Final+Project+-+Liv

__Introduction to my personal plan__ The timing of writing this plan is excellent as I am beginning to write my new IPDP goals for my next seven years of personal professional development. My main goal is to be a Technology Leader in my school. I have taken 'baby steps' through the years and have just finally pushed myself to make a few leaps. It is too easy to become complacent with limiting your professional development to what the district or supervisory union is offering. Sometimes you really have to work hard to keep up with your profession. Just because the current administrator doesn't seem to be interested in technology, doesn't mean you don't need to focus on it. Things change and we need to continue to be professional, no matter the guidance (or lack thereof) given to us on a building level. I've begun to learn more about many of the Web Tools available and how they might be used in my school and have started implementing some of the ideas. I’ve completed a self-assessment using the Massachusetts School Library Media Association’s Model School Rubric. Unfortunately, my program is basic or deficient in many areas when it comes to teaching and learning. The fixed schedule is a bit of a handicap in this regard, but I fear it is so much in the culture of our school, that it would be a losing battle to fight that fight. In the area of information access and delivery, I rated all over the map from deficient to exemplary, depending on the category. Program Administration is basic to proficient, the recent elimination of paid assistant support contributing to the basic or possibly deficient, depending on how strictly it is read. Now, I need to be more deliberate about my learning, leading, teaching, and achieving. I realize that I have to consciously focus on a few specific goals and that I can’t possibly hope to rate proficient in all areas, within seven years. Budgetary and policy restrictions may force some areas to be put off until a new cycle of learning or at least they won’t get as much attention.

__Area of focus within a time frame__ Since I am entering a new licensure cycle, I’m thinking in terms of the next seven years. These goals may be submitted in a similar form to my local standards board for IPDP approval. Goal 1 (Information access and delivery): To provide up-to-date materials and information in a variety of formats for community of library users, through a combination of print and non-print materials and alternative formats, partly through an updated website or blog. Goal 2 (Teaching and Learning): To increase my knowledge in the area of technology so that I can teach students and adults in my community how to use technology efficiently, creatively, and responsibly. Goal 3(Program Administration): To increase advocacy for the library program by assessing the program on a regular basis, communicating the mission and goals more with the public, and increase comprehensive and collaborative planning with building colleagues. __This year:__ · I need to get everything more organized so that my information is easily accessible. It happens too often that I reach a critical mass of disorganization at work when I have a hard time finding things and just have to stop and clean for a period of time. As I’ve been reorganizing my physical workspace to offer better flow and storage, I’ve also begun using LiveBinders.com and iGoogle to organize my virtual spaces. I also want to update my library webpage by migrating it to a blog. This should happen in the next two months. I have already used the wiki we created for Using and Modelling Technology as School Library Leaders ([]) to identify blogs to subscribe to, as well as tools to use. · I would like to start tracking my reading in a public way to model promoting reading for literacy and personal enjoyment. I need to decide on which tool to use (ex. LibraryThing). · During Winter and Spring, I will implement my plan for action research to increase collaboration with classroom teachers using technology as a vehicle. · By spring, create training videos for library volunteers to help with consistency. · Attempt to meet all the Lamoille County Elementary School Librarians and set up a group meeting, whether it’s part of VITA-Learn, VSLA, or independent. · Continue to serve on Climate Committee and Local Standards Board. __Next year:__ · Keep web communication tools current. · Increase collaboration with 10% more teachers. · Create a monthly program advocacy piece. · Participate in at least 15 hours of technology training. · Weed half of nonfiction heavily. · Update curriculum map. · Obtain more hardware to enable student use of technology via budget or grant monies. · Write mini-reflection on goals at end of year. · Co-present with Technology Support or faculty member to faculty meetings with Tech Tidbits/Tools. · Continue to work with regional LMSs to foster collaboration. · Possibly join the Steering Committee in place of Climate. · Evaluate if continued serving on Local Standards Board is possible. __Years 3-6:__ · Keep web communication tools current. · Increase collaboration with 10% more teachers each year. · Update curriculum map annually. · Participate in a minimum of 15 hours of technology training annually. · Weeding schedule is established so that 1/5 of the collection is specifically weeded each year. · Write mini-reflection of goals each year. · Continue to work with regional LMSs to foster collaboration. __Year 7:__ · Review my annual reflections. · Prepare and submit my Licensure Portfolio. · Submit new IPDP goals. __Tools and Resources to achieve goals__ · [|www.LiveBinders.com] – a way to organize in ‘Binders’ for different topics. I have one for each committee I am on (Climate and Local Standards Board), as well as one for my personal licensure information. Currently, they are private. I plan on sharing the committee binders once I feel comfortable with the contents and format in the next two months. · iGoogle – [] to allow easy access to my Google Docs, Delicious bookmarks, Google Reader (for my blogs that I subscribe to). Keep current with technology and information literacy using RSS feeds. I’ve tried using my email at home and at work for subscribing to blogs – it’s overwhelming. I really need to get into the habit of using Google reader. · [|www.Wordpress.com]- migrate my entire [|school library page] to the Wordpress blog (MESLibrary) that I’ve begun. Use my Twitter account to reach our school community and to provide an outlet for student work. · Jing (screencasts) and Flip Video – create training videos and screencasts for volunteers. · Participate in graduate coursework, workshops, conferences, webinars, blogs. and listservs to gain more knowledge in how to support my students and faculty in keeping up with 21st Century Learning. · When asked to design annual goals by my administrator, I will do my best to connect them to these goals and/or IPDP goals to help keep me focused. · Massachusetts School Library Media Association Model School Rubrics or similar tool that Vermont designs.

__Possible mentors__ I have my close classmates in this course: Martha McClintock and Jennifer Faith. They have both been nothing but supportive, over the years, and willing to share knowledge or lend an ear (or eye to e-mails). We’ve collaborated on projects for this course. I have a great deal of respect for them and their dedication to the profession, as well as staying current. It’s also good to stay closely connected within the district and SU, as we can give each other reality checks. Martha is my mentor for my new library blog, as I’m looking to her for guidance on how to possibly mirror what she uses so I don’t have to invest significant time in a project that is already in existence very close to meeting my needs. It will also ultimately make a transition seamless for my kids as they move on to her building. Then, in my building, I have Rebecca Machia, Technology Support, as well as Leslie Oplinger, Student Support Coordinator. The two of them have been working on ways to use technology to support students in need of adaptations and have been stressing the application of technology tools for all students. This is a new initiative for the two of them that they’ve been sharing during the last couple of faculty meetings. They have both offered to collaborate with me. Outside of my building, I have many options. I can keep in touch with instructors from courses that I’ve taken, like this one (Judy Kaplan and Susan Ballard) and last semester (Anna Bolognani). Presenters at workshops are usually open to follow up questions long after the session is done. There is always our VSLA Listserv for posing queries and our wiki for collaborating and sharing. __What success will look like__ · I will be more involved in my school community in the areas of curriculum. · I will be planning more with grade levels on how I can integrate my goals with theirs in teaching our students together. · My workspace will be more orderly. · I won’t be falling behind in orders and processing. · A properly weeded collection that is more current and appealing. · I will have a larger network of professionals to rely on. · I will have continued learning in multiple formats. · I will be comfortable sharing new ideas, techniques, tools, software, etc. even if I haven’t mastered the use of them myself.