Technology and Learning in the Library

Course

Working with the School's Technology Team [6:07]

Learn strategies to build strong relationships and trust with the school's information technology professionals.
Learn strategies to serve as an essential expert that connects the school's learning goals to the school's technology acquisitions.
Learn to partner with the school's information technology professionals to support both the library and the school-wide technology integration goals.
Learn to bridge the digital divide that impacts access and about the belief systems that limit technology usage as a learning tool.

Plan with the School's Information Technology Professionals

Establish an intentional opportunity to collaborate and connect with the IT department to better understand their short and long-term goals for their particular role(s). Discover the ways in which you can work in tandem to support their goals while inspiring them to support the library's goals. After reviewing the resource below, complete the Reflect & Practice activity.

RESOURCES:

Course Packet

REFLECT & PRACTICE:

After reading Craver's article, "Organizing the School Library for Power and Influence," look back at the section entitled Accumulating Chips in the Bank. Consider the ways in which this article supports the need for building a strong relationship between the IT professionals and the school librarian. Schedule a time to meet with the IT professional(s) in your school. Then, using the Goal Sheet template on page 2 of the Course Packet (found in the Resources above), discover where your professional goals intersect. Brainstorm the ways in which you can help each other accomplish these goals.

MLA Citation

Brown, Stacy. "Technology and Learning in the Library: Plan with the School's Information Technology Professionals." School Library Connection, July 2022, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2282103?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902.

Entry ID: 2268713

Create a School Library/Information Technology Support Action Plan

Committing to a joint investment in departmental goals, some of which may overlap and some of which may not, will go a long way toward developing mutually beneficial relationships and support systems. Establishing routines in which you and the IT professional(s) routinely come together for collaborative work will help generate this unified approach.

RESOURCES:

Course Packet

REFLECT & PRACTICE:

Now it is time to schedule a second meeting with the IT professional(s) and figure out your common goals. Using page 3 in the Course Packet (included in the Resources above), complete the School Library/Information Technology Action Plan template. This chart outlines the explicit ways in which you can support the other's goals. Share this activity with your department supervisors and/or administration to demonstrate to the school's decision makers the benefits of the school library professionals and the IT professionals working together in a collaborative relationship for the betterment of the school.

MLA Citation

Brown, Stacy. "Technology and Learning in the Library: Create a School Library/Information Technology Support Action Plan." School Library Connection, July 2022, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2282103?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902.

Entry ID: 2284469

Reflect for Revision: School Library/Information Technology Action Plan

An ongoing commitment to sharing and supporting departmental needs will continue to solidify the school librarian/IT team mentality. After accomplishing one or more of the goals itemized on the shared School Library/Information Technology Action Plan from an earlier activity, schedule a third meeting with your school's IT professional(s). You are well on your way to empowering both departments to be strengthened by your collaborative efforts.

RESOURCES:

Course Packet

REFLECT & PRACTICE:

At a mutually convenient time, host a third meeting with the IT professional(s). Looking at your completed page 2 of the Course Packet, consider the following questions: What improvements can be made in our respective departments? How can we support each other in these efforts? Then, using page 4 of the Course Packet (found in the Resources above), complete the Reflect for Revision column jointly with the IT professional(s).

MLA Citation

Brown, Stacy. "Technology and Learning in the Library: Reflect for Revision: School Library/Information Technology Action Plan." School Library Connection, July 2022, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2282103?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902.

Entry ID: 2269532

Additional Resources

Bibliography.

About the Author

Stacy Brown, MLIS, is the 21st-century learning coordinator at the Davis Academy, Atlanta, GA. Stacy earned a bachelor's in English and a minor in French from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master's in library and information sciences from Florida State University. She is the author of The School Librarian's Technology Playbook: Innovative Strategies to Inspire Teachers and Learners and chairs AASL's Collaborative School Library Award Committee. Stacy served as a visiting professor at the University of Washington's iSchool teaching about marketing for libraries and information organizations. Stacy shares technology integration strategies and innovative library programming on Twitter @21stStacy. She can be reached via email at stacybrownreads@gmail.com.

MLA Citation

Brown, Stacy. "Technology and Learning in the Library. Working with the School's Technology Team [6:07]." School Library Connection, ABC-CLIO, July 2022, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2282103?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902.

View all citation styles

https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2282103?learningModuleId=2281499&topicCenterId=2247902

Entry ID: 2282103