Recent Changes

Schroeder, UWW {Teaching-Technology.jpg} Image from: http://akeynotespeaker.com/teaching-technology-education-schools/
Course Competencies
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Penny Garcia {the-world-is-flat.png} Image from: http://theresaecho.com/2012/03/14/the-world-is-flat-or-is-it-changes-in-presbytery-ga/
Competencies/Objectives (taken from Course Syllabus)
Students, through critical examination of characteristic, procedures, values, and limitation of selected instructional theories ans strategies, will:
Reflection
Much has changed in education since I took this course; however, the basic concept of this course -- the impact of technology on society and its impact in education is still vitally important to the role of the school librarian.
easily accessible.
Today's students need to have opportunities to create and be creative -- these skills cannot be outsourced. For example. I had groups of fourth grade students use a virtual library on simple machines to research types of simple machines. They created videos using iMovie to teach their classmates about the various kinds of simple machines. Finally, students created their own machines using various simple machines they learned about. Students used technology to teach themselves, teach each other, and finally create a unique invention to show what they had learned.

Reflection
Much has changed in education since I took this course; however, the basic concept of this course -- the impact of technology on society and its impact in education is still vitally important to the role of the school librarian.
easily accessible. Today's
Today's students need be outsourced. For example. I had groups of fourth grade students use a virtual library on simple machines to research types of simple machines. They created videos using iMovie to teach their classmates about the various kinds of simple machines. Finally, students created their own machines using various simple machines they learned about. Students used technology to teach themselves, teach each other, and finally create a unique invention to show what they had learned.

2. develop an understanding of the impact of technology in education, especially in relation to the changing role of the library media specialist and the
teacher, changing student/teacher relations, and changing learning environments and values.
resources to creaetcreate a fresh
education for tomorrow's students;
4. experience learning new skills and technology, using local resources - personal and professional;
Virtual Community Experience
{VirtualCommunityExpJennMcMahon.docx}
Reflection
Much has changed in education since I took this course; however, the basic concept of this course -- the impact of technology on society and its impact in education is still vitally important to the role of the school librarian.
The biggest change in education has been the State's adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). I think this class, taught today, would focus on how technology in education is driving the new state standards. Today's technology makes it simple to quickly find facts and information on any topic; however, with this change in technology in education, comes the need to teach students how to weed through all the information that is readily available to them, look at authorship credentials, and synthesize all the information into something valuable. The CCSS focus on teaching students to learn and teaching students to think -- not simply regurgitate facts, which in today's world are easily accessible. Today's students need to have opportunities to create and be creative -- these skills cannot be outsourced.

SKILLS Act Outline
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Reflection
Today's school librarian must employ leadership skills to teach fellow librarians, classroom teachers, and even administrators new technologies. Librarians must also be the change they want to see in their districts. Since I started working for the Neenah Joint School District in 2010, I have been given many opportunities to use my leadership skills and affect change district-wide.
During the summer of 2012, the District purchased a subscription to eBackpack -- a cloud-based storage system. It quickly became apparent to me that the system was not working efficiently enough to be worth the $30,000/year price tag. My tech and I worked on a cost-effective solution. We beta-tested Google Drive with my elementary students at both of my elementary schools. After testing it for 6 months, the District decided to go district-wide with Google Drive and drop eBackpack -- effectvely saving our district $30,000 each year. This would not have happened if I hadn't worked to find a solution to a problem that I saw within the district.
Besides being a working member of the Technology Plan Committee which works on writing and revising our technology plan and various board-approved policies,, I have also served as a Tech Mentor for the district. This means that I take new technologies and teach it to other teachers. I've used my leadership skills to teach courses for college credit on Prezi and Web 2.0 tools. This year, I was also asked to be the team leader as we took a team of six people to the ISTE conference in San Antonio.
This school year, I have also been hired as the department chair and I was recently asked to mentor our new media specialists. These are both paid positions of leadership.

Student-Created Glogs
Reading Week
{Reading_Week.pdf}
Reflection
The role of the school librarian has changed immensely since I was a child; however, despite the new emphasis on technology integration and teaching the ethical use of information and technology, one role of the media specialist still holds true -- the importance of instilling a love of reading to students and working with classroom teachers toward that end.

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Book Talk
Student-Created Glogs
Reading Week
Reflection
The role of the school librarian has changed immensely since I was a child; however, despite the new emphasis on technology integration and teaching the ethical use of information and technology, one role of the media specialist still holds true -- the importance of instilling a love of reading to students and working with classroom teachers toward that end.
Reading a wide-variety of children's and YA literature is vital to being able to promote various books to students. Included are several reflections of readings -- of various genres. However, simply reading and talking about great books isn't always enough. Today's students often need a "hook" -- something to get them sparked into action.
I've worked on inspiring a love of reading through Reading Week activities. I dressed up as the starlet "Ivan Readalot," students at my elementary school are encouraged to read, read, read for prizes and other fun activities during one week in March. Each year, our theme changes; however, the goal is always the same -- to get kids inspired to read. This week-long activity is done in collaboration with the reading specialist and all the of the classroom teachers.
I also have a summer library reading program, where each week during summer library, student can learn about different topics and win prizes for reading. This year, students learned about ancient Egypt, mummification, gardening and root vegetables, pirates (complete with a pirate treasure hunt using QR codes) and more. All activities, this year, centered around the theme "Dig into Reading." Students who participate in the summer library reading program are students who need extra reinforcement in reading and math during the summer months.
I've also worked with classroom teachers to encourage students to share THEIR love of reading. By using Glogster, an online poster program, students in third grade and above create electronic posters of their favorite books. These posters are posted on the library website for all students, parents, and community members to see.