21st Century Learning

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Disappointed again….. Who will take up the challenge?

I am so depressed about the slash and burn decisions sweeping through schools right now – cutting library positions in droves.

I came home today to the welcome sight of my latest order from Amazon.  I am busy accumulating a personal library of books centered on bringing our schools into the 21st century – and  here were the latest installments.

The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need–and What We Can Do About It by Tony Wagner

College & Career Ready: Helping All Students Succeed Beyond High School by David T. Conley

It didn’t take many of these “big idea” books for me to notice a huge omission – libraries.  So, the first thing I did (after enjoying the sight and smell of 2 new books of course) was to turn to the index of each book and see if libraries were mentioned.  ….. Disappointed yet again.

The challenge? Authors writing for library audiences via library publishers need to stop right now.  The wider education world needs to hear their voices.   A LIBRARIAN needs to write the next “big idea” book that races through the education world. A book with the library in the center as the change agent schools desperately need to make 21st Century Learning a reality in schools.  Now is the time.  21st Century Learning is OUR curriculum.  Maybe “Race to the Top” might be the incentive for moribund schools to get out of the 19th century and start teaching students in a way that will be useful for the 21st century work world.

Please pay special attention to the last video in this post – Core Curriculum/21st Century Learning/Race to the Top.  Schools CAN change.  It is not that scary.  It doesn’t mean throwing out teachers or teacher-librarians.  It doesn’t mean throwing out the curriculum.  It does means changing how students learn content…. by interacting with it, playing with it, discovering the connections between disciplines, learning to collaborate with each other, how to release their own untapped creativity. In short – make the library a learning laboratory where librarians and teachers from all disciplines work together with students to prepare for the future.

It is doable.   Inertia has made us vulnerable.  It’s time to change.  And it is time for the education world to realize that librarians (not just a library staffed by a clerk)  is ESSENTIAL to this new kind of learning.

So – my challenge?  There are some wonderful school library bloggers out there.  How about writing the next “big idea” book?  The one that will galvanize schools to launch an education revolution with their librarians front and center.  How about it Doug?  Kim?  Cathy?  Joyce?  And many others too numerous to mention. Who will publish the viral books, articles, videos that need to be seen and read by the rest of the education community?  The “big idea” that will make educators everywhere say – “Amazing.  We already have the answer to the big questions right here in our own buildings – the LIBRARIANS!”

And if  (God Forbid!) the librarians have been laid off – bring them back before it is too late!

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Foot Soldiers for Big Ideas

In Tickled Pink, Doug Johnson says:

I love it when something concrete like Jacquie describes above actually happens – when a big idea becomes real.

First of all, I am “tickled pink” to be a guest blogger for the Blue Skunk.  Thanks Doug!!

My takeaways?

1.  Reading “big idea” books  is essential for all educators.  Whether we agree with the “big ideas” or not – they DO become part of our subconscious and make us think. Becoming too complacent does a huge disservice to our kids.  We  sink into the “We’ve always done it that way and it has always been good enough” syndrome.  Eventually,  what we’ve always done  is not even close to “good enough.”

* And isn’t it interesting?  Even the techiest of folks are still putting their big ideas into books.

2.  No matter how moribund our education system is,  no matter how evident it is that new ideas “will never work in this school, school district, education system etc.  etc. etc….. WE are the ones with the ultimate control over what  happens every day in our classrooms and libraries.  If we decide change is impossible – it is.  So my advice?  CHANGE.  Follow what you know is right.  Be daring.  Don’t wait for systemic change.  What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t have to influence the world.  That’s for the “big idea” folks.  You DO have to influence your students.

3.  Tiny changes can make a big difference.  People like to be in control.  Give kids choices.  Let them shine.

4.  When the kids are having fun with a project, the teachers are having fun.

5.  Lots of time teachers and librarians don’t share – because they don’t think what they are doing is at all special.  It’s just “business and usual” for them.

6.  We value  “big idea” books and “big idea” thinking.  We undervalue the foot soldiers who put the “big ideas” into practical use every day.  There is a place for both.  Who has the most effect on the world?  Well… there’s that chicken and egg thing again…

So…

KEEP ON READING. And then figure out how to make it work for your teachers and your kids.

What I am reading now:

Googled: The End of the World As We Know It by Ken Auletta

What I just finished:

21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times – Bernie Trilling

What’s in my pile to read next:

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Daniel H. Pink
You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto
Jaron Lanier
The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education
Curtis J. Bonk
The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google
Nicholas Carr
What I have pre-ordered from Amazon:
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
Nicholas Carr
This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All
Marilyn Johnson

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier

The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education by  Curtis J. Bonk

The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google by Nicholas Carr

Leading 21st-Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement by Lynne M. Schrum, Barbara B. Levin

What I have pre-ordered from Amazon:

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr

This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

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Global Warming Comes to Web 2.0!!!

Don’t cringe Mr. Gore.  In this case – I mean “global warming” in a good sense.

As you probably know, I have been promoting Web 2.0 applications while at the same time throwing  myself at a seemingly insurmountable ice-berg …. our very restrictive content filter.

Our district has recently formed a technology committee charged with creating a vision for 21st century learning and seeing that the vision is implemented.   I am fortunate enough to be on the committee.

During our first meeting, the issue of Web 2.0 came up and our superintendent asked me to prepare a presention to the committee at out next meeting.

What a great opportunity!  But – how on earth do you get across the exciting possibilities without overwhelming folks with information?

Evidently, it must have been successful.  The presentation was very well recieved by the committee.   They asked great questions and we talked constructively about some of the barriers, such as teacher training and the content filter.

To make it even better,  our superintendent called today, asking if I could repeat the presentation for our school board next Wednesday.

Wish me luck!!

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Libraries – The ultimate in social networking

The few of you who are crazy enough to read this blog, know that I frequently bemoan the state of technology in this district.  I am EXCITED to tell you that I now have huge hopes.  We have a visionary superintendent who is helping us articulate our needs and put our ideas into practice.

The latest influx of technology is laptop carts.  They are working out beyond my best hopes.  I SO wish I had taken a picture of the library today.  We had 2 classes here at the same time.  One group was researching information for an anti-drug project in Health.  They were using the “traditional” library computer lab.  We also had a Global 9 class researching architecture.  They sat at tables, using the netbooks,  notes and other materials.

All of them were working as groups.

All of them were successful.

Which group was able to collaborate the most efficiently?

The netbook group working at tables of course.  Speculating on the reasons, I realized that sitting at tables with your group along  with your notes AND  netbooks facilitated 2 things:

  • Students can network with information and other people on the internet
  • Students can enjoy F2F interaction with each other as they search.

It’s the perfect set-up for teenagers.  Not to mention the perfect setting to develop workplace collaboration skills.

Yes – this could also happen in the classroom.  And sometimes the classroom is the best place for the netbooks.   But I think the library setting adds that “third space”*  element that facilitates learning.

Today validated our decision to schedule netbook use in the library whenever possible.

*”Third Space” – a term used in the concept of community building to refer to social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. (Wikipedia, 1-15-10)