Blog #1
Blog #1 - AASL and ISTE Standards
AASL standards are an essential group of standards that are important for school librarians to know
and understand. Not only do librarians need to know them, but be able to apply them in their lessons.
Reading through these standards gave me a better understanding of the role of a school librarian and
made me realize how essential a library is to a school. I like how the standards are not grade specific,
but rather how the standards are like a scaffold that can librarians can use to build upon year after year
that includes inquiry, inclusion, collaboration, curation, exploration as well as engagement which we
can see below.
ISTE standards work the same way as AASL except that they focus on technology. Now, I will admit
that I am old. I had dial up internet when I was in college, so technology is not my strong suite. With
that being said though, I have learned so much over the years and I understand how learning and
applying these ISTE standards is imperative for the 21st century learner. Reviewing the crosswalk
between these standards has taught me how they can work together to work for a common goal which
is student success in real world situations.
Adolescent literacy had evolved over the years, it is not just reading and writing. Jenna Spiering's
article Engaging Adolescent Literacies with the Standards gave me perspective on how librarians need
to use multiple types of literacies in order to connect and engage with our students. Spiering talks about
how teachers are now challenging students perspectives through digital creation. Using a multimodal
response to an assignment gives the learner the power to share new perspectives using technology. I
loved her example of students having to read required text such as To Kill a Mockingbird and how
sometimes these books are not relevant to a diverse reader. Instead of having students just read and
answer comprehension question, Spiering suggests that students be given the opportunity to remix their
perspective of the book through comic strip generators, music, videos, etc. This immediately me think
of how the AASL and ISTE standards work together. The ISTE and AASL both encourage problem
solving skills as well as independent thinking. To give the students the power to choose how they
demonstrate competency through technology or whatever type of literacy allows students to take
control of their learning and allow a diverse way of expressing themselves.
Hi Heather! I agree with you that as school librarians we not only need to know the AASL standards, but we also need to be able to apply them. I also think it is interesting that the standards are not for specific grade levels, but rather used as a continuum year after year. I'm with you- I have a lot to learn and technology does not come easy to me either! I also enjoyed Spiering's article and insight on multiple types of literacies. It is important to think about giving students multimodal techniques to respond by. Allowing students to be creative and show ownership of their work, gives them confidence to be successful. They can be independent thinkers and problem solvers.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you recognized the change in your own perception of school librarians' roles after reading through the AASL standards. Imagine what a difference it might make in our schools if administrators, district personnel, and teachers were also familiar with the standards for which we hold ourselves accountable. If one were to ask a principal what our purpose was, I wonder what the principal would say. (Perhaps a challenge for those of us working in schools already). I see technology as a means to accomplishing the AASL standards. For example, one can use technology to inquire, collaborate, engage, etc. Though as a means, I understand how students need to know how to use such technology in efficient, effective, and safe ways - hence the ISTE standards. Though these might be the standards we are directly responsible for, we also must be aware of what our teachers' goals are for students so we can create collaborative lessons and relationships, enhancing our students' outcomes.
ReplyDeleteHeather, I really did not think about it, but good point on the standards not being grade specific! The article by O'Connor made me think about scaffolding in an elementary school, which is a perspective I had not thought of before. I agree how with your perspective of how much librarians can do to foster achievement in schools alongside the other teachers.
ReplyDeleteAlso, seeing Dr. Spiering's article pulled me in a little more and I appreciated the perspective on critical inquiry in the "post truth" era that she shared. The changes over time are appreciated in the ISTE standards, allowing for us to adapt. I also appreciate the various types of literacies, including sounds, images, and videos to create new materials, broadening learners perspectives.
I definitely learned a lot from this resource.
Heather, I like how you shared that technology is not your strong suit. I am an experienced teacher, but I still grew up with technology and social media was invented when I was in high school. While I won't pretend to be as proficient or dependent as my colleagues in their early 20s, I am still very comfortable using technology. However, I cannot begin to count the number of times I heard someone remark technology intimidates them, or scares them, or they are uncomfortable with it due to age. I think that could easily be a strength: the ability to empathize and work with those who are are reluctant to implement technology.
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought up that they standards are not grade specific and that librarians can build on them year after year based on the needs of their students. Children from different parts of the state and country come to school with different degrees of experience and literacy in these areas and the standards give school librarians the flexibility to meet their students where they are and teach them the skills they needs. I also like how you pointed out the importance of a school library at a school. We do not currently have a media specialist at our school and the room sits empty with children missing these vital skills. Unfortunately, it happens in small rural districts where the children need the instruction even more than others. It is empowering to me to read all of the articles and what's going on with classmates to see what is possible in our small district. Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your refreshing outlook on the AASL standards. I will say they intimated me at first because I was so used to the grade specific ones that we teachers use for all the subject matters. However, I appreciate that you pointed out that it is more of a scaffolding standard and they can be used year after year as the students gain a bit more knowledge.