What the Research Says.....

Five Year Horizon for My Future Library Learning Commons

For this discussion post we read Horizon Report: K–12 Edition from New Media Consortium and discussed the specific implications on a Learning Library Commons based on the Horizon Report of 1 year, 2-3 years and Four to Five years and the Horizon scale of Solvable, Difficult and Wicked .The challenges I foresee in the library are based on situations I have seen in school libraries I have work in and seen as a TTOC in many schools in my district.

1 Year

Potential Challenge: Makerspace for LLC. “The advent of makerspaces, classroom configurations that enable active learning, and the inclusion of coding and robotics are providing students with ample opportunities to create and experiment in ways that spur complex thinking.” (Horizon Report, 2017, p.8)

Potential Solutions: Create a Library Makerspace in the teacher resource room off the library that is under-utilized to support the ADST curriculum, Design Thinking Process and Human Centred Design (Understanding, Defining, Ideating, Prototyping, Testing, Making, Sharing) for students from kindergarten to grade 5. The teacher resource room is a large room off the main library space, connected to the library through a doorway. The room is currently used to shelve, seasonal books, teacher resources, core competency book collections, seasonal decorations, and multiple book studies for various grade levels. These resources could be moved to the TL’s office and some materials could be placed in the school book room.

2-3 Years

Potential Challenge: Makerspace additions of screen-free robotics. “Schools are prioritizing computational thinking in the curriculum. Developing skills that enable learners to use computers to gather data, break it down into smaller parts, and analyze patterns will be an increasing necessity to succeed in our digital world.” .” (Horizon Report, 2017, p.8)

As a future teacher librarian, I feel it is important to offer students opportunities to develop computational thinking and computational participation skills with screen-free learning environment. Ozobots and Blue-Bot are robotics that can be programed using code without the use of computer devices. A Blue-Bot is programmed through directional buttons on its back. ($90.each) Ozobots read code by scanning lines that students made on paper with colored markers. ($175. each)

Horizon level of difficulty: Difficult- Lack of funding for additional screen-free robotics equipment for the library.

Potential Solutions: TL can ask the administration and PAC for the additional funding for the robotics equipment. TL can explain the important of computational thinking in the curriculum and advocate for additional funding for resources to support student's learning needs.

4-5 Years

Potential Challenge: The LLC does not have access to a computer lab and limited access to chrome books and iPads. “Learning spaces must reflect new approaches in education. The pervasiveness of active learning pedagogies is requiring a shift in how learning environments are being designed. Emerging technologies such as making, mixed reality, and the Internet of Things are requiring more flexible and connected plans.” (Horizon Report, 2017, p.8)

Horizon level of difficulty: Difficult- due to lack of funding for chrome books and iPads for library use.

Potential Solutions: There is a room next to the librarian being used as a sensory room and a meeting place for Educational Assistants. The room would make an ideal computer lab for the school with a door installed between computer lab and Library Learning Commons. This would allow for student lessons, projects, and group work to flow easily between the library, Makerspace, and the computer lab.

Questions:

1. As a teacher librarian’s how can we influence our school staff, administrators that changes in the library will improve the overall academic success of our students?

2. Do you feel your school is making informed choices regarding technology, meeting expectations to improve, support, extend teaching, learning and creative inquiry?

References

“Horizon Report: Library Edition 2014-2017.” Horizon Report: Library Edition 2014-2017, 8 Feb. 2017, library.educause.edu/resources/2017/12/horizon-report-library-edition-2014-2017.

Peterson, L. (2021, July 21). Screen-Free Computational Thinking. Retrieved December 12, 2021, from Edutopia website: https://www.edutopia.org/article/screen-free-computational-thinking