Inspiring Activists

Lisa Layera & Susan McBurneyIdaho Library Association Conference October 6 2010 – Post Falls, Idaho

Inspiring Activists …How your practice can save an institution

We are living through, and are right at the key moment of, a change in the way that ideas are created, spread, and implemented.

Seth Godin

library programs must adapt

You don’t “get” activists ….

you earn them.

How webecame activists ….

“It’s too late for me. I’m just a pizza lady. If my kids have any shot of going to college it’s going to be because of the computer skills they were learning in the library.”

Spokane parent from Holmes Elementary School the poorest elementary school in WA State

Spokane, WASpring2007

8

Spokane, WASpring2007

9

Information Literacy Programs

DIMINISHED

Spokane, WASpring2007

10

TechnologyTraining

COMPROMISED

Spokane, WASpring2007

11

Project-BasedLearningno longer

SUSTAINABLE

Spokane, WASpring2007

12

Collaboration

IMPOSSIBLE

Spokane, WASpring2007

13

AcceleratedLearning

Opportunities

CURTAILED

Spokane, WASpring2007

14

One-on-oneInterventions

no longer

FEASIBLE

15

“Swim upstream to Olympia.”

“Tell them not to bring librarians.”

Education Appropriations ChairWashington House of Representatives

Who stood with us?

Why did 15,000 Washingtonians take action?

Achievement Gap

Equity

I Libraries !

Democracy

Access to theInformation Age

Library Programsas Basic Education

21st Century Skills

GlobalPreparedness

LiteracyWorkforceReadiness

What happened?

$4 million emergency bridge fundingsecured in three months

line-item for teacher librarians in

landmark education reform bill

How did it happen?

mobilization

kid-centric

stakeholdervoices

graciousness

Why did it work?

Why does it matter?

equityaccessopportunity

“It would be like voting against moms and apple pie!”

was against libraries.Nobody

WA legislator

The financial reality …..

There will be more cuts.

Why are libraries a good investment?

What should be cut to fund them?

These questions are not going to go away.

Why are libraries

a good investment?

Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.

Mitchell Kapor

Kids need information specialists.

Kids need access to technology.

Kids need a chanceto become literate.

People were willing to fight for this.

Times have changed.

What do kids really need?

Are libraries really worth the investment?

What do you need to do?

Grow a modern library, informationand technology program that ….

… meets the needs of all stakeholders

… is transparent

Showcasing is a catalyst for enthusiasm.

“What we’re most proud of are the student voices. We are fast becoming the go-to place for students to post information about their projects, clubs, and interests.”

Kevin McGrathLibrarian, Newton North High School, MA

Creating a Program Stakeholders Will Fight ForEmerging Technologies

__ showcase student work

Physical SpaceWebsite

__ virtual poll (what do they want)

stude

nts

teach

ers

__ train Student IT Fellows

parents

admin.

legisl

ators

__ solicit content feedback__ start a web design club

__ launch ‘Teacherbook’

__ create robust ‘Parents Tab’__ survey parent needs

__ launch Parents’ Wiki

__ feature on district homepage

__ facilitate principal’s blog

__ facilitate supdt’s blog

__ create ‘Local Civics’ section__ create ‘Ask Your Legislator’ feature w/ librarian as intermediary

__ hip, comfortable furniture__ facilitate new clubs / meet-ups

__ Harkness tables for seminar-style teaching.

__ cultivate hygge-coziness, tranquility

__ facilitate parents contributing to hygge__ PTA-sponsored foreign language station w/ Rosetta Stone software

__ invite to any ‘presenting’ of resources; facilitate their taking ownership and celebrating

__ invite every fall during off session

__ invite to dedicate new equip., upgrades, etc.

__ create hashtag for favorite new technology or tool; solicit student submissions

__ become peer coach of technology__ offer emerging technology training

__ parent tech. training night__ create tech. wish list__ ask PTA to fund Student IT Fellows’ travel to tech. conference; librarian as chaperone

__ send out Horizon Report

__ get them started on Twitter__ send ‘Emerging Technology Tips’ to legislators and their LAs__ offer to set them up on Twitter

__ make it a destination

__ create conferencing space for classes (Skype and beyond)

__ create grade-level resources, teachers customize

Lisa Layera & Susan McBurney, 2010

__ offer emerging technology training

Connectivity

__ champion virtual portfolios

LookoutPortal

__ Horizon Report w/ trends and opportunities

stude

nts

teach

ers__ facilitate global connectivity with Skype, FlatClassroom etc.

parents

admin.

legisl

ators

__ showcase student art

__ leverage flip cams

__ create blogs, class wikis, & pathfinders for every teacher

__ create hashtag and deliver daily nuggets on what students/classes are doing; catalyst for dinnertime conversation

__ invite admin. to student shows__ invite admin. to legislator visits__ invite school board to student shows

__ digital postcards from kids__ facilitate mid-session briefing for interested students

__ spearhead assessing keyboarding mastery

__ start in-service days with New Tools Roundup (preferably free ones)

__ Horizon Report w/ emerging tech. trends, top 10 sites for kids, summary of what kids are learning and producing that quarter

__ ongoing: send resources for Strategic Plan update

__ create annual Legislators’ Report; frame as thanks; kid-centric showcasing student work and $$ investment

__ send Holiday Horizon Report w/ gift recs., hottest trends

__ set up Google Reader for principal, supdt., school board__ keep administration informed of 21st C. leadership opportunities

__ host a session wrap-up

__ be their reference go-to person

__ showcase one project with every teacher over year

__ form committee on social media policy

__ invite to be on Technology Leadership Team

__ track their work and send notes of appreciation

__ spearhead 1:1 initiative w/ city, district and community

__ annual student-designed LIT program theme

__ help students develop and grow their own PLNs

__ know the challenges the filter presents for teachers. update admin.

__ steward senior projects

__ teach about PLNs, facilitate your staff getting started__ create a Connectivity Pathfinder for staff__ connect teachers to Twitter

Lisa Layera & Susan McBurney, 2010

Activists are loyal and enthusiastic.

Advocates are …. not enough.

• satisfied but could be unenthusiastic

• may be unaware that a crisis exists

• noncommittal (given the plethora of important issues)

Inspire activists who see your program

as indispensible and are willing to take action

on its behalf.

The shortest and most effective route to inspiring activists ….

transparency

Providing what’s not being done or delivered by anyone else in the school or community.

Your best offense is also your best defense.

showcase

showcase

student learning

showcase

student creativity

showcase

students evolving

showcase

adults transforming

What can ensure that the transformation of your practice is successful and meaningful?

transparent

accessible tostakeholders

• parents• students• teachers• administrators• civic &university

leaders• private sector• legislators

continually evolving

continually evolving

“If the library might come to be seen more as a workshop where information isn’t so much a product as it is a raw material (a Kinkos for kids, if you will), then it may not only become viable, but an essential institution.” David Warlick

showcase

“Teacher-librarians must step up and commit to developing and implementing information literacy programs that are comprehensive, predictable (consistent over time), and accountable. Mike Eisenberg

This is undoubtedly the most exciting time in history to be a librarian.

Joyce Valenza and Doug Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wRkzCW5qI

lisa@fundourfuturewashington.org

susan@fundourfuturewashington.org