Visual Literacy and Primary Resources

        As librarians and teachers , engage students with pure content and show them how to be more visually aware. You can do this by using primary resources to add to and support  text book resources. 

         Find in your data bases and other online sources  photography, letters,  documents and possible recordings  . Use these images to engage and inspire students to learn  more about the topic at hand.

        Have students make observations about the images , allow them to interpret what they see and also  have them draw conclusions about what is happening .( Critical thinking skills come alive!)  Use primary sources as writing prompts,0r research prompts.  Highlight  scientists, inventors,   and other famous persons. Each subject area has famous people: artists, mathematicians, and writers, use the primary sources to have students learn about them.
        Each subject area teacher ( not just history)  can find using primary sources  helpful in inspiring students to become visual learners,

Digital media makes a difference

  I am still on a roll and feeling very strongly about students learning and using the newest media and technology tools.  As librarians we can be key in helping teachers and students learn about using all these new tools /
    Teachers are beginning to use the new technology / digital too and finding that it does make a difference in student learning.  The new digital tools are not like the static printed textbook. The tools , databases, and other media are updated instantly, and most demand interaction by students and other users.
  There are links that allow the user to jump from page to page in different sequences, There are tools that provide audio, and video images , virtual reality , animation and games.
 Students can engage in computer games. student produced pod casts, posts, videos, and on line collaboration projects with others. While students are using the new tools, they are acquiring new information , analyzing the information , interacting with the facts and with others, and most importantly becoming life long learners.
  So lets help  bring our students into the 21st century with these tools. What are you doing with your teachers and students? As librarian , how are you helping your district  and your students?
 

Teachers and Librarains: Using Digital Tools / Media

     Both teachers and librarians should become comfortable using the new technology tools/ Why?? 
Students are more engaged and involved when using technology tools.

     How do you start?  Well I hope you are moving along in your goal for learning at least two tech tools this summer. ( Remember I said -don't stop at just two- when you have mastered two do two more!)

   Hopefully you will have the ability to display screen shots from your computer to a smart or white board in your classroom.  Start each new unit by displaying a variety of internet resources, databases and tools relative to that topic. Show the students how to determine if the information is accurate and reliable.

   Compare search and information from different search engines , websites, and library resources. Discuss differences information and layout and ease of use.

    By doing this you will show students up to date , accurate information . Having engaging tools, and instructing then using the tools will help them acquire the information and  inspire them to become lifelong learners.

Curriculum and Media Literacy Skills

     Insgtruction for Media Literacy skills should be embedded into each curriculum area and grade level. ideally teachers and librarians should decide what skills go with what grade level, and figure out what subject area to fit it in with.
     This would be a great beginning for collaborative prokects  which could also emcompass other speaial areat teachers ( ex. second grade deoes animals research both in class and at library and computer lab, student does a report , illustrates the animals habitat in art class, and does a voice thread about their animal)   You can see in this example where the librarian can fit in many media and literacy skills.)
     Growing research shows that media literacy instruction improves student reading, viewing and listening of print,  audio , and video texts. there is also more student analysis of information.  These skills transfer to tool for learning and gaining connections between the curriculum and experiences outside of school.
    Integration of media literacy can be accomplished by teachers ad librarian working creatively to produce lessons that engage and excite students about learning, By using the new media and its tools , students are also being shown the importance of live long learning.
  Some  more examples:
\
   ELA teachers can have student analyze a literary work and its movie /video version.

   Social studies teachers could have students develop  short media ( podcast, blog post, video) about a region, historical period, or event in history.
   
    Science teachers can have student explore scientists and inventors or current developments. They would produce a media project to showcase what they have learned.

     Math students could produce and analyze chart and graphs which rep[resent common data/

Motivational Reading Programs- Middle and Secondary

   There is still the need at both the middle and secondary level to host reading motivation programs. They will probably look completely different than the ones you see at the elementary level . Promoting reading  for  students  is still a priority for any librarian  at the school and public level.

    One of the best ways for middle school promotions is the Battle of the Books. Students can choose groups to work with. After reading the required books students are tested / quizzed about details from the books. This can be done in several rounds in a Jeopardy style  program or can also be done on a monthly basis with written questions.  Scores are posted . A final round provides winners.

     This also provides the opportunity for teams to compete with other school winners . This really highlights reading as a collaborative and competitive "sport."

     Another   reading motivation challenge is a promotion by YA author Kay Cassidy:"The Great Scavenger Hunt"  Every month  she chooses  a lucky winner  to get a Barnes and Noble card . If the student wins then their library also wins a bundle of books .
    There is a list of books and the trivia challenge questions on the her site: www.kaycassidy.com/hunt

  

Media Literacy Skills- A Collaborative Project !

      Internet access has accelerated both the amount of information and the types of web based / integrated tools that students  need  to showcase what information they have learned.  Students that are ready for college or career need to  be able to analyze and showcase what they have learned.
      Students ready for college or career training needed  the ability to critically analyze and evaluate the information acquired . They need to figure out if the information is what is needed, and how they can use it.
    Schools need to teach students how  to use the media as  tools  to help them in these tasks. Having Media Skills  provides students the ability to use the tools to advance their knowledge gand their critical  thinking skills.
   Ideally , library media specialists and teachers collaborating on lessons is the best way to provide students with Media literacy skills. The librarian provides the resources (print, electronic, databases) and helping students with web based interactive tools ( glogster, wallwisher, livebinder, ect)

    These tools and resource's are engaging and interactive. Add to that teachers  need to be encouraging students with content area information and engaging students in higher level thinking skills of content area.
With a collaborative aim and help with assessment , the librarian becomes a big player in the students learning how to use media and its tools effectively.

Library Scheduling( Flex or Fixed?)

    What does your schedule look like? I guess it all depends on whether you are in an elementary or middle/ high school. Many elementary library schedules are tied to teacher plans and that is why they are fixed.  You may also have a semifix4d schedule  if you are at the middle school level.

   What can you do about the fixed schedule ?  It may work out fine if you are in a small school.  And there are advantages to the fixed schedule. A fixed schedule provides the librarian with the fact that he/she will see each class for instruction and every one will have access to getting books and resources from the library.

     With the flex schedule, teachers are more able to collaborate with librarians at the time of need. Many librarians with a fixed schedule may not have any time in their day for collaborating with teachers on lessons.  So is there any way to get some of that time needed?

      Try to work with you administrator who does the scheduling. Think of other ways to accomplish the tasks that you need to have students do during the year.

      Book Check
         Can you allow book check out at the beginning and end of each day when there are no classes?
         Choose and hold: students can put a sticky note on the books that they want with name and teachers name, Then as time allows , library books are checked to the student's and delivered to their classroom , or arrange for a student  from each class to pick up.
     Self Check out: Teach students to check out their own books. It really is not difficult for most programs .Check you program to see if there is a self check mode.

     Instructional Time:
         If you have flexible scheduling , you work out with the teachers each week when they will be coming and what they will be doing. You may have a sign up sheet for teacher's who want to just bring students for check out.  If you have set times for book check out in a flex schedule be careful to not fill up your schedule so that collaboration time is lost, Here's a question : do they need check out time each and every week? Younger students maybe - older maybe every other week
.
       Another way to fit in many classes is A/B week. So half the classes meet on week A. The other half on week B. This leaves some times open so there  may be times for open library  for research or collaboration with teachers,

     A variation on this is to have say K-2-4  during the first semester  for instruction with  1-3-5 just coming for book check.  At the semester change then the 1-3-5 has instruction and the K-2-4 gets a 15 minute book check out time.