Technology in the Classroom

What is the school library's role in integrating technology in the classroom? I think that the inclusion of the school library media specialist in the integration plan can ensure that thoughtful implementation occurs so that all staff, teachers and students are successful with the new tools. The library media specialist is trained in classroom strategies, curriculum content and management processes so that you can be assured that when a new technology tool is implemented, library media specialists can use their knowledge to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation. Many times, library media specialists are most familiar with which tools match specific grade levels, student needs and curricular objectives.

Always trying to promote school library media programs, I accepted the opportunity to appear on our county's educational cable channel for a program on Technology in the Classroom. I was interviewed by the Board of Education President, Mr. Chris Barclay. Also interviewed was Sherwin Collette, the Chief Technology Officer for our county.

The show is airing on Comcast Channel 34 during the following days and times:

·         Mondays and Fridays at 11:30am, 6:30pm and 10:30pm

·         Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30am

For those of you not living in Montgomery County, or if you miss the airings, the video is included below. No critiquing my appearance or counting of my "hmmmsss"! Enjoy!


~Andrea

Information Literacy Standards and Elementary School

On September 30, our office received a wonderful opportunity to provide input on the new Elementary Integrated Curriculum (EIC) as the writing team is preparing to write for grades 3-5.

Information literacy for EIC

View more presentations from Andrea Christman

The guiding question that we were to address was, "What information literacy skills do rising middle school students need to know and be able to do in order to be successful?"

The content specialist for School Library Media Programs, Kyra Kreinbrook, and I created this presentation for the team. We loved having the opportunity to articulate what we know are key concepts for students to learn in elementary school. We used the School Library State Curriculum for PK-8 (which was adopted by our school district as our local curriculum) http://bit.ly/slmppk8 in order to guide our presentation. We also gathered anecdotal data from middle school library media specialists (via email) on what skills they wished incoming sixth graders knew.

We encouraged the EIC writing team to consider the following key ideas:

1. Build capacity--The intent of the progression of the information literacy skills from PreK-12 is to move the students from guided instruction to independent information literacy.
2. Inquiry--Consider the background knowledge of the students and incorporate how it can be provided when it is limited or guide the students to ask questions and understand how to develop researchable questions.
3. Gain Knowledge--Encourage students to navigate in the online patron's catalog, provide experiences to use an index and enrich a student's use of resources by including a variety in the curriculum, i.e., print encyclopedias and nonfiction/reference, online subscription databases and free Internet websites.
4. Think Critically--Encourage the inclusion of Noodletools in the sample lessons. This tool has been a county-wide purchase for grades PK-12 for the past several years and provides a consistent model throughout the county for library media specialists to use when teaching citing sources. If elementary students become familiar with the basics of citations and the use of Noodletools, they will be able to use the more robust and collaborative features of Noodletools in the upper grades.
5. Interpret Information--Provide the opportunity for students to generate new knowledge, make connections and inferences.
6. Share Knowledge--Use technology for expression, build-in collaborative projects to solve problems, allow for multiple formats as options for students to demonstrate what they know.
7. Appreciate Literature--Connect literature and multimedia to learning and identify the relationship between fiction and nonfiction literature and real life, i.e., science fiction versus science...

The EIC team was very engaged in our presentation and there was robust discussion afterward.

We look forward to many more opportunities to share the information literacy curriculum with other content areas and we hope that we captured the essence of what our 200 different library media programs are all about!

~Andrea

A New Beginning: Cultivate a Love of Learning through Enchantment

As I am preparing for the annual School Library Media Programs' (SLMP) Professional Development Day tomorrow, my mind is swimming with ideas on how to move SLMP forward in the face of many challenges.

I was fortunate to attend the ISTE conference in Philadelphia this summer and was so inspired by fellow media specialists from all over the world as they shared their stories. The one idea that has resonated with me since returning home from that conference is from the SIGMS Breakfast. Buffy Hamilton related to the audience an experience she had as a patron of a restaurant in New Orleans and how that enchanting experience was a catalyst for her talk at ISTE. The theme of enchantment comes from Guy Kawasaki's book, Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions.

I am having a difficult time relating to the word, "enchantment," but after watching Buffy's presentation several times and then purchasing and reading the book, I have a clearer picture of how the idea of enchantment could lead to changing the tone, direction, and expectations of our school library media programs.

I hope that my presentation to the 400 school library media staff will encourage everyone to reflect on their programs and what it is that they want to achieve this year. I want to continue the conversation through the year and plan on revisiting the idea of enchantment at our October professional development for library media specialists, followed by a virtual book discussion for anyone interested in the second half of the school year.

Kawasaki says that enchantment is manifested in three ways: 1) likeability, 2) trustworthiness, and 3) creating an excellent product or service. I created a mindomo map of how I see this playing out in school library media programs. It is my desire to create excitement around this idea and encourage each library media specialist to find ways to create enchantment in their own individual programs. I see enchantment as one solution to answer the points of change that have been thrust upon us and can be a source of innovation.

Here's to a great school year!!!

~Andrea

Introductions - Margaret Gaudino

Margaret's Voki

Guy Kawasaki defines enchantment as the process of delighting people with a product, service, organization, or idea. “The outcome of enchantment is voluntary and long lasting support that is mutually beneficial”. Enchantment can occur in our libraries and schools as we fill our patrons with the “great delight” of lifelong learning.

How can we work together on our journey towards enchantment? In partnership with School Library Media Programs, we have developed face to face technology workshops to help you sharpen your 21st century skill’s to support student achievement.  We will collaborate through webinars, and other professional learning communities to support each other along the journey’s path.