Action Research Project - Own Your Learning in the 21st Century
Team Name: InfoSpecs
Team members: Rick Budding, Rose Marie Davis, Ann Ford, Shari Nicholas, Rebecca Rouse
School: Waterloo Region District School Board, Teacher-Librarians
Abstract:
The teacher-librarians in WRDSB have been moving towards implementing the new library guideline document Together for Learning. “A Learning Commons [presents] exciting opportunities for collaboration among teachers, teacher-librarians and students. Within a Learning Commons, new relationships are formed between learners, new technologies are realized and utilized, and both students and educators prepare for the future as they learn new ways to learn.” (OSLA. Together for Learning, 2010) This PD event is designed to provide teacher-librarians with an opportunity to explore 21st century technologies in the context of their own personal learning and the use of these technologies in the library learning commons.
Problem, Issue, or Possibility:
Question: Is a technology-infused, personally-driven, open-space PD opportunity an effective model for bringing about change in using 21st century technologies in meaningful ways for personal learning and teaching?
Objectives and Assessment:
Objectives: Teacher-librarians will have different comfort levels in using these technologies so our objective is to help them move forward from their starting points. By increasing the skills and comfort level of teacher-librarians in using technologies in their own personal learning, they will ultimately be able to make greater use of technologies in embedded/transformative ways in their their daily practice. Teacher-librarians will also explore the role these technologies play in developing a Personal Learning Network (PLN). Participants will come away knowing that they are part of a collaborative community of WRDSB educators who can support each other in their learning.
Assessment:
Our goal is to see teacher-librarians making effective use of new technologies in their personal learning and daily practice. Teacher-librarians will be encouraged to reflect on transformative changes in their practice following the PD session and over time. Our assessments will look at how well our model of PD accomplishes the goal of bringing about change in using new technologies in meaningful ways.
Follow-up will include a self-assessment survey asking about the effectiveness of the PD model in increasing participants’ comfort level in using 21century technologies, motivating them to incorporate new technologies into their personal learning or practice helping them make connections as part of a PLC.
Implementation Plan:
• Pre-Event Survey -- Feb. 29 - Mar. 3, 2011
• Communication with participants and facilitators -- March and April 2011
• PD Event: "Own Your Learning" -- April 11, 2011
• Quick post event survey -- April 11, 2011
• Reflective post event survey -- May 6, 2011
• PLP Action Research Showcase -- May 20, 2011
Evaluation and Results:
• Pre-Event Survey -- Feb. 29 - Mar. 3, 2011
• Communication with participants and facilitators -- March and April 2011
• PD Event: "Own Your Learning" -- April 11, 2011
Librarian
Librarian
budding@wrdsb.on.ca
Teacher
Librarian
Action Research Project - Own Your Learning in the 21st Century
Team Name: InfoSpecs
Team members: Rick Budding, Rose Marie Davis, Ann Ford, Shari Nicholas, Rebecca Rouse
School: Waterloo Region District School Board, Teacher-Librarians
Abstract:
The teacher-librarians in WRDSB have been moving towards implementing the new library guideline document Together for Learning. “A Learning Commons [presents] exciting opportunities for collaboration among teachers, teacher-librarians and students. Within a Learning Commons, new relationships are formed between learners, new technologies are realized and utilized, and both students and educators prepare for the future as they learn new ways to learn.” (OSLA. Together for Learning, 2010) This PD event is designed to provide teacher-librarians with an opportunity to explore 21st century technologies in the context of their own personal learning and the use of these technologies in the library learning commons.
Problem, Issue, or Possibility:
Question: Is a technology-infused, personally-driven, open-space PD opportunity an effective model for bringing about change in using 21st century technologies in meaningful ways for personal learning and teaching?
Objectives and Assessment:
Objectives: Teacher-librarians will have different comfort levels in using these technologies so our objective is to help them move forward from their starting points. By increasing the skills and comfort level of teacher-librarians in using technologies in their own personal learning, they will ultimately be able to make greater use of technologies in embedded/transformative ways in their their daily practice. Teacher-librarians will also explore the role these technologies play in developing a Personal Learning Network (PLN). Participants will come away knowing that they are part of a collaborative community of WRDSB educators who can support each other in their learning.
Assessment:
Our goal is to see teacher-librarians making effective use of new technologies in their personal learning and daily practice. Teacher-librarians will be encouraged to reflect on transformative changes in their practice following the PD session and over time. Our assessments will look at how well our model of PD accomplishes the goal of bringing about change in using new technologies in meaningful ways.
Follow-up will include a self-assessment survey asking about the effectiveness of the PD model in increasing participants’ comfort level in using 21century technologies, motivating them to incorporate new technologies into their personal learning or practice helping them make connections as part of a PLC.
Implementation Plan:
• Pre-Event Survey -- Feb. 29 - Mar. 3, 2011
• Communication with participants and facilitators -- March and April 2011
• PD Event: "Own Your Learning" -- April 11, 2011
• Quick post event survey -- April 11, 2011
• Reflective post event survey -- May 6, 2011
• PLP Action Research Showcase -- May 20, 2011
Evaluation and Results:
• Pre-Event Survey -- Feb. 29 - Mar. 3, 2011
• Communication with participants and facilitators -- March and April 2011
• PD Event: "Own Your Learning" -- April 11, 2011
• Quick post event survey -- April 11, 2011
• Reflective post event survey -- May 6, 2011
• PLP Action Research Showcase -- May 20, 2011
Artifacts and Documentation:
Action Research web site: https://sites.google.com/site/infospecswrdsb/
"Own Your Learning" PD event web site: https://sites.google.com/site/ownyourlearning/
PLP Action Research Showcase presentation: http://bit.ly/mkL9MO
"Own Your Learning in the 21st Century" video: - - -