ETL401 Assignment 2 - Critical reflection

Critical reflection
After having been a practising teacher librarian for 26 years this subject has given me the motivation to sit back and reflect on the changing role of the teacher librarian. The reading has encouraged me to consider the new research into learning styles and the importance of establishing a holistic information literate school community. This reflection will focus on my increased awareness of what an information literate school community is and how we can move towards achieving it; the information search process and the development of guided inquiry strategies in the school; and self-evaluation based on my new awareness of the ASLA standards of Professional Excellence for teacher librarians document and my newly developed skills in maintaining a blog.
After having completed the reading and discussion on the importance of an information literate school community I am sure I was subconsciously aware of all the key points. The reading and discussion heightened my awareness and made it a more coherent force in my thinking. I feel that aiming comprehensively towards the development of an information literate school community will give greater purpose and meaning to my role in the school and to information services within the school generally. From my readings of James Henri’s (2005) work in particular, I have developed a significant understanding of what an information literate school community is and how to work towards developing it and why it is the most important objective I should have. The reading I did on this topic has made me realise that to have any hope of achieving this I must lobby strongly and keep trying to develop networks with key teachers and the Principal in particular. (Trueman, 2009). The analysis I have undertaken on models for developing information literacy has been particularly useful. It is worthwhile to examine existing practices and question whether other models are more appropriate. From my reading I have become more convinced that the Guided Inquiry model is the way to go as the basis for developing an information literate school community. If I could achieve the situation where students at most year levels were involved in Guided Inquiry processes based on the ISP model I believe the school would be making good progress in producing skilled information. The discovery of the Guided Inquiry book by Carol Kuhlthau and others has been a revelation for me. (Kuhlthau, 2007)
THE ASLA/ALIA standards of professional excellence have given me a useful benchmark against which to measure my own performance as a Teacher Librarian. It is very easy to settle for mediocrity in one’s performance and to blame extraneous influences for such a state. I have found the examination of these 12 standards to be professionally renewing and even the determination of the 3 standards that are the most important made me question my approach to the position. These standards are helpful to me in the development of professional standards in the library and will help in the prioritisation of future activities for development of my staff. My only concern is that this statement highlights what can be done but the reality in most schools is far from this as libraries suffer diminished budget allocations and staffing. I have come to realise through this analysis of standards that I should become more professionally involved in associations such as SLAQ in the hope of raising the profile of profession in other schools. (ASLA, 2004)
One aspect of this course that I have found very worthwhile is the maintenance of the blog. Initially I was sceptical and unsure about how to actually go about it and what I should include and questioned why I should have a blog at all. Now, however I am much more comfortable with the idea and can see very direct applications for this technology in library promotion and in getting new information about resources and services out to the entire school community. We are in the process of discussing what sort of issues we could include on a library blog at the school and have been looking at some other school library blogs that have been mentioned on OZTL net listserve. The blog has also given me the opportunity to record my personal thoughts on the future of the profession and major concerns I see facing the profession as schools change. It is valuable to be able to share these thoughts with my colleagues and receive their opinion. (Trueman, 2009)
This course has provided me with the stimulus to evaluate some of my practises as a teacher librarian and has increased my awareness of the research on student learning and the process of students becoming skilled information users. I have also become very aware of some major challenges to the ideal situation and threats to the future of libraries in schools and teacher librarianship.

REFERENCES
Australian School Library Association and Australian Library and Information Association. (2001). Learning for the future: Developing information skills in schools. Carlton South, Victoria: Curriculum Corporation
Australian School Library Association and Australian Library and Information Association. (2004). Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. Canberra: ASLA.
Combes, B. (2008). Australian School Libraries Research Project: A snapshot of Australian school libraries, Report 1. Australian School Library Research Project, ASLA, ALIA & ECU. Retrieved May 15, from http://www.chs.ecu.edu.au/portals/ASLRP/publications.php
Henri, J. (2005). What is an information literate school community and what are the implications for teacher librarians? Retrieved March 17, 2009 from http://www.cite.hku.hk/people/jhenri/doc/informtionliteratesschoolcommunity.pdf
Kuhlthau, C.C. (2004). Seeking meaning: a process approach to Library and Information Services. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
Kuhlthau, C.C., Maniotes, L.K., Caspari, A. K. (2007). Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st century. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
Trueman, A. (2009). Alan T . http://ajtrueman.blogspot.com/
Trueman, A (2009). ETL401 Forums postings to sub-topics 3, 4, 6,assignment 2.

Conflict resolution and management

The Sanders article was useful for acknowledging the positive side of conflict. Too often when we first encounter conflict, particularly in the workplace, we react negatively. It is important as a supoervisor of staff to sit back and position yourself at the source of the conflict. Is it just a disaffected co-worker or does it have some sunstance?

One useful technique is to establish a team meeting to discuss aims and objectives of the Library and determine where we are and what has changed. This often helps to empower co-workers.

I need to be more open to workers criticism.