New World Order

I just finished reading an article posted on eSchool News titled School Librarians Are Rising School Leaders (October 18, 2013). I am grateful that many educational entities are recognizing the importance of a school librarian/media specialist in the digital age. School librarians have the on-going task of  proving to stakeholders their importance to students' academic success and the school community. Librarians are reinventing themselves dispelling the stereotypical myths that are generally associated with them.

The following quotes from the article are worth noting:

“School librarians have the unique position, in school, of being school-wide and curriculum-wide—that really makes for a powerful partnership with school administrators,” said Gail Dickinson, AASL’s current president.

“I think there are a lot of people who view the digital shift as a threat to librarians, and I really just think it’s a call for reinvention,” said Mark Ray, the 2012 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

“I think there’s a high degree of agreement that school libraries need to be digital learning spaces and fully take advantage of the kinds of opportunities offered by digital learning,” Dickinson said.

This means “maximizing the strength of library programs to reach and teach each child,” Dickinson said.

"An investment in teacher librarians, who help students and teachers use digital technologies and resources to their fullest, is essential," Ray said.

"In addition, teacher librarians are in the unique position of having leadership skills while being able to work openly with teachers, receiving honest feedback, which enables librarians to empower teachers and maintain strong working relationships with teachers."

“Great school librarians can empower a school, and forward-thinking school districts really maximize that,” Dickinson said.

Ray added: “More and more people are saying that if you want to be a successful 21st century school, you need to think long and hard about what you do in your school libraries and what role your libraries play.”

Infographic created by Jennifer LaGarde

Now I See the Light

In the past, I only associated networking as being a "buzz word" in the corporate America arena. I did not realize the impact networking can have on my profession because I am not a part of that world. However, this Personal Learning Network (PLN) class has been an eye-opener to the many ways PLNs can greatly affect my personal and professional life.  Now I see the light! If I am to be an innovative, 21^st century educator, PLNs are essential. Hence, I am now basking in the light of being a connected educator. My PLN has gone from my local school district to world-wide. Using Edmodo, I presently get ideas and advice from people as far as the Middle East. I have always used Twitter socially. Currently, it is my lifeline to what is trending in education, specifically in the integrating technology area. Daily I read tweets from experts which I investigate further on the Internet. Without scouring the Internet for hours, I use RSS Feeds to get relevant information that I can pass on to my colleagues. Podcasts give me another avenue for sharing information with teachers and students.  Finally, a blog provides a platform where I can incorporate all my information in one location and share it in different formats (video, audio, picture, written word, links, etc.). Nevertheless, my quest continues. To expand my PLN, I will continue the blog, post tweets, comment on sites such as Classroom 2.0 and the Educator’s PLN, attend and present at workshops, upload technology demonstrations on Youtude, and utilize LinkedIn.  To contribute to my colleagues’ PLN, I have set-up a Professional Learning Community (PLC) on Edmodo and posted on my blog PLN and blog websites. In short, my desire to learn, share, and incorporate technology has been rejuvenated, and I thirst for more.