Readings for Nov. 8

Assessing Learning: The Missing Piece of Instruction
I believe that students absolutely should be assessed in their ability to use the library. I see students in college that have zero skills in utilizing the library and I think the same thing the other teachers are thinking-didn't you learn this already? There is no better way to assess learning than by practical application, otherwise information gets shoved out of the brain as soon as it is no longer needed.

Advocating With More Dimensions in Your Monthly Report
Wow-she took those way above and beyond what I had envisioned in my head. I wish she had the example of the Animoto video she is working on for her reports (I see it's in there later), I'm curious to see what she had done with that. I liked that she provided the AASL standards that are being met on the projects she works on with students, another important way to show you're needed.

Annual Report as Advocacy Tool
I can see how these reports are effective in showing how involved you are in the teaching process. Would it be effective to publish monthly reports on a blog for school officials? I was just thinking it would be an easy way to update throughout the month, or would something "flashier" be better? I think it was genius of Buffy Hamilton to put the 4 roles of a LMS on the top of her report-starting with teacher. I think it is effective for admin to see that word associated with librarian. I see that Lawrence, KS has done a blog format, which was what I had envisioned, but I think their color scheme is kind of harsh on the eyes. After looking at some of the other reports, the Leschi Elem and Orchard View Early Elem. reports seems pretty boring.

Love Buffy's Animoto video, and I also like that she includes students pics in her reports to show how they are using the library. Does she have to get parent's permission to share those pictures publicly?

Wooll's Chap. 13
I found the section on Qualitative Measures which asked the questions "what is" and "what should be" interesting. It seems like an easy place to start when trying to improve quality in library services. After reading the section on Staff or Performance Appraisel I wondered-would it be effective to include teacher "testimonials" is your reports to the principal, or just cheesy? Also, is there specific information principals are looking for in these reports, or is the librarian just putting in what they regard as valuable information? Seems like I have a lot of questions this week:)


Here is the interview I did with the high school librarian in Warrensburg:
Do you send a monthly report as well as an annual report to your
administrator?

Unfortunately, I have never found the time to complete a monthly report for
our principal. Since we upgraded to "Destiny" (Follett online library
administrative software) I should be able to attempt monthly reports at
home, since it's hard to find time during the school day - too many
distractions/demands (I'll make it a new goal!). I do try to complete an
annual report. Also, every two years the school board receives a Board
Report from library media services regarding circulation, budgets, services,
and collections.

If there is not a monthly report, is there any kind of systematic reporting
of media center activities?

In the past, emails have been sent to the faculty regarding new books added
to the library collection and services offered to the staff. Email has been
the preferred form of communication for the Warrensburg High School faculty
community. It has not been systematic, just on a need to know basis.

To whom is the report sent?

The email is received by all faculty and staff, which includes
administration, at the high school.

Does the report consist of statistics only or is there a narrative?

The annual report has both statistics and a narrative. The emails would be
specific to the services offered or changed.

Is the monthly report available on the LMC Web site? No...it was sent by
email to the principal and shared at a faculty meeting with the staff along
with other technologies available to teachers(PWPT is attached).
(She sent me a link to view the report, but I could not review it because it was on Mixbook, a scrapbooking Web site, and it required a membership as well as an invitation to view it).