Preparing for my first assignment in the ETL401 subject, my mind is buzzing from all the ideas, opinions, facts and interest.
I will not proceed to summarise all these findings, however I do want to mention one book that I have read nearly cover to cover, which has given me a lot of insight into the role and realities of Teacher Librarianship in Australia today. I wasn't previously aware that the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment had undertaken an inquiry into 'School libraries and teacher librarians in 21st century Australia', for which CSU and our esteemed lecturers, including Lyn Hay, were major contributors (published March 2011). It was very eye-opening and interesting to hear from the many TL contributors around the country and expressed the challenges they faced in their roles.
The main challenges facing the TL role seem to be lack of Principal support and lack of funding for the role (including administrative assistance) meaning that TLs are not fulfilling their teaching or leadership roles to the extent that they would like. I'm beginning to realise that how fulfilling and enjoyable the job is, will depend to a (large?) extent on the support of the school principal and the funding that is made available to me. This is reality but I find it a sad state of affairs. Hopefully this inquiry goes some way to making 'the powers that be' more aware of the importance of the TL role and giving better support to TLs across the country.
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
The journey continues (somewhat belatedly)
Two weeks between posts.. I can see the challenge of this blogging lark might just be to have a regular presence! After my readings, I will have to consider updating my blog as a new priority, otherwise it will get left behind. I was skimming through a book on blogging at the library this week and I was pleased to see there are two schools of thought on the subject; I think I hang somewhere between the two. That blogging can be a useful, reflective tool and.. it is just more (often uninspiring or incorrect)information filling up the WWW. At this point I will not assume that anyone else would have the time or interest to read my blog and will consider it a purely personal reflection on my studies, that will be less daunting.
Therefore,in that vein, I will attempt to summarise my recent thoughts on my readings. I found Herring's 2007 chapter quite heavy going, so dense with facts and jargon. Regarding the role of the TL, I found the distinctions between Curriculum leader, Information specialist and Information Services Manager somewhat fuzzy. I can imagine these roles overlap much more in reality and are not so cut and dry. Having said this, the article was a good overview for someone without TL experience and it showed the complexities and diversity of the TL role, with timely reminders to always keep the needs of learners in mind.
Purcell's 2010 article was quite different and difficult to compare to Herring's but the key statement to me was "If school library media specialists are doing their job well, they are making a difference in the ways teachers teach and in the ways students learn." Inspiring stuff. I also appreciated Purcell's admission of all the responsibilities and challenges TLs face meaning that role clarification is needed. I understand this as the basis of the subject ETL401, to clarify our knowledge and understandings of the TL's role.
Purcell uses different 'labels' to describe the functions of the TL and I find them to be closer to my understanding and beliefs than those of Herring. I liked how she has 'Teacher' as a category in itself as ultimately that is what I assume a majority of time will be spent doing as a TL. It is all very well being a leader in the school and in curriculum development but if you are then not proficient at delivering your lessons and your messages then some of that respect in your leadership is bound to be lost.
Purcell's article also emphasised to me how much collaboration is involved in the TL role. There is constant reference to working alongside teachers, other staff, students, parents and other stakeholders, confirming to me the social nature of the role - perfect for someone who enjoys communicating, co-operation, compromising and maybe a little coercion along the way. This is definitely not a job for someone who just wants to sit alone in their office all day!
I will now return to my latest purchase, ASLA's 'Learning in a changing world' series for more insights and hopefully input for my assignment which is looming ominously. If only that could be written in blog style too!
Therefore,in that vein, I will attempt to summarise my recent thoughts on my readings. I found Herring's 2007 chapter quite heavy going, so dense with facts and jargon. Regarding the role of the TL, I found the distinctions between Curriculum leader, Information specialist and Information Services Manager somewhat fuzzy. I can imagine these roles overlap much more in reality and are not so cut and dry. Having said this, the article was a good overview for someone without TL experience and it showed the complexities and diversity of the TL role, with timely reminders to always keep the needs of learners in mind.
Purcell's 2010 article was quite different and difficult to compare to Herring's but the key statement to me was "If school library media specialists are doing their job well, they are making a difference in the ways teachers teach and in the ways students learn." Inspiring stuff. I also appreciated Purcell's admission of all the responsibilities and challenges TLs face meaning that role clarification is needed. I understand this as the basis of the subject ETL401, to clarify our knowledge and understandings of the TL's role.
Purcell uses different 'labels' to describe the functions of the TL and I find them to be closer to my understanding and beliefs than those of Herring. I liked how she has 'Teacher' as a category in itself as ultimately that is what I assume a majority of time will be spent doing as a TL. It is all very well being a leader in the school and in curriculum development but if you are then not proficient at delivering your lessons and your messages then some of that respect in your leadership is bound to be lost.
Purcell's article also emphasised to me how much collaboration is involved in the TL role. There is constant reference to working alongside teachers, other staff, students, parents and other stakeholders, confirming to me the social nature of the role - perfect for someone who enjoys communicating, co-operation, compromising and maybe a little coercion along the way. This is definitely not a job for someone who just wants to sit alone in their office all day!
I will now return to my latest purchase, ASLA's 'Learning in a changing world' series for more insights and hopefully input for my assignment which is looming ominously. If only that could be written in blog style too!
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Splash!
That was me jumping head first into my new digital pool of reflection. Although I've enjoyed writing a pen and paper diary on and off during my 33 years, this is my first attempt at blogging. I think I still prefer the romanticism of putting pen to paper but at the same time I can understand the potential blogs can have, personally and professionally in this new digital age. This blog will be documenting my journey from primary school teacher (of 5 years) to, hopefully, primary TL (Teacher Librarian) over the next couple of years. Keeping a blog seems a highly time-consuming task at this point in time, when juggling motherhood, casual work, studies and 'having a life'. However, I'm sure it will assist in my learning journey and be a valuable resource to look back on in months, semesters and years to come..
Before I started this course I had limited experience of TLs. From my own school days, I remember being a Library Assistant in year 6, helping out a dear old lady whose main task was definitely reading books to us, lending books and making sure they were shelved properly before the cycle began again! Our high school librarian was the stereotypical bespectacled, severe lady who barked orders, shushed a lot and was not inspiring in the least. Most recently, at my first teaching post at an International school in the Netherlands, the librarian was considered part of the management group, involved in budgeting and developing/supporting the literacy curriculum, busily keeping the library well stocked with books and audio/visual resources. However, apart from emailing the occasional useful website around, she had little input in the technology area.
Returning to Australia and beginning this course, I was somewhat surprised to realise the great extent to which teacher librarians here are expected to support the curriculum with and teach students about information technology. It was a daunting discovery for someone who would choose a book over a computer screen any time! But I'm up for the challenge; I created a wiki for ETL501 with surprising ease and now a blog so I may yet be converted. Now I will return to my readings and continue to get my head around the great complexity of this role of Teacher Librarian that I have chosen to pursue and continue the journey towards my goal!
Before I started this course I had limited experience of TLs. From my own school days, I remember being a Library Assistant in year 6, helping out a dear old lady whose main task was definitely reading books to us, lending books and making sure they were shelved properly before the cycle began again! Our high school librarian was the stereotypical bespectacled, severe lady who barked orders, shushed a lot and was not inspiring in the least. Most recently, at my first teaching post at an International school in the Netherlands, the librarian was considered part of the management group, involved in budgeting and developing/supporting the literacy curriculum, busily keeping the library well stocked with books and audio/visual resources. However, apart from emailing the occasional useful website around, she had little input in the technology area.
Returning to Australia and beginning this course, I was somewhat surprised to realise the great extent to which teacher librarians here are expected to support the curriculum with and teach students about information technology. It was a daunting discovery for someone who would choose a book over a computer screen any time! But I'm up for the challenge; I created a wiki for ETL501 with surprising ease and now a blog so I may yet be converted. Now I will return to my readings and continue to get my head around the great complexity of this role of Teacher Librarian that I have chosen to pursue and continue the journey towards my goal!
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