It was very beneficial to review the Administrator’s Toolkit because it encompasses everything that we have learned throughout the coursework. The Toolkit really puts all the pieces of the puzzle together. I was a classroom teacher when I started, so when I saw the administrators’ tab, I didn’t even bother exploring it. Looking back, I think it would have been beneficial to review this section of the UWSSLEC web page at the beginning of the program and record my responses. At the end of the program it would be interesting to go back and compare my ideas and feelings after completing the coursework. I felt that the Toolkit was very thorough in how well it covered all aspects of the role of the Library Media Specialist, ranging from standards and instruction all the way to advocacy. I also liked that it provided all the links needed to help with any questions a person may have, which included topics such as computer requirements, licensing, Masters degree, links to campus libraries, contact information, and research to support the program.
What I would change about the webpage is to put the Vision and Impact Information as a separate tab on the grey bar close to the beginning. The information in these two sections really provides a clear overview of what Libraries should be, it contains thorough research and relevant articles, and I think administrators and teachers should have easy access to this information. I would rename the remaining subjects Administrator’s Guide tab to Educator’s Guide.
After teaching in an elementary classroom for 19 years, and now changing positions to become a middle school LMS, and I have done a great deal of reflection on the “big picture” of what I think education should be for our students. I felt that the topics covered in the website were adequate, but I felt that there should be more emphasis on the integration of information literacy in all subject areas. I think that teachers sometimes get so involved in their own teaching that they miss the connections with other grade levels and subject areas. I also think that some teachers aren’t even aware of the importance and impact a library can have on the quality of instruction in a school. I have even observed that some of the teachers I worked with did not know how to use the catalog and find a book in the library at the primary level.
I think the most helpful tab was the keeping up tab. This gives suggestions of professionals to follow via Twitter and blogs. A personal learning network is especially important for librarians in rural areas, specifically those of us from the far North. We do not have the professional development opportunities that those of you “down South” have available. A strong PLN is also something that employers look for when recruiting.
I would strongly encourage any new candidates to review this website thoroughly and to revisit it throughout the program. I have learned so much from the coursework and I believe it gives you a completely different perspective on education. There is so much more to being a Library Media Specialist than people realize.
It seems like there is a lot of really good information already included in the Administrator’s Guide on the UWSSLEC page. I like the logical layout of the guide, and how it could easily walk an administrator through every step of the process from hiring a qualified candidate to developing a robust library media program. I think the link to the licensure is especially helpful since the library license seems to fairly confusing to most people. Also, since many districts need to use emergency licenses to hire their librarians, I think that is a great link to keep. For whatever reason there is such a stigma attached to using emergency licenses, and it is good for administrators to understand that the process isn’t that grueling.
Aesthetically, the site is clean but doesn’t have a lot of “pop” to it. It seems like there are many parts to the guide that are really short and could probably be combined with others. For example, it might make sense to the state law section with the licensure section since the state law is one sentence and one link. Also, it seems like the Quality Program tab could be expanded greatly. There are so many resources out there about creating 21st Century learning environments, or you could add examples of great library programs. I think that it is helpful to see an example of what a good program actually looks like, rather than just read theoretical descriptions. Additionally, this would be an area that could use some multimedia…pictures of 21st century learning spaces, videos of unique technology integration, etc.
Another idea for an addition to the site would be to add a tab about Common School Funds. Now that the rules have changed, it might be helpful to educate administrators about what these funds are, how they can and can’t be used, and when they arrive. I found that in my district there is a vast misconception about Common School Funds and it seems like that is pretty common across the state.
Overall, it seems like the site needs to be a little more visually exciting by using multimedia, and there are a few links that could be combined or expanded so the tabs don’t look too scant. Other than that, I think the site is pretty good. It is logical, clean, and easy to navigate.
The UWSSLEC has some great resources for future librarians and administrators. However, it is lacking in some areas.
Overall I do not feel that the website itself is inviting. It could use a new design, more vibrant colors and a better layout. Sometimes it can be hard to find information when you are looking for it. Personally, I do not like the blue. I think it needs something with a little pop. Maybe some color from Demco’s could spark a design. I love some of the colors that they offer for a library. Crazy I know, but I love looking at the furniture, tables, and chairs. Just an idea I had.
One area that I found myself using frequently was under the courses tab. I loved the when and where portion. This gave us time to plan ahead and see the order of the courses that were going to be taught. On the downside the portfolio portion has nothing to offer for students nor does it provide information for any campus other than Whitewater. Also the practicum piece is a little confusing. It would be nice to have more resources for the individual campus, and resources for completing the practicum. I almost think that could be removed because it seems like most of the campuses have different requirements, and this can just cause more confusion.
The website is a useful tool and a great resource for students who are thinking about becoming a librarian or current students. One thing that I would like to mention is that it is always hard to please everyone, and what works for one, might not work for another. I am also guesing that some of us will like certain aspects of the website and the next person will not. Personally, I feel that it works, but needs some new design and color. It would also be nice to see some information about budgeting and funding for school districts in Wisconsin and even some tips in this area. Another great resource would be a tab for new materials, technology and media tools. I am always looking for new resources to use in my classroom.
Where do you begin? How do you create a library for our 21st learners? Read the following resources to find out how to create your own 21st century library.
Overall, it seems like the list of resources available on the Administrator’s Guide under the Additional Resources tab need some updating. Currently, there is a bibliography of ten articles that cover a variety of topics that may be of interest to an administrator who is looking to learn more about the role of libraries in his/her school. The articles range from topics like how libraries can raise test scores, to working collaboratively with the Library Media Specialist, to characteristics of a quality school library.
Although these articles provide good information, the main problem with them is that they are dated. The most recently published article listed on the site is from 2009 and the average age of all of the articles is almost 10 years old. One article that relates to working collaboratively with the Library Media Specialist focuses exclusively on how the library can support No Child Left Behind initiatives in the school.
Our group’s advice for updating these articles would be to add information on how libraries and Library Media Specialists can support the Common Core State Standards. These additional resources could range from linking to the standards themselves to providing articles about the ways in which the library can specifically support these new standards. In addition, it may be helpful to add information about promoting 21st Century learning and technology integration.
The second observation that we made about the current Additional Resources tab is that there are only two direct links to articles. The rest of the resources would require an administrator to go to a database and look up the article. With the busy schedules of today’s administrators, it seems unlikely that someone dubious of the importance of Library Media Specialists would take the time to go to a separate site to look up the articles.
Our group’s advice for this issue would be to include more embedded media and direct links to articles. It is good to keep some of the articles that can only be accessed in databases, but it seems like administrators who would actually access those links would be the ones who have already been convinced and are looking for even more information. Adding direct links and embedded media will expand the audience for this page and make it more likely that someone would actually access the other articles listed.
Common Core State Standards and Text Complexity
The Common Core Standards document is the first to address text complexity. Text complexity is a critical aspect of reading development, and it has not been addressed in previous standards documents. The Common Core Standards have increased the attention to the readability levels of texts. The Common Core has created a staircase of text complexity that begins at the 2nd/3rd grade band, and ends with high school graduates. Librarians are leaders in the integration of 21st Century skills. Librarians can lead teachers and students to support the goals of the Common Core to ensure that students learn from and use the quantitites of information available to them as citizens, community members, consumers, and producers.
Technology and the Common Core State Standards
This article discusses how teachers will be reexamining the objectives of their lessons to ensure that they are teaching to the Common Core Standards. As they go through this process, teachers can also rethink about the ways they could use technology to implement those standards. Technolgy can simplify the design and delivery of assessement, and can also help teachers target the areas of students' needs.
21st Century Skills
The Common Core Standards are in the process of being adopted and implemented throughout the United States. 21st Century skills and information literacy skills are integrated throughout the Common Core Standards. The role of the Library Media Specialist is to collaborate with teachers and work towards the implementation of information and technology skills in daily instruction.