Skip to main content

Stretching Horizons

This week was pretty fun - we turned our eyes toward leading professional development. Library Media Specialists are in a prime position to lead PD on tech topics.

Social media can be a fabulous spot for professional learning communities. It can also provide a wealth of information on assessments, classroom activities, feedback, worksheets and more. In that regard, if someone says they "don't do" social media, and they've never tried it, they're missing out.

In my current role, I've trained several people on how to use Twitter. They began our session very hesitantly. However, these people are now skilled and confident, and enjoy using social media to promote their schools.

My presentation, called "That Gosh Darn Social Media," is intended for people who are not comfortable with social media, but are open to learning more. I totally understand how awkward it is to travel outside your comfort zone. In fact, I used Google Slides to create the presentation, which is actually a new tool for me. (I've always been loyal to Excel..due to lack of options and imagination.) I also used screencastomatic, which I hadn't tried except for a short test several weeks ago. The learning never stops! What a blessing.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This week’s focus is on SCARY books and Bibliotherapy! While it seems like a random pairing at first (sorry, Barb!), I realized that people derive comfort AND strength from characters who are undergoing the same hardships as them (mental health challenges) and from characters who are overcoming incredible and unrealistic situations (zombies, ghosts) with bravery and resilience. Below are my selections for this week. I dabbled in mental health, a modern day horror story, and a throwback that has probably entertained four generations by now! Matters of Mental Health Chisholm, Holly. (2019.) Just Peachy: Comics About Depression, Anxiety, Love, and Finding the Humor in Being Sad . New York City, New York: Skyhorse Publishing.  Plot summary: Author and illustrator Holly Chisholm bares her soul in this comic collection that explains and explores  her life grappling (and making peace) with depression and anxiety. The pocket-sized book is broken into four parts: depres...
Post a Comment
Read more

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

This week kicked off LBS 730: Managing & Evaluating School Library Programs. As far as I can tell, this course does not require blog entries. However, it looks like we'll have a ton of discussion posts/essays, and I'll post those here. The question this essay addresses: How much have the issues surrounding school libraries changed? Librarian at the card files at a senior high school in New Ulm, Minnesota, October 1974 Plus ça change... I explored with great interest the articles in Module Two that cover the history of school libraries. And while I read the articles expecting to learn about the halcyonic days of school librarianship, where school librarians were recognized and lauded for their role in schools…”plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.” For example, in “School Library: A Historical Perspective,” the following is written: “Although certification requirements were written, in many states, school districts often ignored them simply by not creati...
Post a Comment
Read more

All Good Things Must Come to An End...

We've reached the end of LBS 850! I enjoyed the class, diving deep into technologies for schools, and dabbling in cataloging...I do think the class experience is highly dependent upon who someone has as an instructor. Luckily, thankfully, Barb Fecteau at Salem State is an excellent, patient, and knowledgeable teacher, and she created a wonderful experience with an atmosphere conducive to learning and exploration. Here's a reminder of what the class was, so here's the course description for future me: LBS 850 - Emerging Technologies for Libraries 3   Credit(s)  This course presents tools and procedures that school library personnel implement to manage the ever-evolving organizational landscape. Course topics include basic strategies for dealing with, organizing and managing change professionally, new computer and internet-based methods of cataloging physical materials and web based applications that address libraries’ systemic needs. I started off the course feelin...
Post a Comment
Read more