The Learning Commons: Beginning the Journey

OLA Superconference 2011Sharon SeslijaMartha Martin

GECDSB

What do we mean: "Learning Commons?"

 

A District Description

• 60 elementary schoolso 7 almost full or full

time TLso 22 half-timeo 33 less than half-time

• 14 secondary schoolso 12 full time TLso 2 halftime TLs

 

Elementary TLs

• 14/60 qualified with AQ Librarianship

• 17/60 are VPso none of the VPs

have TL qualifications

Secondary

• 12 have AQ qualifications

• 3 are LTOs with no Librarianship AQ

 

 

$$$$$ What will it cost?????

Almost Free

Minimal Cost

Moderate Cost

Complete Makeover

Almost Free

• Weeding

• Integrations of wikis and blogs

• Cloud computing

• Student Focus Groups

• Collaboration between school specialists

Minimal Cost

• Shelving removed

• Virtual Learning Commons development

• Book purchases

• First Class conference

• Key administrators to Superconference

Moderate Cost

• Investment in bandwidth

• Students are encouraged to bring personal computers that access school network

• Comfortable areas for reading

Complete Makeover

• Wireless networking throughout all schools

• Increase in professional staff

• Investment in Microsoft Sharepoint to create cloud computing

Weeding and Shelf Removal

Student Focus Group

More books (current fiction, non-fiction and periodicalsColoured printerLamps, rugsFood and drinkSmall higher tables (café style)Meeting and seminar spacesMore electrical outlets to charge computing toolsAudio and eBookseReadersExtended hoursGlue, scissors, staplers, etc.Faster computers

Web 2.0 Collaborative Tools

Grade 7 PLE

Collaboration of School Specialists

TL/CIESC dual role

TL and Instructional Coaches

TL/SERRS dual role

TL/VP dual role

TL Instructional Coaches 

Year One: Who: four coaches for half the year

Role: to support elementary school TLs in various areas. 

Focus: advocacy and facility management with collection development taking over due to two Ministry money drops.   

 

Year Two: Who: four coaches half the year

Role: to support elementary and secondary school TLs in various areas

Focus: elementary TL supports for program and secondary facility management. Including the development of Java Client training and manual for Symphony

 

TL Instructional Coaches continued:

Year Three 2 coaches for the full year

Role: to assist focus elementary schools. Principals indicated that they wished to have concentrated support by the Library IC. 

Focus: TL support of SIP, movement towards collaborative teaching periods and TL support of school PLCs.  Also provide support to collaborative inquiry teams.

TL Collaborative Inquiry Projects

Cross-school teams funding for teams of TLs to examine an

area of practice 5 teams of TLs 4 elementary and 1 secondary topics include technology integration,

supporting SIPs, effective use of combined TL/VP role, iPads, boys’ reading engagement, curriculum mapping and Literature Circle partnerships

Professional Learning for Administrators

9 secondary and elementary administrators to Superconference Friday

Free conference admission

Superintendent paid for travel and accommodation

Virtual Commons: Board

Redesign of the Student Reference Portal

Sharepoint – Enterprise Portal

Cloud Computing

gecdsbtlresource wiki

Reading Forest wiki

NTIP wiki

SPM wiki

HPE Planning wiki

Virtual Commons: School

Learning Commons as Collaboration Central

Smart Notebooks

Collaborative Projects using web 2.0

Both virtual and in the physical commons

Experiential Learning Centre

 

In summary.....

• multiple entry points

• One step at a time

• Task: complete the sheet

• Questions and ideas to contribute

To End…..

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