The School Staff as a Learning Network

As the face of the school library starts to shift and change a lot of Teacher Librarians are also the school technology experts. Of course, just because that is part of the job doesn't make it true for all TLs. So the question for me is how can someone who might be only moderately comfortable with technology teach their peers how to effectively use technology in their classrooms?

After talking to other Teacher Librarians about this I have seen that there is a wide range of skills and beliefs around this subject. There is a range from schools that have another teacher who is in charge of technology to schools where the TL is the leader in showing how technology can be used.

With this in mind I started working on a list of ideas for how I can become better at sharing technology with others. Also keeping in mind that some of them may not be looking for new ideas and others will be way ahead of what I know.

Here we go:

1. Be willing to try new things and make mistakes

If we want our staff to try new things then we need to show them that it is OK to try something out even if you are not sure how it works. In some cases students will have a better understanding of the programs we are using and we can use that to our advantage. Some of the Teacher Librarians I have talked to have used the makerspace to teach technology to students and then had the students demonstrate their learning to other teachers. The teachers then took what they had seen and applied it to the classroom.

2. Don't Be Afraid to Get Help

There are endless numbers of blogs and websites that will help me understand technology better. One that has been recommended to me is Free Technology For Teachers. This blog includes many different programs, tips, and links presented in video format that will help me better understand something and maybe present an idea more clearly than I could.

3. Get One or Two teachers on Board

It is important to have other staff members who can back you up on an idea. If I am able to collaborate with teachers then I will have people who will talk to other teachers and let them know what worked for them. Having a cheer leader for a program is always a good thing.

For a list of ideas on apps for student-collaboration try these websites:

7 Must Have Student-Collaboration Apps, Tools, and Resources

Best Student-Collaboration Tools

6 Ed-Tech Tools to Try in 2018

4. Learn Together

I'll admit that a lot of what I am learning about new technology is just that - new. I don't think I would ever be caught up on the new and exciting things going on so why try to learn it all before passing it on? There are opportunities to offer pro-d sessions or book club type events where teachers come out and try the tech for themselves. This definitely goes hand in hand with number one.

5. Branch Out to Differnt Areas of Tech

It is easy to find a list of apps and programs to use on computers and tablets but that is not the only type of technology that should be used. I have talked to teachers who are using 3D printers, green screens, and robots in their makerspace. One of my kindergarten colleagues has used the Ozobot with her class with a lot of success. I have used dash robots with early primary and they loved them (of course those are still using iPads as well).

An Ozobot follow lines drawn on paper

For me I think the main thing to remember will be to just dive in and try. Otherwise I will spend all of my time researching instead of experimenting.


Works Cited

Byrne, R. (2018). [Blog] Free Technology for Teachers. Available at: https://www.freetech4teachers.com/ [Accessed 11 Jun. 2018].

Lynch, M. (2017). 7 Must Have Student-Collaboration Apps, Tools, and Resources - The Tech Edvocate. [online] The Tech Edvocate. Available at: http://www.thetechedvocate.org/7-must-student-collaboration-apps-tools-resources/ [Accessed 11 Jun. 2018].

Common Sense Education. (2017). Best Student-Collaboration Tools. [online] Available at: https://www.commonsense.org/education/top-picks/best-student-collaboration-tools [Accessed 11 Jun. 2018].

Gonzalez, J. (2018). 6 Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2018 | Cult of Pedagogy. [online] Cult of Pedagogy. Available at: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/6-tech-tools-2018/ [Accessed 11 Jun. 2018].

O'Brien, C. (2015). Ozobot. [image] Available at: https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2199548.1430923874!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_620_330/image.jpg [Accessed 11 Jun. 2018].