AUDIENCE - WHO ARE YOU BUILDING THIS WEBSITE FOR?
As mentioned in my previous post,
I want to create a Library Learning Commons (LLC) website or Virtual Learning
Commons (VLC). According to Kirkland (2017), “The virtual library has huge
potential for engaging learners when and where they want to engage. More than
anything else that we have to offer, the website can extend the library program
beyond the four walls of our physical spaces” (p. 1). Similarly,
Richardson points out “real learning
happens anytime, anywhere, with anyone we like” and “it happens around the
things we learners choose to learn, not what someone else tells us to learn” (2012,
pp. 62-64). For this reason, I would like to create a space that is useful for
students whether they are accessing the site at school or from home.
I talked to some of my grade 4
and 5 students about the website and I asked them what they would like. They
requested links to Google’s sign in page as well as Google Translate, links to websites
they visit often such as Prodigy, Epic and Scratch and links to help them with
research. When students login to our
school district portal, they have access to a list of resources for research
such as World Book Kids, but they have to go through three levels of navigation to get to
this page and it is a combined list of resources for primary, intermediate and
secondary students so it can be a bit difficult to navigate. Thus, I would like
to put links to these sites on a resource page that is easily accessible to
students.
In addition, I would like to have
students contribute to the space in some way whether it is through comments on
a blog or by including video or written book reviews published by students. According
to the Canadian Library Association (2014), “A learning commons is a
whole school approach to building a participatory learning community. The
library learning commons is the physical and virtual collaborative learning hub
of the school” (p. 5). Furthermore, Canadian School Libraries suggests that students
need both a physical and virtual school LLC where they have access to Participatory
Learning Environments, Diverse Learning Resources, Active Learning Experiences
and Expert Instruction and Guidance (n.d., para. 1). They define Participatory
Learning Environments as the “[p]hysical and virtual spaces designed to engage
learners in interdisciplinary learning and collaborative knowledge building,
and inspire experimentation, creativity, making and innovation” (para. 2). I
really want to provide students with authentic opportunities for collaboration
whether it is through a Google Doc on the site or by allowing them to
contribute to a LLC blog.
Student
Success and the School Library Learning Commons, Canadian School Libraries
In addition to creating a space
for students, I would also like the website to be useful for teachers and
parents. I asked a few teachers what they would like to see as part of the LLC
website and they said they would like links to things they use often but mostly
they would like to see what I create and then provide feedback. So far, I am
thinking about a space where teachers can go to book iPads and find tech
tutorials and resources for GSuite and virtual field trips. I also asked our
PAC President and a few other parents what they would like on the website and
they said links or access to e-books for students so this is something I will
try and incorporate even it if is simply instructions to access e-books from
the public library.
PURPOSE - HOW WILL THEY USE IT?
I’ve been planning to create a LLC website since the beginning of
September, but I
would like to create a collaborative space that is useful to students, parents
and teachers so I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the space and making notes
about what I would like to include on the site. In addition to asking some of the groups involved what they would
like to see on the site, I looked at many other school LLC and VLC sites to get
ideas, and I bookmarked sites that had different elements I like. Here
are some of the sites I looked at when beginning to create my space. Because I
am interested in creating a VLC with interactive components rather than a
static website, I examined each site from the perspective of Loertscher’s
five rooms or portals.
VLC Rooms to Build, SLAV (School
Library Association of Victoria) Library Learning Commons
Some of the websites I found
consisted of one long page of links and I found it overwhelming, so whatever I
decide to include on the site, I would like it to be organized into useful
categories. I also want to include image tiles for the links and I want each
page to be visible on a computer screen without having to scroll down to view a
long list of links. I was talking about this with our District Principal of
Learning Technology and he shared this site with me. I
like how it has a separate section for primary, intermediate, middle and
secondary students. This page is a good example of what Loertscher might
describe as “The Information Center” because it includes links to useful
resources.
ASIA Sumas Learning Commons (Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts Learning Commons)
I like how the ASIA Sumas website
has a purpose for the Learning Commons at the very top of the homepage. I also
really like how the rest of the homepage includes images and videos of things
happening in the Learning Commons. In addition, on the “What Can We Do?” page,
they show resources available in the Learning Commons as well as examples of
what you can do with them. For example, they have videos showing how the Makey Makey can be used as well as images of prototypes created using a 3D Printer. These two pages are good
examples of what Loertscher might describe as “The Knowledge
Building Center” and “The School Cultural Center.” Another section I really like on this site is the “Booking
Documents” page. It includes the Library Learning Commons schedule as well as
booking schedules for the laptops, iPads and Chromebooks.
Bibliothèque Cedar Hill Library Learning Commons
I really like the navigation and how this site is organized. Students can search for a book, find useful websites for research and get support with technology. I particularly like the Research & Inquiry page because like the Abbotsford School District Learn34 site, students have access to what Loertscher would call “The Information Center” where they can browse the visual tiles to search for information. Because I’m teaching at a K-5 school, I prefer how the Abbotsford site breaks the resources down by primary and intermediate levels and includes image tiles in the subpages as well. In addition, on this site, there are many repeated pages, which could be useful if a student is trying to find something but I prefer having one location on the site for everything.
Although I like the idea of a
blog, I like the clean look of this homepage. I like how there is just one
section at the top of the page to highlight things happening in the library
followed by a few Quick Links. I also like how the navigation is organized into
“Tools for Students,” “Teaching and Learning” and a “Parents’ Corner.” Like the
Staff Resources page on the Cedar Hill site, the Teacher Resources page is
password protected, but from what I can see on the Design Challenges and Virtual Reality pages, this section would be like what Loertscher describes as “The
Experimental Learning Center” because it includes tutorials and professional
development resources.
What I like about Anna Crosland's site is that the blog is not just a list of events, but it shows meaningful examples of student learning. For example, I like her approach to the book fair and how she included students in the planning. Because she celebrates student learning on this page, I think this is an example of what Loertscher might describe as “The School Cultural Center.” In addition, I like how this space updated regularly and reflects what is happening in the school because I think this makes it more meaningful. Crosland also includes a link to her Vimeo page where she posts videos of projects created by her students. This section includes elements of what Loertscher might describe as “The Literacy Center.” I also appreciate that Crosland has included links to various Indigenous and SOGI resources. In terms of digital resources for students, teachers and parents, she links to the Surrey Schools Digital Resources page, but there are a lot of links here. I would like to create a resources page as part of our school LLC virtual space.
HOW WILL YOU SHARE THIS WEBSITE? DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CHALLENGES?
Although this site will be linked
from our main school page, I think one of the biggest challenges will be
attracting students, parents and teachers to the site when I am not in the
library very often to promote it. For this reason, I plan to share this site several
ways. I plan to show the site to students when I visit their classes and create
incentives for them to go to the site. For example, as mentioned previously, I
would like to create a space where they can request books as well as a space
where they can share their ideas. For staff members, I plan to share the site
at our next staff meeting and ask for feedback. In addition, I would like to
host a lunch and learn and show staff some ways to incorporate tech tools such
as Padlet and Book Creator in their lessons. I am also
going to the next Parent Advisory Council Meeting to talk about our vision for
the LLC so I plan to share the site with parents at this meeting. In addition,
I plan to send an email to all parents with the link to the site as well as
post the link on our PAC Facebook page. Finally, I plan to send the link to the
site to other Teacher-Librarians in our district and even post the link on
Twitter to gather feedback.
Once people begin to visit the
site, my next challenge will be to keep the site up to date and relevant. According
to Loertscher,
Koechlin, and Rosenfeld, (2012), “The Virtual Learning Commons (VLC) is the online force
of the Learning Commons, a digital learning community in which the whole school
participates. It is not a library website which only provides a one-way stream
of useful information. Instead, both the instructors and the students of the
school collaborate to establish the VLC as a place where individuals and groups
are actively learning, communicating, and building together in real time” (p.
2). I really do want this to be a
space to collaborate, discover and create (Upper Canada District School Board),
so I want to incorporate many of the elements discussed above and in the
examples provided to ensure it is a space that enhances teaching and
learning.
References
Canadian Library Association. (2014). Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for
School Library Learning Commons in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.seobrothers.co/resources/clatoolbox_files/llsop.pdf
Canadian School Libraries. (n.d.). Student
Success and the School Library Learning Commons. Retrieved from http://www.canadianschoollibraries.ca/excellent-school-libraries/
Kirkland, A.B. (2017). School
Library Websites: The Bricks and Mortar of the Virtual Library Space. TMC2, Ottawa,
ON, 2012. Retrieved from http://researcharchive.canadianschoollibraries.ca/2017/10/15/school-library-websites-the-bricks-and-mortar-of-the-virtual-library-space/
Loertscher, D.V. & Koechlin, C. (2012). The
Virtual Learning Commons and School Improvement. Teacher Librarian, 39(6),
20-24.
Loertscher, D.V.,
Koechlin, C., & Rosenfeld, E. (2012). The Virtual Learning Commons:
Building a Participatory School Learning Community. Salt Lake City, UT:
Learning Commons Press.
Richardson, W. (2012). Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information
Are Everywhere [Kindle Single]. TED Conferences.
SLAV Learning Commons (2014). Virtual LC.
Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/slavlearningcommons/virtual-lc
Upper Canada District School Board (2019).
Virtual Learning Commons. Retrieved from https://vlc.ucdsb.ca/c.php?g=99291&p=1337153
