A common theme weaving
throughout the articles in the May/June 2019 issue of Knowledge Quest is the
theme of collaboration. The spirit of collaboration is particularly strong, in
the article, Implementing the National School Library Standards at the
District Level (Searles, 2019). Searles (2019) describes a
process by which her school district began implementing their goal of
systematically infusing the American Association of School Libraries (AASL) standards
starting in 2018. Recognizing the value of collaboration during the
process, Searles (2019) noted that, “All of our PD offerings are heavily
discussion-based, so that participants have ample opportunities to learn from
their peers” (p. 55). She also speaks about the need for flexibility within the
standards due to geographically induced diversity throughout her
district. Searles (2019) adds that her district has “… urban, rural, and
suburban settings; school sizes range from tiny walkable neighborhood schools
to huge behemoths; school demographics range from nearly all kids on free and
reduced lunch to nearly none, and from ethnically quite homogenous (both mostly
white and mostly black) to textbook-worthy examples of 21st century
global diversity” (p. 52).
When comparing the AASL and International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) standards (AASL, 2018) with
Searles’s article in mind, one notices that both sets frequently mention
diversity and collaboration throughout their shared foundations. This makes
sense because it is diversity within schools that elevates collaboration to
paramount importance in the world of education. Without
collaboration, diversity cannot be adequately understood, and learning is
impeded.
Focusing on Shared
Foundation III, Collaborate, there are more similarities than differences
between the sets of standards. Occasionally a concept is addressed within
differing competencies but still within the same domain. For example, under the
domain, Think, partnering with other educators is noted as a school library
competency in the AASL standards but in its counterpart, the ISTE Standards,
collaborate with colleagues, is considered a librarian
competency. These differences are inconsequential and, overall, the
two sets of standards complement, each other well with one set sometimes
expanding upon the other. For example, within the domain, Think, AASL standards
say that libraries should partner “with other educators to scaffold learning
and organize learner groups to broaden and deepen understanding” (AASL, 2018). The ISTE counterpart says that libraries
should, connect “virtually with experts, teams and students, locally and
globally” (AASL, 2018). The specification of global collaboration denotes a
similar goal with a broader perspective.
Perusing and comparing
the remaining standards reveals a similar trend of more similarities than
differences between domains. Together, the two sets of standards provide
a comprehensive guide to librarians and educational stake holders as they
strive to create a well-rounded curriculum that will adequately prepare
students for our technology rich world.
References
Searles, S. C., (2019).
Implementing the national school library standards at the district level. Journal
of the American Association of School Libraries, 47(5), 50-55.
American Association
of School Libraries, (2018). National school library standards crosswalk
with ISTE standards for students and educators. AASL. https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180828-aasl-standards-crosswalk-iste.pdf
Collaboration stood out to me in the standards and articles as well! In order to be successful as a school librarian collaboration with faculty, staff, and students will be a requirement. I was especially interested in Cromartie and Burns' article pointing out many ideas for contributing and collaborating in a school environment. For example, one idea is "offering ideas, lessons, and resources to teaching colleagues as another way to invite and encourage more-robust instruction and collaboration" (p. 80). The standards assume there will be collaboration and simply provide guidance in how to collaborate well.
ReplyDeleteI have contemplated how I might engage teachers who are reluctant to use the school library as a resource. I think being proactive by offering ideas, as the article you mentioned suggests, will be an important strategy to encourage collaboration with teachers.
DeleteDeAnna,
ReplyDeleteThe diversity represented in a school community influences the importance of collaboration, as you noted, but also enforces the need to differentiate how students learn because each student has different experiences and interests. The AASL and ISTE standards promote collaboration but allow teachers and librarians to fine-tune lessons and resource options to meet students where they are instead of forcing all students to engage at a certain level. By working together with classroom teachers, librarians can use the ISTE and AASL standards to provide well-rounded lessons that engage the varied interests of diverse student populations.
-Andrea O.
Yes! I noticed and appreciate the room for flexibility within the standards.
Delete