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Reference Materials and Resources

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There so much more available beyond Google!                      (Retrieved from Google Images) Reference resources and materials make up a part of reference services in school library learning commons.  Reference materials can propel and expand students’ learning when they are taught how to access and use it effectively and efficiently.  For this to happen reference resources and materials need to be known and used consistently by students and teachers.  Which is all the more reason to co-teach and collaborate with subject teachers. In this unit, there were a lot of new learnings for me. Specifically, I really enjoyed learning about the variety of geographical reference sources. I have limited knowledge of this, so I created a list of geographical reference material to have on hand for future reference.   I was also quite surprised and happy to find that there are a lot of free and good res...
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There's Always Room for Improvement!

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Analysis of the Current Reference Collection There is a glaring imbalance between print and digital/online reference materials in the current high school's  LLC reference collection.  The print reference collection consists of only the DK Eyewitness series and a few Atlases.  There aren’t any other print reference resources to choose from. The current print reference collection is over 20 years old, which according to Reidling’s guideline for weeding, this type of resource should have been discarded years ago (Reidling, Houston,& Shake, 2013).  It takes up a small low bookshelf (see picture below) and is much underutilized, partly because the content is outdated.  The manner in which the current print reference material being display is also not conducive to usage.  It is situated in an awkward spot in the library on a low curved shelf. The district does have a good collection of online reference material and resources for students to access an...
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Evolving Teachers' Practice Through Collaboration

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What are the Concerns-Based-Adoption-Model (CBAM) and the Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition Model (SAMR)? In order for TLs to support teachers and help teachers evolve in their practice, it is necessary for TLs to have an understanding of the CBAM Model and the SAMR Model.   The CBAM is a model for change in the individual   (Nationalacademies.org, 1987). The CBAM consist of seven levels (see diagram below).  The following video further explains the CBAM model.   The following document provides ways to support a teacher through the different levels of the CBAM model, in addition to outlining the stages of concern. The SAMR Model helps teachers evaluate technology use in their learning and practice, (Educational Technology and Mobile Learning, 2018)    It consists of four levels as seen below  from Kathy Schrock’s website  ( Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything , 2018) .   Si...
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Managing and Evaluating Reference Service

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                 School Library Learning Commons offers students and staff alike a host of services and products to aid them in their information search.   Reference services play a significant role in helping students finding appropriate and sufficient material for their research project or inquiry assignments, as well as develop literacy and technological skills.   All too often though, many students do not know about the reference services and resources available to them.   For example, a student in one of my class was researching “The Treaty of Versaille” in his support block. I sat back, observed and wondered how this student will approach his research assignment.   As a lot of students do, he jumps on to a computer and went straight on to Google.    At this point, I just had to intervene and offer him another source to find information about his topic of choice.   I showed him how to access a...
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