Conclusion: Teacher Librarian as Lifelong Learner
So where to from here? As I complete this E-Portfolio, this chapter of my education comes to a close. But that doesn’t mean I will stop learning.
The ALIA/ASLA standards of professional excellence for teacher-librarians place a lot of importance on professional knowledge (4 standards), and also include a standard about conducting research into innovative practices, and inspiring others in the school community to be lifelong learners as well (ALIA/ASLA, 2004). So, if I am going to go on from here to be the excellent teacher-librarian I desire to be, I must continue to learn and keep up-to-date on new innovations as they arrive.
I know I still have a lot to learn about professional practice as a teacher-librarian, as I am still yet to have my own library to run. I understand the basics of OASIS from my placement, but there is lots still to learn. I know the theory behind being a good leader and inspiring change within staff, but having not been in that position, there is still a lot to learn there too, particularly as leadership still doesn’t come easily to me. I will endeavour to stay updated on the best leadership styles, and the newest technology available to students, particularly in the area of Web 2.0, which changes almost daily.
My next project heading into the Christmas Holidays is to become more adept at using websites like Wikispaces, Diigo and Pinterest, and consider how they could be used in the classroom. ETL501 showed me the potential these pages can have, and I have always been interested in Web 2.0, but haven’t had the time to learn thus far. ETL402 and my placement also opened my eyes to the wide array of children’s books I had no idea about. I would love to spend some time reading junior, middle and senior fiction over the holidays so I can better help my students find books they would enjoy, and know more about suitable literacy for curriculum topics to recommend to staff members. Of course, this will be an ongoing process over the course of my career. I also want to attend more professional development events, particularly as NSW school libraries transition to Oliver in the next few years. If I am still casual, I don’t want to get left behind by being disengaged from the profession.
I have recently signed up for the NSW TL listserv emails, and I am looking forward to staying in touch with the professional community this way. Since teacher-librarians are often on their own in their school, I think it is so important that we have our own community of learners, collaborating with each other to stay on top of the myriad of changes we will encounter throughout our careers.
I'll finish this portfolio with an image I saw in my first subject. What I know about teacher-librarianship is above the water. What's underneath is what I still need to learn throughout my career. It's a daunting prospect, but I can't wait to find out what's out there.
The ALIA/ASLA standards of professional excellence for teacher-librarians place a lot of importance on professional knowledge (4 standards), and also include a standard about conducting research into innovative practices, and inspiring others in the school community to be lifelong learners as well (ALIA/ASLA, 2004). So, if I am going to go on from here to be the excellent teacher-librarian I desire to be, I must continue to learn and keep up-to-date on new innovations as they arrive.
I know I still have a lot to learn about professional practice as a teacher-librarian, as I am still yet to have my own library to run. I understand the basics of OASIS from my placement, but there is lots still to learn. I know the theory behind being a good leader and inspiring change within staff, but having not been in that position, there is still a lot to learn there too, particularly as leadership still doesn’t come easily to me. I will endeavour to stay updated on the best leadership styles, and the newest technology available to students, particularly in the area of Web 2.0, which changes almost daily.
My next project heading into the Christmas Holidays is to become more adept at using websites like Wikispaces, Diigo and Pinterest, and consider how they could be used in the classroom. ETL501 showed me the potential these pages can have, and I have always been interested in Web 2.0, but haven’t had the time to learn thus far. ETL402 and my placement also opened my eyes to the wide array of children’s books I had no idea about. I would love to spend some time reading junior, middle and senior fiction over the holidays so I can better help my students find books they would enjoy, and know more about suitable literacy for curriculum topics to recommend to staff members. Of course, this will be an ongoing process over the course of my career. I also want to attend more professional development events, particularly as NSW school libraries transition to Oliver in the next few years. If I am still casual, I don’t want to get left behind by being disengaged from the profession.
I have recently signed up for the NSW TL listserv emails, and I am looking forward to staying in touch with the professional community this way. Since teacher-librarians are often on their own in their school, I think it is so important that we have our own community of learners, collaborating with each other to stay on top of the myriad of changes we will encounter throughout our careers.
I'll finish this portfolio with an image I saw in my first subject. What I know about teacher-librarianship is above the water. What's underneath is what I still need to learn throughout my career. It's a daunting prospect, but I can't wait to find out what's out there.