Teacher Librarian as Leader

Katrina Schwartz reports on the work of Robert Evans on change issues. He has found it tremendously important for leaders to understand that for many people, change - at least at first - isn't about growth or capacity building or learning; it's about loss. This interesting article explores change in the education setting.

Future of Jobs Report 2018: "By 2020, more than a third of the desired core skill sets of most occupations will be comprised of skills that are not yet considered crucial to the job today … Overall, social skills - such as persuasion, emotional intelligence and teaching others - will be in higher demand across industries than narrow technical skills, such as programming or equipment operation and control. In essence, technical skills will need to be supplemented with strong social and collaboration skills.""

Online Teachers' Guide to Global, Collaborative Teaching and Learning. This guide, a much-needed update on the Exchange 2.0 guide, is an unbranded, user-driven resource for teachers looking for projects and resources to collaborate with other classes around the world.

"Educators, schools, government officials, and parents must re-think education and how to prepare the next generation to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities and overcome the challenges enabled by ever-increasing technological change. "

"A cohort of 33 teacher-librarians is viewed as indispensable to the district's vision of a technology-infused path to improved outcomes for students. After the community passed a $24 million technology levy in 2013, the district began its weLearn 1:1 initiative, which by 2017 will provide all teachers and students in grades 3-12 with an electronic device in a flexible learning environment, and a personalized digital curriculum."

"Initiating and maintaining a Personal Learning Network (PLN) can be an incredibly exciting, rewarding and very effective way to engage with professional learning. However, learning mediated by social networks is not without its challenges. "

Interesting article, around the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, about conspiracy theories and fake news, and how people get caught up in them. As TLs we are often in a role of teaching digital literacy and combating fake news is a part of that.

A downloadable flyer teacher librarians can use in their schools, perhaps via a school newsletter, to promote the library and the teacher librarian to parents

A Digital literacy program, written by google, for use in classrooms etc

"The school library, and the librarians that work within them, are a wonderful, and sometimes overlooked resource for educational technology support, providing invaluable help and knowledge for teachers and students. "

The same essential qualities and characteristics that exemplify what great leaders do have pretty much stayed the same. What has changed are the tools, research, and societal shifts that impact the work.

"Yet all the things I beat myself up about were actually what the research says makes introverted leaders successful."

Susan Lovett is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Her research interests include leadership learning and development, and teacher leadership. In this Q&A, Lovett joins Teacher to discuss what teacher leadership is, and why she believes it is a mistake to attribute school leadership activities only to those residing in formal roles.

The AASL Standards framework reflects a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning by demonstrating the connection between learner, school librarian, and school library standards. Three sets of standards (Learner, School Librarian, and School Library) make up the AASL Standards Integrated Framework featured within the National School Library Standards. Use the resources here to familiarize yourself with the structure and get started using the standards in your practice.

Continuum of leadership growth in varied aspects of school community engagement

"Research about educational trends and pedagogical models shows the significant difference effective school library services can make on student literacy and learning outcomes. The research findings illustrate the positive impact of dynamic, inclusive library services and environments - physical and virtual - that are aligned with the school's vision and learning goals."

It is hard to find a way to let your administrator know in an elegant way some of the benefits of having a school librarian. Practical strategies for teacher librarians to inform leadership and build own strengths to focus on future ready library services and teaching.

A look at trends and global directions to inform education. Continuous learning is on the agenda well and truly beyond formal years of education. It is estimated 30% of our working day will be spent learning. Longer working lives and changing skills increase this need.