RABBITS ON THE SWIM TEAM: Partner-Leaders for Learning DR ROSS TODD Associate Professor Department of Library and Information science Rutgers, The State

RABBITS ON THE SWIM TEAM:RABBITS ON THE SWIM TEAM:Partner-Leaders for LearningPartner-Leaders for Learning

DR ROSS TODDDR ROSS TODDAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Department of Library andDepartment of Library andInformation scienceInformation science

Rutgers, The State UniversityRutgers, The State Universityof New Jerseyof New Jersey

[email protected]@scils.rutgers.edu

Educational ChangeEducational Change

17081708

““Students today can’t prepare bark to Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on calculate their problems. They depend on

their slates which are more expensive. their slates which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is dropped What will they do when the slate is dropped and breaks? They will be unable to write”and breaks? They will be unable to write”

(Teachers’ Conference, 1708)(Teachers’ Conference, 1708)


18151815

““Students depend on paper too much. They Students depend on paper too much. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they can’t clean a slate properly. What will they

do when they run out of paper?do when they run out of paper?

(Principal’s publication, 1815)(Principal’s publication, 1815)


19071907

““Students today depend too much on ink. Students today depend too much on ink. They don’t know how to use a pen knife to They don’t know how to use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never

replace the pencil”replace the pencil”

(National Association of Teachers Journal)(National Association of Teachers Journal)


19281928

““Students today depend upon store-bought Students today depend upon store-bought ink. They don’t know how to make their ink. They don’t know how to make their

own. This is a sad commentary on modern own. This is a sad commentary on modern education”education”

(Rural American Teacher, 1928)(Rural American Teacher, 1928)


19411941

““Students today depend upon these Students today depend upon these expensive fountain pens. They can no expensive fountain pens. They can no

longer write with a straight pen and nib. We longer write with a straight pen and nib. We parents must not allow them to wallow in parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning ”such luxury to the detriment of learning ”

(PTA Gazette, 1941)(PTA Gazette, 1941)


19501950

““Ball-point pens will be the ruin of education Ball-point pens will be the ruin of education in this country. Students use devices and in this country. Students use devices and then throw them away. Businesses and then throw them away. Businesses and banks will never allow such expensive banks will never allow such expensive

luxuries ”luxuries ”

(Federal Teachers Journal, 1950)(Federal Teachers Journal, 1950)


19761976

““I can never imagine that anyone would ever I can never imagine that anyone would ever need more than 64K”need more than 64K”

(Bill Gates, once a school boy library (Bill Gates, once a school boy library monitor)monitor)

““It is hard to set in It is hard to set in motion what is still, or motion what is still, or

to stop what is in to stop what is in motion”motion”

Cobham Brewer 1810–1897Cobham Brewer 1810–1897Dictionary of Phrase and Dictionary of Phrase and

FableFable

Rates of changeRates of change

Rate of producing information:Rate of producing information:

Ancient times (tablets) : 1 char/secondAncient times (tablets) : 1 char/second

1500 AD printing press: 3000 1500 AD printing press: 3000 char/secondchar/second

Today (laser printers) 20,000 char/secondToday (laser printers) 20,000 char/second


Rate of storage:Rate of storage:

Ancient times (tablets \): 1 char/cubic Ancient times (tablets \): 1 char/cubic inchinch

1500 AD books: 500 char/cubic inch1500 AD books: 500 char/cubic inch

Today (chips) : millions char/cubic inchToday (chips) : millions char/cubic inch


Speed of transporting 250 words Speed of transporting 250 words

over 3,000 milesover 3,000 miles

Ancient runners: 18 daysAncient runners: 18 days

Telegraph: 4 minutesTelegraph: 4 minutes

Fibre optic : thousandths of a secondFibre optic : thousandths of a second


Human comprehensionHuman comprehension

Ancient times : 300 words per minuteAncient times : 300 words per minute

1500 AD: 300 words per minute1500 AD: 300 words per minute

Today: 300 words per minuteToday: 300 words per minute


The recording and transmission of The recording and transmission of information has increased so much but the information has increased so much but the human capacity to process and understand human capacity to process and understand it is still about where we were in prehistoric it is still about where we were in prehistoric

times.times.

Without school Without school libraries, kids libraries, kids are being left are being left

behind!behind!

Learning is Learning is active, not active, not

passivepassive

formatformatiional onal transformattransformatiional onal iinformatnformatiionalonalIInstructnstructiionalonaleveviidentdentiialalconstructconstructiingngconnectconnectiingngempowerempoweriingngenvenviissiiononiingngscaffoldscaffoldiingngenergenergiizziingng

Pedagogical solutionsPedagogical solutions

Systematic and explicit development of Systematic and explicit development of critical and information literaciescritical and information literacies

across schoolacross school

plannedplanned

collaborativecollaborative

diagnosticdiagnostic

staged and transferablestaged and transferable

COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATIVE INTERVENTION IS INTERVENTION IS

THE KEYTHE KEY

Information KnowledgeInformation Knowledge

INTERVENTION MATTERSINTERVENTION MATTERS

““The entire research process is tiring and The entire research process is tiring and long, but in the end it was worth it. Doing a long, but in the end it was worth it. Doing a research paper sounds like a lot of work, but research paper sounds like a lot of work, but when it is broken down into steps, and help is when it is broken down into steps, and help is provided along the way, it is much easier. I provided along the way, it is much easier. I was surprised this morning when I saw my was surprised this morning when I saw my finished product. I said to myself ‘WOW, I did finished product. I said to myself ‘WOW, I did it!’ When you go according to a plan, it!’ When you go according to a plan, everything will turn out peachy”everything will turn out peachy”


““Being given guidelines on research and Being given guidelines on research and understanding the process, this helped me in understanding the process, this helped me in many ways. I liked the sorting and many ways. I liked the sorting and categorizing. This helped me organize my categorizing. This helped me organize my ideas. I liked how we had many deadlines. ideas. I liked how we had many deadlines. Each time something was due, it gave me a Each time something was due, it gave me a better idea of how I was doing and I always better idea of how I was doing and I always had an idea of what I had to do next.”had an idea of what I had to do next.”


““This was a very exhausting process, but This was a very exhausting process, but none the less, it was all worth it. I finally none the less, it was all worth it. I finally learned how to write a proper paper, not only learned how to write a proper paper, not only for research, but any paper in general. I got for research, but any paper in general. I got to spend quality time with my teacher and to spend quality time with my teacher and librarian. The three things I enjoyed in writing librarian. The three things I enjoyed in writing and research are reading the books, making and research are reading the books, making an outline, and LEARNING. I definitely an outline, and LEARNING. I definitely learned a lot – both about my interesting learned a lot – both about my interesting topic, and the research to make it happen”.topic, and the research to make it happen”.


““A six page research paper scared the bloody A six page research paper scared the bloody crap out of me, but with the help I got while crap out of me, but with the help I got while doing the project, I knew I could do it. This doing the project, I knew I could do it. This project opened me to new ideas, and how to project opened me to new ideas, and how to write my own ideas and thoughts based on write my own ideas and thoughts based on them. I enjoyed recording my thoughts them. I enjoyed recording my thoughts because I like to express how I am feeling because I like to express how I am feeling during the process. This allowed my teachers during the process. This allowed my teachers and librarians to know my thinking throughout and librarians to know my thinking throughout the course and to guide me better”the course and to guide me better”


The whole process has taught me to take The whole process has taught me to take good notes and keep track of all my sources, good notes and keep track of all my sources, and in the end, having to write the paper was and in the end, having to write the paper was the easiest part. Though I simply hated doing the easiest part. Though I simply hated doing them, the note cards helped me organize my them, the note cards helped me organize my ideas really well and got me to being able to ideas really well and got me to being able to sort out all my ideas that made sense, (my sort out all my ideas that made sense, (my teacher thought so too YEAH!! ): ): and the teacher thought so too YEAH!! ): ): and the outline helped me organize my thoughts.outline helped me organize my thoughts.

INFLUENCEINFLUENCEININ

THETHEWORKPLACEWORKPLACE

EVIDENCE-EVIDENCE-BASED BASED

PRACTICEPRACTICE

Breaking Down The Breaking Down The BarriersBarriers

Revolting LibrariansRevolting Librarians

Rascal attitude: creative, collaborative Rascal attitude: creative, collaborative naughtiness to show library learning is fun, and naughtiness to show library learning is fun, and motivate others to be part of itmotivate others to be part of itEncourage students to be intellectually Encourage students to be intellectually mischevious: center for intellectual discontentmischevious: center for intellectual discontentDon’t have students suffering from LHC and PFSDon’t have students suffering from LHC and PFSCelebrate learning achievementsCelebrate learning achievementsWhat language do you speak? What language do you speak? Deweydecilibrobabble or a cross-curricular Deweydecilibrobabble or a cross-curricular learning dialect? learning dialect? Is your library an open invitation for mystery, Is your library an open invitation for mystery, intrigue, discovery – where accidental discovery, intrigue, discovery – where accidental discovery, as well as planned discovery, is highly likely?as well as planned discovery, is highly likely?

BREAKING THE CYCLEBREAKING THE CYCLE Moving from a Moving from a VICTIMVICTIM mindset: No one is going to mindset: No one is going to

rescue you, but you!rescue you, but you!

SEEING is BELIEVINGSEEING is BELIEVING: what does your school see : what does your school see you doing? Educator? Manager? Curator? Book you doing? Educator? Manager? Curator? Book Stamper? Dragon at the Door? Shusher?Stamper? Dragon at the Door? Shusher?

From From LIABILITY to LIBERATIONLIABILITY to LIBERATION: Making issues : Making issues more invisible (censorship, copyright, plagiarism, more invisible (censorship, copyright, plagiarism, rules, regulations, resourcing, technology, staffing rules, regulations, resourcing, technology, staffing needs) and learning outcomes more visible.needs) and learning outcomes more visible.

Transformational leadershipTransformational leadership

The leaders of the future will be ‘partner-The leaders of the future will be ‘partner-leaders’, people whose fundamental leaders’, people whose fundamental

leadership capability is the capacity to leadership capability is the capacity to establish partnerships and to achieve establish partnerships and to achieve

mutually determined outcomesmutually determined outcomes

Partner-LeadersPartner-Leaders

Purposeful leadership:Purposeful leadership: clear vision of clear vision of desired learning outcomesdesired learning outcomes

Strategic leadership:Strategic leadership: clear blueprint for clear blueprint for translating learning-centred vision translating learning-centred vision

Collaborative leadership:Collaborative leadership: mutually mutually reinforcing capabilitiesreinforcing capabilities

Partner-LeadersPartner-Leaders

Creative leadership:Creative leadership: creatively combining creatively combining capabilities to deliver real valuecapabilities to deliver real value

Renewable leadership:Renewable leadership: highly flexible and highly flexible and adaptive, continuously learning, changing adaptive, continuously learning, changing and innovatingand innovating

Sustainable leadership:Sustainable leadership: identifying and identifying and celebrating achievements, outcomes, celebrating achievements, outcomes, impactsimpacts

Factors needed for successful Factors needed for successful changechange

Pressure for Pressure for changechange

Clear shared visionClear shared vision

Capacity for Capacity for changechange

Actionable first Actionable first stepssteps

Model the wayModel the way

Reinforce and Reinforce and solidify changesolidify change

Evaluate and Evaluate and improveimprove

Symptoms when factors are Symptoms when factors are missingmissing

Bottom of the boxBottom of the box

A quick start that A quick start that fluttersflutters

Anxiety and Anxiety and frustrationfrustration

Haphazard efforts Haphazard efforts and false startsand false starts

Cynicism and Cynicism and distrustdistrust

Go back to old Go back to old waysways

Sceptical and Sceptical and stagnatestagnate

Reluctance to changeReluctance to change

Too much contentToo much content

We don’t have the timeWe don’t have the time

Staff will never accept itStaff will never accept it

We like change if it does We like change if it does not involve alterationsnot involve alterations

Why change, it’s working Why change, it’s working okok

You’re right, BUT …You’re right, BUT …

Let’s get back to realityLet’s get back to reality

Let’s sleep on itLet’s sleep on it

You cannot teach an old You cannot teach an old dog new tricksdog new tricksI’m retiring next yearI’m retiring next yearIt will not work hereIt will not work hereWe did all right without itWe did all right without itWe’re all too busy to do itWe’re all too busy to do itThink of the disruption!Think of the disruption!Not THAT againNot THAT againWe’ve always done it this We’ve always done it this wayway

“Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute. What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Only engage and then the mind grows heated ….… Begin and then the work will be completed”

Documents

RABBITS ON THE SWIM TEAM: Partner-Leaders for Learning DR ROSS TODD Associate Professor Department of Library and Information science Rutgers, The State