Transparency – show your passion.

Transparency is the new fierce « NeverEndingSearch.  Joyce uses the term ‘fierce’ to talk about the passion that many TLs are using to get their message and skills across to the greater learning world.  We need to be seen – and seen through!  “Transparency is the new black!” This very great visibility (as distinct from invisibility!) is what will show the world the things TLs can do – and they need to begin doing it more together.  The networking and sharing of skills and information will increase each person’s knowledge and value within the profession.  Everyday in even little ways. . .

Conference coming to town . . .

The following is a copy the most recent post I added to out local TL Network Blog – though I’d record the information here too.

While renewing my SLAQ membership I was reminded of the conference in Cairns in six months, and decided to visit the newish Australian Children’s Laureate Alliance site to read more.

Thought I’d add a couple of links in the hope that you might find them valuable and decide to join in – by getting on the mailing list of the Australian Children’s Laureate site and doing some forward planning to be part of the SLAQ2012 conference in Cairns July – 3-5 (earlybird price till Feb29th).

The first Australian Laureate award is to be shared in 2012 by Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor.  Boori Pryor is going to speak on the first day of the conference in Cairns.  Jenny Luca (Vic.) and Lyn Hay (NSW) will give keynote addresses on the subsequent days.  Look forward to seeing you there.

Information Professional – Librarian 2.0

An information professional in a Web2.0 world should have a very high level of information literacy which is evident in the variety of ways they are able to support the users within their sphere – whether library patrons, students or colleagues.

This service support may be at the level of initial search interview on a face-to-face basis or the provision of timely training and support to access a digital, virtual and global information environments.  I agree with Abram (2007, p6) who suggests that, rather than just passively viewing/receiving information, what users experience through Web2.0 is “characterised by the more human aspects of interactivity (such as)- conversations, interpersonal networking, personalization and individualism”.  These human and social interactions are engaging their users in a more collaborative and collegiate manner.

The information professional in this Web2.0 environment should demonstrate an understanding that their client-users are individuals with differentiated needs and abilities, and with various preferred ways of communicating and learning.  All interactions should enhance their competencies with emerging tools – allowing greater access and integration of information into their lives.

Information professionals (IP) should therefore, immerse themselves in these Web2.0 tools with a view to learning and integrating those assessed as being useful within their professional practice.  These IPs need to simultaneously be building their own capacity and that of their co-workers and clients so that there is an increase in competencies relating to their ability to locate and filter information, then utilise it ethically within the development and expression of their own ideas.

To achieve this goal, information professionals need to become efficient in balancing their time between personal professional development and that of others.  Remind yourself, that explaining the ‘How to’ is often the best way to confirm the skill within yourself.   Connecting with a ‘Community of Practice’ (CoP) or being active in a ‘Professional Learning Network’ (PLN) will support this purpose. More on this latter topic in a future post.

References:

http://www.online-information.co.uk/online09/files/freedownloads.new_link1.1080622103251.pdf

http://www.istl.org/09-summer/article2.html

Image: ‘My Library’s Learning 2.0 planning group‘

Connecting the collections!

inf506_logo_sm, a photo by lyn_hay on Flickr.

First attempt to ‘share’ a photo from my Flickr account to another social media site. thanks for the Wordle image Lyn. I notice the attribution on the bottom right – so I hope I’m legal! I have 3 photos shared and seem to recall that the attribution is attached as part of the process. I have joined so many networks this fortnight, that my mind is a bit befuddled!

New connections for growth!

Social networking is the multiple connections through various communication      mediums,that people create with each other for particular reasons.  They allow us to collect, comment, and create with information to build our knowledge and experience of our world.  Prior to the availability and accessibility of the current digital technologies, many people did this fairly locally on a one-to-one basis. Then the availability of personal computers increased the connections for those who had the access. Now, greater competition for a multitude of freely-available applications through more mobile devices means that those connections are becoming prolific and a significant part of all aspects of our interactive lives – learning, earning and living!  Twelve months ago -prior to commencing a course of study ‘on-line’ through a ‘distance education’ mode, my connections were limited like a one-way street.  I searched the web for information and sent emails.  I was quickly introduced to subject forum and wiki sites and could search library databases and ‘ask a librarian’ through live chat.  I went on to create a Blog (my online learning journal – OLJ) and use other interactive tools such as Skype, NeatChat, GoogleDocs and Wikispaces to collaboratively complete some assigned tasks.

I now have Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Del.icio.us accounts and expect I’ll spend quite a bit of time getting them and their associated passwords etc, sorted inside my original, organic search engine – my brain! – a great reason to keep eating and drinking.

I expect that by the end of this Social Networking course I’ll consider myself a more informed and experienced ‘Information Professional’.  I’ll have improved my efficiency in the use of my new tools and have made many more connections with people using Web2 in their role as teacher librarians.  I will have created ways to use these tools both with students and other teachers in a professional development capacity.  I’ll know how to accurately ‘attribute’ when using other people’s on-line images in my own work and I’ll realize the empowerment of contributing to networks and grow professionally.

A collection of mine

Form, Storm, Norm, Perform

Form, Storm, Norm, Perform.

This site succinctly outlines the developmental stages that a group of people will move through as they work towards achieving a common goal.  As a potential leader in a school environment, I think an awareness of these stages and how each can be managed is of significance to me.  Having been through ‘group-forming’ scenarios in a variety of situations (personal & professional) – I’ve found this clever explanation very enlightening and awareness raising.  I’m sure I’ll refer back to it often.

When is an article regarded as ‘scholarly’?

Thanks Roy – this is from the ETL401 subject Wiki – I thought I’d record it in my Blog rather than ‘bookmark’  (though i might do that too.)

The following information comes from two reputable sites.

CSU Library site at http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/how-to/faq/peer

The definition provided on this page is, “Articles published in peer-reviewed or refereed journals have been through a formal approval process. An editor and one or more subject specialists reviews the article before it is accepted for publication. This process is intended to ensure that the article is accurate, well-researched, and contributes to the body of knowledge in the field.”

This site also provides a means to determine is a journal is a peer reviewed journal. A very useful tool.

The second resource provides a checklist of the characteristics of scholarly journals and will also prove useful.It is from Texas State University and the address is

http://www.library.txstate.edu/help/tutorials/iltutorial/scholarlychecklist.html

Also tried NoodleBib Express today that Sheila alerted me to through our group work.  I feel like the group of 5 ladies working collaboratively on the PowerPoint for assignment 1A, have become a mini PLN (Prof/Personal Learning Network).  I have found a resource with ideas for creating your own mission and vision statements. Another for assessment rubrics too.

 

 

 

 

Collaborative Process

Had felt fairly apprehensive going into the second ‘Neat Chat’ session our group had planned. Not confident about my ability to keep up with suggestions and responses. I need thinking time and then I reread my text for sense, before I hit the return button. (This creates a time lag occasionally – if you take too long the focus has moved on and then the conversation needs you to leap-frog over bits to connect the answers with the right questions). We managed well I thought and I felt that I had I contributed to the progress we made. I was concerned about the absence of one member – and how she’d have responded – and the others seem to want to hurry things along. I guess I don’t know what other things are in their lives at the moment. Feel more positive now about this collaborative process.

Wow, I just went back to the Saskschools Information Literacy: Rubric and have decided that this first assignment in ETL504 is truly asking us to operate pretty much at the EXPERT level.
We have been given an authentic learning task to which we need to apply our skills; out group will design (with scaffold), implement and assess this learning task; our choice of resources will demonstrate our skill and knowledge; the research model is probably a simple ‘Big 6’ – but secondary to the collaborative/communication process; and finally the assessment will include * our product, * the Web 2 process to get it together and then a * self-assessment rubric to evaluate our own contribution to the process and critical knowledge of the relevant research.

Have started to create a rubric identifying the levels of communication and collaboration involved in this assignment task. Seem to recall that 5 levels may have been required – will have to go back and check.  Have tried to upload my initial ideas – but they get mangled in the transfer – so I’ve edited it out!

Apple – Start

Free technology for Teachers

via Apple – Start.  Free technology for teachers Blog (see blogroll)

Lots of ideas and applications for Web2 usage:

Mind mapping apps and look for EasyBib in their achhives

Neat Chat

Neat Chat.

The TL leadership subject asks us to connect and collaborate within a group of 5 peers and work together to produce Assign.! part A.  Our group has set up a ‘chat’ site especially for this purpose and will begin our discussions this weekend.

We also plan to Skype – slightly more ‘visual’ interaction (combed hair and lipstick optional after 8pm!!) so I’m going to be trying 2 new Web 2 applications (is that what you’d call this program/software? an application?).  Anyway, all new and taking time – but I’m feeling good about the learning experiences I’m having with technology through this course of study.