LEVELS OF COLLABORATION
Schools with a Library Media Coordinator
Level 1 Library Media Coordinator meets occasionally with classroom teacher to plan cooperatively. There may be a combination of fixed classes, as well as times for open access.
Fixed Classes: Assures every pupil assess to the LMC on a regular basis, usually one a week or once every two weeks. Class sized groups of pupils are accompanied to the LMC by the teacher for an assigned period of time. Time is provided for returning books, selecting and checking out other books, and perhaps to engage in a literary activity. Flexible scheduling time is limited. This is not the best time for library skills instruction, research, and other learning activities. These activities work best using the Flexible schedule because adequate time can be scheduled.
Open Access: Provides time throughout the day for individuals and small groups to pursue their various interests and needs. This may be any time during the school day, with teacher permission. It may also be before or after classes, without teacher permission, if pupils have access to the building.
Level 2
Library Media Coordinator meets with teachers on a regular basis to plan learning experience, and there is both fixed and flexible access times for instruction in the media center or computer lab.
Collaboration offers opportunities for teachers to instruct smaller groups in the classroom while other student groups work with media and technology staff. It also provides opportunities for teachers and media and technology staff to co-teach sections or lessons of a unit. The benefits of collaboration cannot take place without flexible access for the media and technology program.
Flexible access is beneficial to the learner. Lessons taught and learned in the school library media center and computer lab should not be separate from what is taught and learned in the classroom. Multiple activities can successfully co-exist in the media center or computer lab, and more than one grade level or class can access resources simultaneously. Flexible access helps create an environment in which students can become excited about learning and are able and eager to complete assignments.
Flexible access: Flexible access allows any student, teacher, or staff member to access the school library media center and the computer lab and their resources when needed to support, supplement, and enhance teaching and learning, in order to impact student achievement. Flexible access provides teachers, school library media coordinators and instructional technology facilitators time to plan collaboratively for instructional purposes.
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As an instructional partner, the library media coordinator pools resources with teachers to identify links with curricular content, learning outcomes, student information needs, and information resources. The library media coordinator and classroom teacher collaboratively plan, implement, and evaluate formal units of instruction and learning experiences in a flexibly scheduled environment as well as co-teach with classroom teachers. The library media coordinator also provides:
- Instruction that focuses on student achievement with the learner involved in self-directed problem solving and self-assessment to promote life-long learning
- Instruction that is delivered to students in a variety of formats based on learning styles
- Instruction in locating, gathering, selecting, synthesizing, and evaluating relevant information in all curricular areas
- Students with access to the Internet, electronic databases, and a variety of other resources on high-speed networks throughout the school
- Professional staff development such as mini workshops on new equipment, software, or resources (during the first or last 15 minutes of a staff meeting)
- Guidance in designing authentic learning tasks and assessments
- Leadership in defining the goals and objectives they wish their students to achieve
- Collaborative working model for students
- Opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom
Although Level 3 is the most effective level of collaboration, it is not always possible to remain at Level 3. Being able to collaborate with your library media coordinator at Level 3 is very beneficial, but could the scenario be better? Yes! See how schools with a full-time library media coordinator and technology facilitator provide the most benefits:
Some additional benefits include more effective use of both resources and teaching time, integration of educational technologies, and a reduced teacher/student ratio (Doiron & Davies, 1998).
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