, the students enjoyed creating with the ipads, but I felt that their drive to do their best work was affected when there was no end result in mind. I was unsuccessful trying to figure out ways of sharing their work in a school that was not tech savvy and I had no one to learn from in order to practice and advance my own technology skills.   

The third school, where I am at currently refers to their library as a learning commons, as it was renovated and has all the technology that one would expect a learning commons to have. Some classrooms regularly create with coding robotics and 3D printer, and a majority of teachers are also using Fresh Grade to report learning. I am trying to catch up with my own technology skills development in a school that uses it regularly and expects it from their tl during collaborative planning and teaching. 

Due to the transient nature of this job, it takes time to reestablish my position and create relationships amongst my school community. I find it challenging to be relevant to the students learning around technology if my own skills are not where they need to be. With this in mind, I am setting out to explore ways of working with my colleagues so that I will be able to learn and apply the technology skills that I need to create and share relevant learning opportunities for my students.