Well can you say procrastinate? Ha.. I have been thinking about the elements of the technology plan and what I think the tech plan should include. I have been discussing my schools plan that I want to evaluate with others and have discussed how I am not impressed as of yet. BUT I haven't started writing it all down. So over the nice 5 day break I get to work on it!
I'm thankful that I have a short break from work but brought home papers to grade and need to work on lesson plans for the rest of the year! So I guess the break from the students will be nice but working I must still do!
I find it oddly funny that the union has proposed creating a tech team which should have been present before and oddly enough was not! I have extended my wishes to join the team and will be notified if I am allowed to participate. I had to even send a note as to why I think I should be a member. I was able to share what I have learned in class and hope to share in the future when the team meets as to what is lacking in our tech plan! Everything happens for a reason it seems again oddly enough that it all lines up the way it does!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
LS 589 and did I mention I went to the UnConference?
So last week I went to the AASL conference which was a fantastic conference to attend. I mean over 2000 school librarians, supervisors and admin were at the conference! There was so many people to meet and chat and collaborate with! I met a supervisor who was from Harrisburg area and then one who was from Alaska! To talk about the same problems I am running into at my district is amazing to me that the world really is so small!
I also attended the UnConference which is a free event that is run by virtually the attendee's. There is a grid that people can put up what they would like to.. No keynotes! No panels! An opportunity to share even if you did not submit a proposal! The focus is on informal peer-to-peer learning, PLN building, and sharing! Basically if you want to go to the first session but decide you don't like what you are hearing, which rarely occurs, then you can use one of the rules!
I am looking to attend more UnConference or otherwise known as Edcamps as they are free and I can select topics of my choosing or create a topic to place on the grid. Here is the link for the information on the UnConference I attended. http://aaslunconference.wikispaces.com/ As you can see I led one of the grid spots in the first session.
The second session I chose to pick a topic on book blogs! How students are reviewing books and then blogging about them online! I have to get my students up to speed using the technology and google drive but this is going to be an exciting thing to implement soon!
Also at the UnConference there is a "Smackdown" which is a forum where you stand up and tell about the newest and best thing you have found most often being a technology. There were some things that I had heard of from before but a lot of new ideas were given. Here is the link to the smackdown list! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SCnb5ikelkB-GuzgGAjz1WUwdxODlGn_b6AvtURFzI4/edit#slide=id.p
All in all I have a lot of things to review and go over and then prioritize and save as I can't possible use everything that I learned this school year but want to save it as future ideas! Lots to do yet to make my library program the best it can be and evolve over time!
I also attended the UnConference which is a free event that is run by virtually the attendee's. There is a grid that people can put up what they would like to.. No keynotes! No panels! An opportunity to share even if you did not submit a proposal! The focus is on informal peer-to-peer learning, PLN building, and sharing! Basically if you want to go to the first session but decide you don't like what you are hearing, which rarely occurs, then you can use one of the rules!
I am looking to attend more UnConference or otherwise known as Edcamps as they are free and I can select topics of my choosing or create a topic to place on the grid. Here is the link for the information on the UnConference I attended. http://aaslunconference.wikispaces.com/ As you can see I led one of the grid spots in the first session.
The second session I chose to pick a topic on book blogs! How students are reviewing books and then blogging about them online! I have to get my students up to speed using the technology and google drive but this is going to be an exciting thing to implement soon!
Also at the UnConference there is a "Smackdown" which is a forum where you stand up and tell about the newest and best thing you have found most often being a technology. There were some things that I had heard of from before but a lot of new ideas were given. Here is the link to the smackdown list! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SCnb5ikelkB-GuzgGAjz1WUwdxODlGn_b6AvtURFzI4/edit#slide=id.p
All in all I have a lot of things to review and go over and then prioritize and save as I can't possible use everything that I learned this school year but want to save it as future ideas! Lots to do yet to make my library program the best it can be and evolve over time!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
LS 589 and the AASL conference!
What a fantastic last few days! I was able to attend the AASL national conference in Hartford, Ct. and able to meet those people I blog with, have as friends on twitter and Facebook. I attended the UnConference which was fantastic as it was just School librarians, supervisors and administrators who were present. Talk about awesome!
While at the conference I took as many sessions as I could. One of the sessions was about creating learning commons in elementary schools. I think that we are well on our way to creating these learning commons but need the help of our admin in order to really make them a reality however with the increasing use of technology spaces need to be able to move as needed for both the tech and collaboration of students and staff.
Other sessions I attended were on being an advocate for your school library program, nonfiction and the common core and several others on common core.
At the UnConference I led a discussion on common core and technology and the common core. We were able to discuss our feelings that the common core is actually helping librarians. It is full of mini research lessons that we already do. It showcases a lot of the work that we do as librarians and how we can help teachers and become more involved in collaboration! We also discussed how the common core is not a curriculum but is a standard that meshes with the AASL standards and to use the AASL crosswalk as the work has already been done for us!
What a great week! I have to revisit by notes but I did create a list of things that I could go back and change Monday and what I would like to change by the end of the year and I think that will be a very helpful tool.
Oh and I was able to meet Mr. Buchanan from Clarion in the exhibit hall. It is nice to put a face to the professor and class that he teaches. I was also at the booth when someone was asking about the program and told them that I was also taking classes which I think gave them reassurance on the program!
While at the conference I took as many sessions as I could. One of the sessions was about creating learning commons in elementary schools. I think that we are well on our way to creating these learning commons but need the help of our admin in order to really make them a reality however with the increasing use of technology spaces need to be able to move as needed for both the tech and collaboration of students and staff.
Other sessions I attended were on being an advocate for your school library program, nonfiction and the common core and several others on common core.
At the UnConference I led a discussion on common core and technology and the common core. We were able to discuss our feelings that the common core is actually helping librarians. It is full of mini research lessons that we already do. It showcases a lot of the work that we do as librarians and how we can help teachers and become more involved in collaboration! We also discussed how the common core is not a curriculum but is a standard that meshes with the AASL standards and to use the AASL crosswalk as the work has already been done for us!
What a great week! I have to revisit by notes but I did create a list of things that I could go back and change Monday and what I would like to change by the end of the year and I think that will be a very helpful tool.
Oh and I was able to meet Mr. Buchanan from Clarion in the exhibit hall. It is nice to put a face to the professor and class that he teaches. I was also at the booth when someone was asking about the program and told them that I was also taking classes which I think gave them reassurance on the program!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
LS 589 and the upcoming week @ AASL
This semester has been a fantastic learning experience. I have so many things running through my head and technology has been in the lead the whole time. How do I integrate all my lessons yet teach everything I need to for library lessons. How can I create a curriculum yet still hold my students attention and create a love for library with books but still use technology. I have so many things to sort through and add what I have learned to the PD session I had last Friday and the new sessions I am going to attend on this Thurs/ Fri/ Sat and I will need to create something that will keep me organized! I think the easiest thing right now is to create a google doc and just make columns and links in order to prioritize and organize.
Also to note on creating a rubric for the technology plan ~ I need to start creating rubrics for all the lessons I do so I can justify and create one for the students to use as well. I have been recommended to use http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ and am thrilled to learn about creating assessments and rubrics as DDM's and SMART goals will be requiring portfolios and work shown.
I hope to see those who are following along at AASL! If you are there please email me at tlreynolds592@gmail.com and we can meet somewhere during the conference! Have a great week! I certainly intend to!
Also to note on creating a rubric for the technology plan ~ I need to start creating rubrics for all the lessons I do so I can justify and create one for the students to use as well. I have been recommended to use http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ and am thrilled to learn about creating assessments and rubrics as DDM's and SMART goals will be requiring portfolios and work shown.
I hope to see those who are following along at AASL! If you are there please email me at tlreynolds592@gmail.com and we can meet somewhere during the conference! Have a great week! I certainly intend to!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
LS 589 - Online conference and class info
I've been loving the online conference that we have been viewing over the past 2 weeks. The speakers have been fantastic and I love the topic of technology as I am really week in that area of my profession. I had been out of the loop and have quickly learned what I need to know to start making a difference in my lessons.
At a recent PD session that I attended we talked about primary sources and research process and I need to take what I have learned from my LS 589 class and incorporate the research process into it. We discussed taking the curriculum and making sure that we have a plan mapped out in order to add tech.
This coming week I get to meet again with my District librarians this time and we are starting to plan our DDM's which hopefully will help make a more cohesive/ streamlined curriculum as well. I also hope to touch on the district technology plan as I'm finding we were not part of the process to develop and wondering how we can get into the tech department more than we are currently which is not at all!
The following week I can not wait as I will be heading to the AASL conference in Hartford!!! This in itself will be a fantastic opportunity and I can't wait to meet with those I talk to those who I have met online!
At a recent PD session that I attended we talked about primary sources and research process and I need to take what I have learned from my LS 589 class and incorporate the research process into it. We discussed taking the curriculum and making sure that we have a plan mapped out in order to add tech.
This coming week I get to meet again with my District librarians this time and we are starting to plan our DDM's which hopefully will help make a more cohesive/ streamlined curriculum as well. I also hope to touch on the district technology plan as I'm finding we were not part of the process to develop and wondering how we can get into the tech department more than we are currently which is not at all!
The following week I can not wait as I will be heading to the AASL conference in Hartford!!! This in itself will be a fantastic opportunity and I can't wait to meet with those I talk to those who I have met online!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Crazy- Busy- Love it!
Crazy for sure but busy and love it! This week I went to a session to learn about co- teaching 5 sessions on "Every child ready to Read" and then yesterday I was asked by MTA to help plan an UnConference in Western MA! Mind you I teach 4 days a week in the school library at one of the hardest schools in the district, take a grad class via online thru Clarion, have 3 children to take to swim lessons, swim team practice and then whatever else is going on, PTO Secretary at the middle school. I luckily get the 1st and the 15th off from work to attend a PD for Library on the first with all the Berkshire Librarians and then on the 15th I get to take off, actually leave on the 14th, for the AASL Conference in Hartford Ct for 3 days!!! Whew most of this will take place before Christmas! But as I said I love it as long as I can keep the kids fed and in clean clothes we'll make it! OH and add a birthday party trip in November for the twins who turn 12 to NYC with 4 friends and their mom's for a total of 12 people in our party!
Have a great weekend!
Have a great weekend!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
LS 589- I so love my class! It has really been a fantastic class with a lot of new ideas and tons of new resources. Today is a short post about my homework is to watch the online ~
K-12 online conference! The keynote speaker already has been from VanMeter School Shannon Miller about transforming learning! I love to hear her speak and am amazed at all she is able to accomplish!
Here is a blurb from the conference website!
K-12 online conference! The keynote speaker already has been from VanMeter School Shannon Miller about transforming learning! I love to hear her speak and am amazed at all she is able to accomplish!
Here is a blurb from the conference website!
This is a FREE, online conference open to ANYONE organized by educators for educators around the world interested in integrating emerging technologies into classroom practice. A goal of the conference (among several) is to help educators make sense of and meet the needs of a continually changing learning landscape. Please see our frequently asked questions (FAQ) to get started with the K-12 Online Conference. If you are a vendor or affiliated with a vendor, please see our Goals and Values page for clarification about vendor participation.
And here is the link=
While attending the conference over the next few weeks post you favorite and a brief summary here if anyone is following along!
Thanks!
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