Not Another Technology Training?!$%!?

Jukowski states in Chapter 13 of Technology and the School Library that time and energy are usually the problems when it comes to participation in professional development. How true are those words? I don’t know about all the other schools out there, but when the words “mandatory training” are thrown around, the faculty does not respond positively. They are usually too busy or too tired to really take advantage of the benefits of professional training.

This year, the Hardaway R4 (Rigor+Relevance+Relationships=Results) team decided to put together a professional development plan centered around technology. The ultimate goal of the project is to teach a technology tool that will prove helpful in the classroom. The R4 committee gathered some “tech savvy” faculty members to help plan and implement PLU courses specifically for classroom teachers. The techies were encouraged to plan a course that focuses on one aspect of technology with which they are particularly comfortable. The topics were brainstormed and the following list was created:

October – SMART technology including Google Calendar, math graphing, stories/songs

November – ipods & smart phones

December – building & using weebly sites

January – engaging presentation (PowerPoint & Prezi)

February – SMART technology (specifically SMART Response)

February – xtranormal

March – edmodo

The above courses will add up to a PLU and equal about an hour to an hour and a half in length. Because these are quick, relevant opportunities for training, we are hoping the teachers will not only take advantage of the courses but actually be able to implement the technology into their classrooms, as well.

I am personally responsible for the December course on Weebly sites. I know that when I design my course, I am going to keep Jurkowski’s advice in mind. Here is his sage wisdom for implementing teacher trainings:

·    Think about the needs of the audience. If time allows, perform a needs assessment. Figure out exactly what would be most useful for the group to learn so that you aren’t wasting time on unneeded information.

·    Remember that the course is for adult learners. They have different needs than young people. Consider what they already know about your topic in order to save time.

·    Consider your objectives carefully. Develop some specific goals and competencies you want the learners to achieve by the end of the course.

·    Reward with incentives! Our incentive will be a PLU…but we will also have some snacks to keep the crowd happy!

·    Make sure the lessons are practical and provide tip sheets for later use. If the audience cannot use the material you are teaching and they do not have a reference to use later, the class will be a waste of time for them.

·    Allow time for hands-on application. Have the class actually use technology so that they can actually get a feel it and so that you can spot any weak spots immediately.

·    Use small groups as much as possible. Large group activities can be cumbersome.

·    Always evaluate at the end of the class. Have the participants fill out a quick Q&A on the session so that you can make improvements for the next time.

·    Continue to provide support after the training is over. Make sure you follow up with participants to troubleshoot any issues.

 

One point that Jurkowski makes is that, whenever possible, trainings should be optional. We agreed with this idea. The R4 committee decided to open the courses up to anyone who wanted to attend, but we are not using the words “required” or “mandatory.” We are hoping that because of the short timeframe and the relevant topics, teachers will come.  

As with any new idea, the initial buy-in from the faculty may be worriesome, but we think that we can build some momentum through our enthusiasm for the technologies we are teaching. Once the naysayers see the results of the technology trainings, they will hopefully give a tech tool a try.

Stay tuned! I will update you on the progress of this project. Until then… keep your fingers crossed for us!

Jurkowski, O.L. (2010). Technology and the school library: A comprehensive guies for media specialists and other educators (revised edition). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Technology Training

It is ironic that I am setting down to type up this blog today since my school just had technology training on the Promethean Boards today. This is the first training we have received in school since our boards were installed a few weeks ago. This is also the only training we have had at the school level on using the boards. There was training offered this summer for Title I schools in my district. I did take 3 different technology trainings through the summer program, but since they were optional, some teachers did not take the trainings at all. My district (Douglas) has a Title I technology person who trains anyone at Title I schools in the use of any type of technology. This person is very knowledgeable and willing to come to the schools to train anyone who is interested. I am sure she will be back in our school soon for additional training. 

Overall, teachers at my school are very technologically adept. We completed a technology survey at the end of last school year and our school scored highest among the Title I schools and 6^th in the county. This is quite remarkable when you realize the fact that we had the least amount of technology available to us. Most of the teachers at my school are willing to attend additional trainings and do so during the summer and on their own time. Of course, there are always a few who struggle using technology. 

Technology training is very important especially with the new CCGPS standards which push for more digitally published work, student collaboration, and research skills. These new standards make it even more important for teachers to become familiar and use the technology that our students will be required to use as they continue their education. We as teachers need to stay on top of the technology world and a great way to do that is through short technology trainings at the school level. These trainings can be delivered by anyone, but the media specialist will hopefully have a hand in organizing, promoting, and perhaps delivering these trainings. Training should be as short and to the point as possible. They should also be delivered in a multitude of ways not just through after school sessions. Incentives are a good idea to use to get teachers more motivated to attend training. A great idea for simple technology training is a website spotlight of the week. This could be a short blurb at a faculty meeting or a weekly email spotlighting a great (and hopefully free!) website that teachers might find useful. This could go a long way in promoting better use of technology with teachers. 

Technology training Dos and Don’ts

Dos

-          Make training ongoing not every once in a while

-          Ask teachers what they want technology training on

-          Remember that you most likely have teachers with a wide range of technology ability levels from novice to advanced users

-          Use informal and small group trainings when appropriate

-          Teacher the teacher while teaching the students i.e. modeling the use of technology during a lesson

-          Provide tip sheets and handouts

-          Use guided practice and hands on training. People learn more by doing not just watching

Don’ts

-          Give out handouts and sheets without permission from the author

-          Just do lecture type technology trainings. Teachers need to practice the skill to really learn it.

-          Overwhelm teachers with a multitude of trainings only offered after school

-          Plan trainings without input from teachers

-          Think that after the training everyone should know how to complete the task. Instead be available for follow up training and questions

Video Distribution in a Local Middle School

I spoke to a middle school media specialist about video distribution at their school. She smiled and said that their system was very outdated. When TV’s went digital and were no longer analog, it reduced the system’s capabilities. They have a total of three channels that can broadcast. One channel shows scrolling announcements and the student produced morning news. Another channel is GA Public Broadcasting, and the last channel, she had the staff vote on what the channel should be. They decided on CNN.

The first channel shows the school TV news that is run daily. The student news crew does it in the news production room in the media center, but the media specialist is not in charge of it; two teachers are. After the student news airs during homeroom, the rest of the day there are scrolling announcements that are made on a Power point. Teachers have some input into what is put on the scrolling announcements. They can email a Power point slide to the media specialist, and she puts it on the scrolling announcements.

The other channel is GA Public Broadcasting. She said that few teachers watch it. They usually use United Steaming. All of the teachers have the code for using it, and the media specialist promotes it a lot. When teachers request a particular video, and the media center does not have it, she encourages them to check United Steaming to see if they can find a video on there related to their topic, and they usually do. She also said that with her school district recently unblocking Youtube videos for teachers only, that a lot of teachers show Youtube videos if they cannot find what they need on United Streaming.

The last channel is CNN, which the teachers voted on. There are a few times a year when she plays a video for the entire school to view, or an entire grade to watch. When the weather is bad, she will air the Weather channel for teachers to watch. Otherwise, the channel is always on CNN.

Although the media specialist would like to do more with the video distribution system, as far as having more channels, it serves its purpose in the school. The school tv news is aired every morning, announcements are seen by everyone if needed throughout the day, GPB channel is accessible, and there is one cable channel available. She is currently working on having more channels added.

 

Social Media in the Library

1.       In this age of social media obsession, it only makes sense for library media specialists to use social media to promote their library media program. There is definitely a place for social media in the media center. It’s important for library media specialists to promote their program continuously; to students, teachers, and the community. That ensures that their patrons remain informed about the happenings at the media center. That, in turn, would do a lot to increase book circulation and media center usage.
   

    

        I know that many school districts do not allow access to social networking sites, but that should not stop a library media specialist from using social networking. The media center patrons will still benefit from media center social networking. I visited with a media specialist that has a Twitter and Facebook account for her media center. She includes pictures of what is going on in the media center, links to book reviews on her blog, shares recommended books, keeps students abreast of current contests going on at the media center, informs patrons of new books that have just arrived, and more. She has students that ask for book recommendations via social networking, and share reviews of books. So, it’s a great way to involve students and promote reading.

    

        The way the aforementioned media specialist used social media to promote her media center is great. Social media should be used to promote the library program, and keep patrons informed of its services and offerings. Social media provides a great way to increase reading motivation by:

        • Allowing the media specialist and students to discuss books and increase motivation for other students to read the book.

        • Informing students of the variety of books that the media center offers.

    

        Social media is an asset to a media center that can motivate students to read and keep patrons informed of the media center’s happenings.

    

Elementary Students and Social Networking

As I did the reading, I started having a panic attack thinking about my six year old daughter on a social network or 23 first graders on a social network during the day....how overwhelming!! Of course, the first thing I think of when I think of social networking is FaceBook, MySpace, and Twitter.

I have had to do a great deal of "soul searching" while reading the material printed and have come up with this when it comes to social networking and students. Young students don't need social networking. We need to teach them how to use a computer (turn it on, turn it off, access applications, etc.). We need to teach them how to type in a search window, a website, and filter through the overload of information the Internet can give us. At a young age, we need to begin teaching students responsibility of using the Internet.

In Paulding County, social networks are blocked...ALL OF THEM...I haven't found any that I could open at school. Even with Web2.0 as popular as it and useful most of it is still blocked. Is this fair? I don't think so...there are thousand of middle and high school students that could learn a great deal of things from these social networks and Web2.0 tools. And most of them are only using them as a way to "talk" to their friends and complain/rejoice about life. None of them are probably using them to talk to the author of the newest book they just finished or to a new "friend" who lives on the other side of the world/country. I believe for the older students social networking and tools provided by Web 2.0 are boundless but for the young students that can't read, write/type, or figure out how to turn a computer on/off...this type of learning should be kept under lock and key. I do believe teachers should have access to it and a way to access an account created by the school system so that they can share the information with their students.

REPORTING ON THE SCENE AT FLOYD MIDDLE SCHOOL…

         So, I interviewed five of my colleagues. Based on a sampling of five Cobb middle schools, all have and utilize a video distribution system with an average of three or four channels.  The consistency in systems led me to wonder if this is a standard set by and supplied by the county, but I was unable to confirm this among any of the LMS with whom I spoke.  I did determine with a search of my own school’s purchase orders that our “new” mixing board was purchased two years ago with $1000 in LMC funds.  While it is in use… it clearly has capabilities of which I as yet, still ignorant. The responsibility for distribution of the closed circuit systems rested primarily with the LMS though at two schools, I am thankful to say my own is one of these, there were other staff members that took part. 

         Use of the systems among the schools was likewise fairly standard. One station is usually connected to a computer dedicated to slide shows or school videos looping throughout the day. At Floyd we have televisions mounted in two lobbies, the front office, and the LMC as well as connections to LCD projectors in every classroom on which broadcasts may be viewed.  For example in the last few weeks, I produced a movie maker video composed of photos and video footage from our recent Hispanic Heritage celebration, a slide show of the Game Truck visit (part of a fund raiser), and an infomercial for parents on the common core that has been looping throughout conference week.  Teachers submit requests for materials they want to share school-wide and these are accommodated. At another school Pandora was streamed along with these broadcasts.  Generally two or three channels are used for DVD/VHS closed circuit viewing at teacher requests.  The other LMS indicated this use tends to come in waves, especially around holidays and the end of the quarter.

        News broadcasts across all five schools were standard. Three of the schools hosted video announcement three days a week.  The other two  – again, one being my own – have daily video announcements. As my respondents are all in middle schools, all the news programs were student produced. At my own school, I assist the news crew in filming and editing prerecorded segments. The ability to prerecord segments allows the team to cover a broader range of events and topics of student interest.  We have an outstanding morning news show for which I can take no credit. The show belongs to our PE coach who volunteered to make it Her Baby this year. As the new LMS I was VERY HAPPY to abdicate this one. I act as technical advisor and train the students in the equipment and programs for video editing. Additionally, I act as an interview coach for the student staff and a collaborative partner for our Coach.  In my interviews, I found one school that records and archives their productions. I plan to share this idea with our own broadcast team.

        In addition for begin grateful for the reprieve of one more item to attempt to master in my first year, I am thrilled to have one less task in the mornings.  Our LMC is extremely busy at that time of day and being freed from supervision of the actual broadcast (and having a limited role in planning and coordination) has freed much needed time to be The Librarian in the mornings… something both I and the large number of visitors we have each day enjoy.

         I found no use of digital TV distribution. At my own school, I know little except that the preceding LMS indicated last year Cobb went to digital and that our system is analog. She did not know if there were plans for the county to update our equipment. She did indicate she felt there was little use of the channels when we did have them, but that she had taken a survey of teachers each year to determine what the channels would be.

         GPB’s Discovery Education/United Streaming collection of videos is used by approximately half of the staffs. To varying degrees, inservices were given some years ago and little has been done since. New teachers generally get their information on this resource from their colleagues.  Now knowing this, I personally plan to include it as a link on my LMC website and add a TechHelp guide on the Tdrive (teacher communal drive).  The system is free for teachers to create an individual login (with the county code).  Material may be searched by topics, grade level, media, and more.

Facebook for the media center?

It seems that everyone today participates in some form of social networking online. Many of us are members of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. This has become part of our society, so it is not surprising that social networking plays a part in the education world too. Younger and younger students are learning to use social networking sites, often better and more easily than their parents. Many educators are taking advantage of this interest in social networking to make it part of the education world as well. Often, students are more motivated to participate in discussion, complete projects, etc. when they can utilize online resources such as social networking. Of course, there are downsides to using social networking sites with students as well. Some of those are listed below.

• ·       Cyber bullying

• ·         Online predators

• ·         Loss of face to face interaction time

• ·         Over-sharing of information by patrons

• ·         Invasion of privacy from social networking sites as well as cyber criminals

      Just like there are drawbacks to consider, there are also many benefits of social networking to consider as well.

• ·         Access to a wider audience

• ·         Stronger relationship with patrons due to increased communication

• ·         Better ability to reach patrons with social anxiety

• ·         Teaches computer skills especially for students with limited exposure to computers

• ·         Strengthens community with similar interests

Due to the drawbacks of social networking sites as well as student safety issues, many school districts have denied access to many social networking sites while on school property. This does not mean that media centers cannot still utilize this tool though. Most students (and parents too!) have access to social networking sites through phones or computers at home, so use of social networking in blocked districts is still possible. Many media centers have chosen to create social networking sites to celebrate the media center and thus promote the media program. I think this is a great idea even in districts that block these sites. Through a media center page the media specialist and the patrons can communicate, discuss common interests, share resources, etc. Social networking would be a great way to promote the media center and make it a more useful and inviting place. Any way that students can become involved in media center activities, either through actual visits to the media center or online, helps the media program and the students. Helping students is one of the major goals of the media center and social networks can be one way to help meet this goal.

               

More Information

Here is a site of the 15 most popular social networking sites. There are some on here I have never heard of but need to check out: http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites

This site discusses the pros and cons of social networking sites. It brings up many good points on both sides: http://socialnetworking.procon.org/

This great site gives many ideas, reasons, and sites to try out when using social networking for the media center: http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Social+Networks

I’m the new teacher-librarian for my school. I have a beautiful facility… and the WORST library media center website you could possibly imagine. OK, it isn’t totally useless; it features the mission statement and a link to the Cobb Virtual Library. Of course, it also feature links to a calendar (that is completely blank and static), Georgia Book Awards list (except it is from last year’s nominations), and the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl info (also from last year… and our school isn’t even participating this year – but that is a different story). I’ve been trying – unsuccessfully – to gain access to the website or explore alternatives. I won’t take you through the details, but suffice it to say it isn’t going to happen in the foreseeable future.   

I was already depressed about this issue, but having researched the topic I’m progressing toward despondency. While having a website is pretty much a given for school media center’s today, having no website would be better than having a site that offers mostly out of date information. So, tip number one: keep your site current, update frequently with information in which your patrons have both need and interest. There is more I would do, if I had the power. If you’ll humor me, I’ll share with you my daydreams of a world in which I transform my school’s website.

In my dream world my website is so useful and engaging and vital that all of the students set it as their home page. In my daydream plans I start with the website’s purpose… what do I want it to do.

The list:

   1. encourage reading - maybe blog and book talk podcasts created by students and staff were posted.

   2. facilitate communication

          policies

          contact information

          schedules and events

          patron feedback/requests (especially for collection development)

          surveys for needs as well as a survey of the week to inspire discourse/thought/fun.

          facebook and twitter connections

   3. support students, teachers, and parents with resources

           OPAC, resource links, pathfinders, citation guidelines and assistance, course standards,

   4. provide TechTips

   5. links to fun learning sites

   6. highlight community resources and happenings

           support for families in need, cultural festivals, local attractions that connect to curriculum, public library information,…

    7. make it participatory… with blogging, podcasts, surveys,…

The next step is to consider organization; how to present the material in an easily accessible and logical manner.  At this point I sometimes begin to trim my goal list. If the site becomes to cluttered users will not return again. Don’t overload the home page. Group information and set high priorities on what “makes the cut” for inclusion. Additionally, give careful thought to the website building options at your disposal. Wiki’s are favored by many for their flexibility and ease for frequent updating.

Finally, I lecture myself against pitfalls:

        Beware of too much text

        Keep weblinks up to date

        Use appropriately proportioned and well-chosen graphics

        While not over-cramming the home page, keep the rest only a click away

        Don’t overwhelm your users with options. Be the expert!

                                                  – provide the few best choices for resources