Five Year Horizons for the Library

     When thinking about a five year plan for your Library, the Horizon Report: K–12 Edition from New Media Consortium provides a good framework.  

    In the short-term, the report advocates STEAM learning and coding literacy. I think for my library, that will take the form of more collaborative teaching with my colleagues.  I will use the hour of code initiative to spotlight coding and hook kids on the fun and creative aspects of coding.  Robots and microbits could act as a focal point, or culmination of the coding week.  As for inserting STEAM into the curriculum, our elementary system is very conducive to interdisciplinary approaches. Coordinating with teachers to find out what they want is a good start. I anticipate that this would lead to the creation of resource bins, or makerspace resources for select subject areas.  These are solvable challenges.

        The first year or two in a new position is a time to build relationships and create trust, especially around collaboration. I think coding and STEAM are conducive to building that base when new to the Teacher Librarian position.

    In the middle term, the report identifies focusing on measuring learning and redesigning learning spaces.  I wonder if the focus on measuring learning is an artifact of the USA's obsession with standardized testing.  I think I will keep in line with BC's assessment guidelines. These are in a state of flux at the moment, and I think it is important to keep on top of them, and play a role in helping staff understand them in the context of ADST, because of the teacher librarian's leadership role in technology. Redesigning learning space seems like a wicked problem in my school. It is a full and crowded school with very little wiggle room, but some redesign plans have been discussed in my post https://rupertsreflections.blogspot.com/2021/10/library-possibilities.html. 

    In the long term, 5 years or more, the report points to advancing a learning culture of innovation, and deeper learning approaches.  I think cultural shift is difficult, but very worthwhile. I use school-wide initiatives to help create a culture in the school, as well as building relationships with staff and students. I think the report is wise to make this their longest term goal. It takes a lot of sustained effort to change culture, but it is time well spent.