Objective 1.3: Instructional Partner
Indicator: Candidates model, share, and promote effective principles of
teaching and learning as collaborative partners with other
educators.
George Bernard Shaw stated, "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." To me, collaboration is when people come together to share ideas, engage in honest conversation, and come away with a greater idea than that which would have been created if alone. There is no better way to impact the students, and ultimately the school, than collaborating with classroom teachers.
Content teachers collaborate all the time, and I feel that the time has come for the librarian to be an active participant in these discussions. I had a truly great learning experience when working with an English 9 teacher on her Research Unit. As someone who taught this content area, I was extremely comfortable with the content, which certainly contributed to the ease of my collaborative experience. As a classroom teacher, I am used to working with my fellow content teachers. I feel that this background will be of great help to me when I transition into the role of school librarian. I have a knowledge of and appreciation for the process of collaborating, as well as the effort that goes into it. The unit I created introduced the 9th Graders to their research assignment on controversial issues. I planned opportunities for students to use the databases (in particular SIRS and Opposing Viewpoints) and practice navigating the databases before conducting their own research. I incorporated tools such as Mindmeister and Noodletools, as well as activities regarding source reliability, to aid the students organize and conduct their research in an ethical way. I also helped the teacher set up and utilize www.Turnitin.com, a program which helps students edit their work and ensure that it is free of plagiarism. This entire unit was not only steeped in the English 9 writing curriculum, but also upholds many AASL standards. It was very rewarding for me to work with another teacher in order to blend our two worlds into a strong unit for the students.
Collaboration is key to creating authentic learning experiences. For this reason, it is crucial that librarians are seen as leaders in our subject matter. We must use our knowledge of information literacy skills as well as technology resources, and insert them into the content curricula of classroom teachers. When we work as a team, we can ensure that our students are mastering content skills as well as becoming information literate learners. This will guarantee that as independent thinkers, they will survive and thrive in the 21st century world. Collaboration generates lessons that challenge our students, which will lead them to deeper synthesis of the material at hand. Collaboration also allows us the chance to truly mold our lessons for all types of learners. By offering teachers our knowledge of certain technologies and resources, we therefore increase the chance for students to become engaged and motivated to learn. Being a good teacher takes time, energy, and a genuine effort to come up with creative ideas and activities. When we partner with teachers, we can work together to ensure that the learning process is engaging, and ultimately help students to see the information presented to them as invaluable. |
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