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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
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Spokane, WASpring2007
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Information Literacy Programs
DIMINISHED
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TechnologyTraining
COMPROMISED
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Project-BasedLearningno longer
SUSTAINABLE
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Collaboration
IMPOSSIBLE
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AcceleratedLearning
Opportunities
CURTAILED
Spokane, WASpring2007
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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
