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Sites to See - Leading by Example - []

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams

My Library Leadership goal for technology integration can be summed up as “leading by example”. Upon arriving at Stowe Elementary School, I found out that I am a member of the two-person Technology committee. Through my work in this class and my first few months at SES, I’ve learned that without a tech integrationist, we have no formal plan for integrating technology. Like so many places, some teachers are ahead of the curve, some behind with their use of technology. I feel that the lack of use of new technologies is simply because there is no one leading the way and it’s often overwhelming to go at it alone. I’ve also gotten the impression from my principal that he’s interested in “how can technology be used in greater ways in the library”. I see an interest in integrating more technology, but without the support, there often is little time to forge ahead. I see an interest by teachers to learn, but a lack of time and support to do so. I see a need and I know that I can help to fill that need.

I plan to survey the faculty to get a sense of their needs and interests. I’ve already taken the first step by asking to be on the agenda for our next faculty meeting. For the first faculty meeting, I anticipate giving the staff an overview of my LiveBinder site and my plan to introduce a new site, application or technique on (at least) a monthly basis. Based on the results of the survey and the areas I have already identified, I will tailor my future presentations and additions to the folder using this information. I have already given the teachers a “curriculum planning” form that I’ve asked them to complete. The original plan for using the curriculum information was for my own planning, collection development and first steps in collaboration. I see now that I can also use the curriculum information in a one-on-one basis with teachers as it relates to integrating technology. I can make suggestions how we could collaborate (integrating technology) or I could suggest a site or source that I think complements what they are doing and suggest ways to bring a little something new to a unit. No pressure, but slowly beginning to “establish” myself as the go-to person for technology questions and suggestions (I’ll gladly leave all of the hardware stuff up to John, our network administrator!).

My “Sites to See” binder created at LiveBinder.com is the product of my vision as set forth by this project and is a work-in-progress. I’m happy to be able to create a meaningful, useful tool that will help me organize and share information with the teachers in my school. During the initial creation process, I’ve decided to give each site its own tab (with a few exceptions). As we all become more familiar with the format, I imagine that I will combine some of the tabs into categories. For now, I think the binder will be more useful if the examples I’ve shared during faculty meetings are very easy to locate. Some of our staff members have a higher level of comfort with computers and the internet, but I’d rather begin “simple” and not intimidate anyone. As I become more familiar with the staff and their needs, I can adjust how and what I’m presenting. I imagine that the more I use the LiveBinder format, I’ll find that I want to make changes to the way in which I’ve initially set up the binder. Not having put this technique into practice, I am guessing at what will be easiest way to access the information and be most useful to others. Simplicity is key!

My goal is to go beyond a simple list of links to sites - BORING! I want to create something that will allow me to share in faculty meetings or one-on-one, a place where teachers can refer to sites I’ve shared and a place to see examples as a reference. Many times we see a great idea, but don’t have a practical application for it at the time. Then, when we want to incorporate that great idea, we have to search to find the information again. The Sites to See binder will now be that place - accessible from any computer, at home or at school.

I have already placed some examples of finished products in the binder. My plan is to introduce a site, give examples - ones that can been seen, touched, explored. Then I will place in the binder a link to the site, samples of work created by that site (if applicable) and further ideas for using the site. This last piece can be very collaborative and hopefully more ideas will come from teachers as the use the site. The idea is to present and share the information, have it available when the need arises and have it easily accessible.

At this point, my binder is not meant to be comprehensive, exhaustive or complete. As I mentioned before, it’s a work in progress - for several reasons. First and foremost, because I have not yet gotten any feedback from teachers, I have no way of truly knowing their needs - I can only anticipate needs and wants. I also hesitate to put up too much information before I’ve had a chance to present it during staff meetings or in one-on-one or small groups settings. Teachers, just like students, are curious and I imagine would “poke” around on the site. Not that I want to hide the information, I’d rather present it a little at a time.

My timeframe for this project is to begin immediately and continue as long as I see a need. I imagine that I’ll try to present a new tip or technique at least once a month for the remainder of the school year and then reevaluate over the summer. My guess is that with the ever evolving world of web2.0, this project could continue for quite some time...probably with an evolving look.

I will continue to look to the other librarians in our SU (Liv Perry, Martha McClintock ) for support and advice as I continue to put into practice the ideas I taken from this class. I’d like to think that any of my fellow class members are ones that I can turn to, as well.

For now, I’ve created a Google Sites page titled “SES Library Links”. I’ve gone back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to try to add more to it than my LiveBinder project. I have decided that rather than create something for the sake of creating it, I’d prefer to develop a page that is meaningful and useful. Maybe I’ll create more LiveBinders and this will be the place to find them. Maybe I’ll have other links to Shelfari lists or other book sites that can be accessed from here. Maybe I’ll make the “Sites to See” binder private, accessible only to SES faculty and link the “SES Library Links” page to the existing library page on the school website. I don’t know where this will lead, but for now I how my binder in an easily accessible place for its intended audience and that is what is important. Otherwise, the possibilities are endless and the prospects exciting.

“Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Jennifer Faith EDLI 200 21st Century School Library Leadership November 29, 2010