Blog Post 2: Handheld Devices

Handheld devices are becoming a regular item you will see in schools today.  They range from cellphone, iPods, iPads, tablets and the list can go on.  They are not going anywhere, so we need to get a handle on them, embrace them and know that they are becoming a regular item on our school supply list.

            In the article, When You Give Students iPads, What Will They Do with Them?, you can read about how a 1:1 iPad initiative has gone in effect with an elementary schools 4^th and 5^th graders.  Within the article you can read about how the students take ownership by signing a contract with I statements to make it a more positive.  They are placed on carts where the students can store them and the teachers can sync, add/remove apps or download any updates that are needed.  They take their devices everywhere from Art to PE and use them in all subjects.  They even have the ability to create a password and gain independence by embracing this technology they have in their hands throughout the day.  The article makes it evident that a handheld device in the hands of every student takes them through many different avenues of learning.  With this they are able to become connected with the outside world that a regular textbook would not take them.  The author, who is a teacher librarian and the technology integrationist helps the students get a handle on their iPads use and shares many apps and educational resources for them to use not only in the library, but in all subject areas throughout the day.

            As a librarian, I would utilize a 1:1 initiative by starting with a digital citizenship curriculum and make sure that all students, faculty and staff know the copyright laws.  With each child having a device in their hands it give us the opportunity to take virtual field trip, when we are learning about a new country or how people lived in a different era.  We would be able to locate places we have never seen on an interactive world map. I will also use it as a tool for collaborative groups and group projects.  The possibilities are endless.  Along with these activities, e-books, videos and apps will become a regular part of our day in the library and it will not stop there.  When they take the devices back to class, I will make sure that they leave the library with some new concept that will help them in the classroom as well.   Handheld devices are becoming a key part of our learning each year and being able to use it every day, everywhere you go, will only make our students thrive and become an active digital citizen.

Reference

Miller, S. M. (2014, April). When you give students iPads, what will they do with them?

            School Library Monthly, 30(7), 35-37. 

Blog Post 1: Technology Strengths and Weakness

As I embark on my journey of information and Library Science, I have to take a look at my strengths and weaknesses as an educator with technology.  As a librarian, technology is a key component used and by knowing my strengths and weaknesses, it will help me plan and discover what I need to do to help my library and its clients be successful. Using the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for teachers has helped me see where I stand when it comes to these strengths and weaknesses and how I am going to use them to help plan and grow in my career.

Looking at the ISTE Standards, I feel that my strengths lie in standards one, two and three. 

Standard one is using all aspects of teaching and technology to help students learn in a more creative way, learn through different mediums of technology for real world situations and build a community of learners through planning, problem solving and reflection. (ISTE, 2016) I will use my knowledge with this standard to help build learning communities throughout grade levels with students and all other stakeholders for our school.  This will also help me build a collaborative technology environment that will not only help me succeed, but will also have my students be more successful in their knowledge and skills of the subject matter and in technology.

Standard two is building the learning and learning styles of the students towards the digital age through experiences, learning environments, and formative and summative assessments. (ISTE, 2016)  Though this is not a super strength for me, I believe that my knowledge of different programs used in my education career can help guide me towards the best learning environment for my students.  I will use this standard to help build my technology learning community as well as my students.  They will utilize what they have been taught to help generate their own self assessments through digital tools and resources used.

Standard three is being able to show the teachers knowledge of technology and being able to communicate these skills to all stakeholders of the library and support them in their endeavors by using digital tools. (ISTE, 2016) This standard will be used on a daily basis during my career when planning for class.  Being able to model and facilitate the latest technology in the library will help us all to demonstrate, communicate, and collaborate in a deeper level and build a learning library within us.

ISTE standard four and five are where my weaknesses fall.  Standard four is dealing with the legal and ethical behaviors of technology and the users’ responsibilities and digital citizenship. (ISTE, 2016) Though I am aware of these issues and legal and ethical behaviors, I am not well versed in the technological terms and conditions of them all.  I will need to make sure that I am constantly learning and growing in this area by continuing my education and professional development to keep me up to date and be able to promote these items in my library. 

This brings me to standard five which is continuing your professional growth in technology and demonstrating your leadership through your continued knowledge of the subject. (ISTE, 2016) Here I will make sure that I will continue my technology education and participate in many learning communities to build my knowledge of digital tools and resources needed for my profession.

Knowing these standards and being able to utilize them as a librarian and an educator will help me in my instructional strategies.  I will need to keep up to date with the digital world and all that it entails.  I can do this with continued education, asking my peers and my students.  I would like to learn more about social media and using it in an educational form with my students, staff and community members.  I want to make sure that I am knowledgeable with all equipment in my care, so I can demonstrate their significance to others.  Lastly, I want to make sure that within my learning of technology, to improve my instructional strategies, I am building relationships throughout the school and becoming the central hub, were everyone can be a resource for one another through technology.

As an educator and librarian I will be serving every student in the school and will also be working closely with the faculty, staff and community.  It is my responsibility to know the technology that is available and be aware of what is new and upcoming.  With the ISTE standards, building on my strengths and weaknesses and determining what I need to learn to improve my instructional strategies, I have become aware of where I stand with technology and where I need to grow.  I will use the information learned and build upon it to make myself and my library the best of its kind.

Reference

International Society for Technology in Education (2016). ISTE Standards for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-teachers

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