Where to Turn to Keep Fresh

When you show students that you get so much out of researching by speaking to people, and that reading information online is not the only way to gather information, a certain newness comes to their approach to learning.  Is this not also true for adults?


                                                                                    (Image created through imgflip.com)


Recently, I used a design thinking approach in my Inquiry class for grade 9s.  Part of this process is to interview people.  Real, live, breathing people.  And although the students were trepidatious about this process, when they finally gained the courage and skills to speak to people, they were blown away by the amount of knowledge they were able to attain in such a short amount time.  And not only that, their projects were so much better than they were using just traditional research.  I hope they remember this lesson as they move into high school and whatever they venture into next.




(Image Credit: Design Thinking CreatEdu, 2013)


So, for this blog that tries to address the question of how one could continue to develop their own skills, pedagogy and professional development on their own within their individual library or classroom environments, I took my own advice. I talked to actual humans about the idea of keeping up with my own professional development.  And what I found was a plethora of people and organizations who will continue to support my learning.


Here are places I currently do, and will continue to, lean into.  And my best advice for those seeking to keep fresh is to ask people who are already in the job how they stay current.  I just know it will grow a newness to your learning.


  • My district has not one but two learning commons groups, both of which I will become proud members of starting in September with my new job as teacher-librarian

  • I participate in many of the professional development opportunities put on by our Instructional Leadership team - and now that I am leaning into this learning about the LLC, I will attend more of the literacy based ones

    • Within this team I have some members on speed dial to help me in my immediacy as well

  • I work closely with the Learning Technology Department and have some close ties within the department to ask all of the challenging questions

  • Colleagues within my district are also my go-to when it comes to learning new things, and fortunately I have a principal who encourages me to visit their libraries and learn as much as I can

  • Now, being a part of an amazing group of librarians who are keeping informative blogs is yet another way to keep in touch with new learning (I sincerely hope they continue to do so)

  • And of course, watching the living document Learning Learning Framework and discussing it with my colleagues


(Image Credit:Learning Leading Framework, 2022)


Looking at this list, I am reminded that relationships are the number one priority in keeping my learning fresh and my practice improving.  I need to give as much as I take, if not more, and I am cognizant of the need to invite others in as well as create professional development opportunities to others, including those in this list.  More on that in my next post: Giving Back To Leap Forward.



Works Cited:


Carroll, M., Goldman, S., Britos, L., Koh, J., Royalty, A., & Hornstein, M. (2010b). Destination, Imagination and the Fires Within: Design Thinking in a Middle School Classroom. International Journal of Art & Design Education, 29(1), 37–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-8070.2010.01632.x


Design Thinking | CreatEdu. (2013). CreatEdu. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://createdu.org/design-thinking/


Leading Learning Framework – Leading Learning. (n.d.). Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://llsop.canadianschoollibraries.ca/leading-learning-framework/


SD23 Instructional Leadership Team. (n.d.). Instructional Leadership Team: Central Okanagan Public Schools. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.instructionalleadershipteam.com/


SD23 Learning Technology Department - Central Okanagan Public Schools, Kelowna British Columbia. (n.d.). Learning Technology Department: Central Okanagan Public Schools. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.sd23ltd.com/

Comments

  1. D.McNeeJune 6, 2022 at 7:29 PM

    You have outlined some good strategies to support your further growth and learning. I appreciate your approach. It certainly connects with one of the goals of this course which is building your PLN.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KenJune 7, 2022 at 3:35 PM

    Memes make me happy, so thanks for having one. I like your implementation of design thinking for your grade 9s with the interview process. As a Socials teacher I feel like this is one area where I really need to get cracking as while I often have my students provide and receive constructive criticism, rarely do I have them interview subjects which is a key historical skill. Sometimes the difficulty is finding willing participants to be interviewed, but you're right that students also feel incredibly vulnerable when asked to interview someone they don't know well or at all. Definitely something that is so fundamental to historical thinking!

    ReplyDelete

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