Blog Post 4: Technology Leadership Role of School Librarians

     The AASL have recommended a new set of school library standards in response to the ever-shifting landscape of information technology in the new century.  One of the most striking features of these standards is the emphasis to engage learners in as many new technologies as possible to prepare them for careers and intellectual challenges that will likely be in unexplored territory.  The AASL surmises that it will be the role of librarians to foster the ability of students to discover information on their own, especially in cases where there is no simple solution.  It will difficult to predict the course of the future, but with the proper training, it will not take a skilled student by surprise.  In addition, the standards still recommend a devotion to instilling a love of reading and promoting the library as a place to encourage collaborative learning experiences.

     To this end, many researchers are proposing a shift in the way that libraries perform their functions in order to meet the demands of these new standards.  Lawrence discovered a number of ways to use technology to enhance student participation within the library.  First, the library website contained much more to pique student interest than simply basic information.  In this case, Lawrence encouraged the use of a virtual book review program called DestinyQuest to help students learn how to review books and trade their recommendations with their friends.  In essence, this was the social media equivalent of a book club but it pervaded the entire school.  Lawrence also advocates the librarian as an instructor for technological services outside of the library.  In many cases, computers are available in classrooms and laptops may even be granted to every student, but the librarian can still teach classes about research.  It only takes the ability to do so in the teacher or student's space instead of insisting such classes be conducted in the library.

     Mashriqi focuses on how to engage students with technologies currently available.  The idea is to implement currently existing technologies in a way that makes them fresh and exciting.  In many cases, the tools to create games with which to engage students already exist, it is simply a matter of using what is available in an unusual manner.  In addition, many school libraries have technologies that students can experiment with such as video cameras.  Mashriqi argues that students ought to be given lessons in how to use these technologies in a formal setting rather than waiting for a student or teacher to express interest in a piece of equipment for a specific purpose.  By giving students experience with these items, they become much more likely to want to use them in the future.

     School librarians have a great deal of potential technologies to sift through to determine what is most useful to students.  Ultimately, the AASL encourages these information professionals to engage patrons through the use of newly minted technologies where appropriate.  In addition, it is a good idea to revisit current technologies and encourage students to become used to the devices and programs of today in order to create a foundation that will prepare them for what the future will hold.

References:

AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner. (2007). AASL Home Page. Retrieved April 17,

     2014, from http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandard

     /learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf

Lawrence, E. (2014). LIBRARIANS ON THE LOOSE. Knowledge Quest, 42(4), 63-70. 

Mashriqi, K. (2011). Implementing Technology and Gaming Lessons in a School Library. Knowledge
     Quest, 40(1), 24-28.