Monday, November 2nd, 2009...12:08 am
Thing 13–21st Century Online
The K-12 Online Conference is a wonderful resource. Sessions on a variety of topics are available anytime. I chose to view a “Leading the Change” session titled “Beyond the Stacks: Using Emerging Technologies to Strengthen Teacher-librarian Leadership.”
The presenters of this session call themselves “The Disruptive Innovators.” Appropriate title, as their mission is to help teacher-librarians rethink their approach to librarianship. Donna DesRoches and Carlene Walter, the presenters, present their instructional approach to helping librarians see ways to use new technologies to create meaningful learning opportunities for students.
When the presentation began, I was a little concerned. The video showed students using technology in the Media Center in a variety of ways. Great! But I have still got some “old-school” in me, and I do not want to see students completely getting away from the BOOKS! NO ONE was browsing the shelves in the videos. They were all working on happy little techno-projects, which are cool–don’t get me wrong. I just don’t want to technology to push out the irreplaceable joy of finding and reading that perfect book!!! It reminds me of those stories I’ve heard about libraries going to all electronic books, such as the Kindle, and getting away from actual books. That just makes me sad.
But….as the presentation went on, the presenters did address the need for balance between using the wonderful technology tools available and still promoting reading, a job at which librarians excel.
They described a unit they used for teaching teachers to do a lot of what we are doing in this Web 2.0 class. It was a neat approach–a little different than what we’re doing. They tied it in with a book review program, Canada’s Willow Awards, which would definitely appeal to librarians!
This was a good presentation–a little cheesy at times…but definitely thought-provoking! 
