Today, I performed a readers' advisory with one of my students and suddenly realized that I still don't do it well. I fail to form the relationship connection good readers' advisory librarians can create.
When I worked at the Davis County Library, I met a great librarian, whom I will call Bob. He did readers' advisory better than anyone I have ever seen. His librarian patrons, who were his because they asked for him by name, returned over and over, even if he failed to present them with a "good book" every time. I was always amazed at his skill and not just because the genre he covered were so great, but because he genuinely enjoyed each visit (interview) and so did they. So today I wanted to say "hats off" to Bob. Someday, I hope to do as well as you do at this skill.
Which puts me in mind, who else writes in layers like Whitman?
Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Technology and Tools again...
I am taking another technology and tools class. This time I get to learn the language and not just use programs. I am hoping this will help me create better links for my students. Learning is great!
My first memory of technology was as a first grader. I was privileged to take a computer class. I programmed the computer to play a number guessing game in DOS. It was a lot of fun, but my calculator can do the same thing now and I hold it in my hand!
My second memory of computers was going with classes to the new computer lab at the school. This memory re-occurred in elementary school, junior high and high school. The computers managed basic WordPerfect!
I cannot wait to find out what exciting things this new class is going to teach me. Maybe it can help me improve my school library wiki http://iztechtrain.wikispaces.com/Great+Basin+High+School+Bulldog+Library!
My second memory of computers was going with classes to the new computer lab at the school. This memory re-occurred in elementary school, junior high and high school. The computers managed basic WordPerfect!
I cannot wait to find out what exciting things this new class is going to teach me. Maybe it can help me improve my school library wiki http://iztechtrain.wikispaces.com/Great+Basin+High+School+Bulldog+Library!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Team Communication - A Failed Team
Several years ago, I took an interpersonal communications class in order to maintain my teaching license. I chose this class because as a student teacher, I struggled to effectively communicate with the parents of my students. I was so bad at this type of communication that the parents were asking for me to be removed from the student's class! The Universities response was that I should take this class and it would fix everything (ha, ha, ha)!
Part of this class included learning and working in groups. I went into this assignment with a determination that not only would the group succeed but that I would do everything in my power to help my fellow students to make it work. I was not very worried about being in the group, in fact I kind of liked the idea. The assignment our group was given, was to "create and carry out a communications based project."
Forming ~
When we first met as a team, we each introduced ourselves. Two of the fours students in the group were rather put out about working in a group. They both indicated that they were not very dedicated or committed when working in teams. The third member had some concerns, but thought it would all work out.
The first job of the team was to chose a team leader. The others in the team chose me, I suspect mainly because I was the oldest and was working as an adjunct teacher in mathematics at the time. I was not sure this was a wise decision, but I agreed to it. The reason for this was not that I couldn't do it but rather I hoped that if one of the uncommitted members might gain some buy in by being the leader.
We spend a lot of time discussing different project ideas. In the end, the other group members decided to run a communications merit badge class. This was a suggestion I had put forward, after some of the others indicated they did not want to write more than the had to! We discussed times, jobs and other technical details for the project. Each member said they would be willing to do the four weeks of scout meetings and preparation for their parts.
Storming ~
The first meeting was scheduled, and I started worrying. The scouts we had set this up with were my former scouts. Whenever I was with my fellow students, I did my best to believe and encourage them. At home however, I worried.
Performing ~
The first meeting everyone came! One member had forgotten to prepare and so we rearranged the meeting to allow him to prepare his part. Each of us gave our part. I was so excited both for the scouts and my team members. The did very well.
Storming ~
The second meeting arrived and only one other team member arrived and she was unprepared. I asked the others in class the next day what had happened and they all indicated they forgot. I then offered to send reminder notes out. They said this would help, so for the rest of the experience I did.
Norming ~
The third meeting I was the only part of the team to come.
The last meeting, I again was the only part of the team to attend. The other team members by this time were not even attending class regularly. I would send them notes and reminders but very little would happen. I helped the scouts finish their merit badge alone.
Interestingly, this has not spoiled my interest in group learning. I learned a lot through the experience. For instance, teams can fall apart and be productive. In this case, I was actually the nicest to the other group members in our evaluation of the group. The others all saw themselves as failures. I was sad they felt this way. I also discovered that teams can do a lot to help each other.
Finally, I learned that everyone has something to offer, but that sometimes they don't want to offer it. I had always assumed in learning (and teaching) everyone wanted to put in the same amount of effort when they indicated their consent.
Note during my description of the above events, the stages of team development were all present, but did not happen in order. I noticed in the class materials nothing was said about this. My communications teacher when this occurred told us that very infrequently does a team go through these steps only once or in order.
Personally, I hope I have the ability to work in a successful team and that the above failure was not all my fault. I still admit to high expectations about team learning and a desire to help out all my teammates if possible. I think this will prove more difficult when I can only know what they are thinking from their writing. I think this may also prove difficult in reverse as I still don't write as well as I might wish.
Part of this class included learning and working in groups. I went into this assignment with a determination that not only would the group succeed but that I would do everything in my power to help my fellow students to make it work. I was not very worried about being in the group, in fact I kind of liked the idea. The assignment our group was given, was to "create and carry out a communications based project."
Forming ~
When we first met as a team, we each introduced ourselves. Two of the fours students in the group were rather put out about working in a group. They both indicated that they were not very dedicated or committed when working in teams. The third member had some concerns, but thought it would all work out.
The first job of the team was to chose a team leader. The others in the team chose me, I suspect mainly because I was the oldest and was working as an adjunct teacher in mathematics at the time. I was not sure this was a wise decision, but I agreed to it. The reason for this was not that I couldn't do it but rather I hoped that if one of the uncommitted members might gain some buy in by being the leader.
We spend a lot of time discussing different project ideas. In the end, the other group members decided to run a communications merit badge class. This was a suggestion I had put forward, after some of the others indicated they did not want to write more than the had to! We discussed times, jobs and other technical details for the project. Each member said they would be willing to do the four weeks of scout meetings and preparation for their parts.
Storming ~
The first meeting was scheduled, and I started worrying. The scouts we had set this up with were my former scouts. Whenever I was with my fellow students, I did my best to believe and encourage them. At home however, I worried.
Performing ~
The first meeting everyone came! One member had forgotten to prepare and so we rearranged the meeting to allow him to prepare his part. Each of us gave our part. I was so excited both for the scouts and my team members. The did very well.
Storming ~
The second meeting arrived and only one other team member arrived and she was unprepared. I asked the others in class the next day what had happened and they all indicated they forgot. I then offered to send reminder notes out. They said this would help, so for the rest of the experience I did.
Norming ~
The third meeting I was the only part of the team to come.
The last meeting, I again was the only part of the team to attend. The other team members by this time were not even attending class regularly. I would send them notes and reminders but very little would happen. I helped the scouts finish their merit badge alone.
Interestingly, this has not spoiled my interest in group learning. I learned a lot through the experience. For instance, teams can fall apart and be productive. In this case, I was actually the nicest to the other group members in our evaluation of the group. The others all saw themselves as failures. I was sad they felt this way. I also discovered that teams can do a lot to help each other.
Finally, I learned that everyone has something to offer, but that sometimes they don't want to offer it. I had always assumed in learning (and teaching) everyone wanted to put in the same amount of effort when they indicated their consent.
Note during my description of the above events, the stages of team development were all present, but did not happen in order. I noticed in the class materials nothing was said about this. My communications teacher when this occurred told us that very infrequently does a team go through these steps only once or in order.
Personally, I hope I have the ability to work in a successful team and that the above failure was not all my fault. I still admit to high expectations about team learning and a desire to help out all my teammates if possible. I think this will prove more difficult when I can only know what they are thinking from their writing. I think this may also prove difficult in reverse as I still don't write as well as I might wish.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
A Computer Mistake
I am sitting here reading about technological prowess and how most of what one wants to do with a computer can be undone! This reminded me of a funny episode in my life with computers. About ten years ago, while learning about some software for genealogical purposes, I discovered that the data files were mucking up the computer. Since they were saved on disks, I decided to delete the files. Some of the files were *.tmp files and since it was a DOS based program, I told the computer to delete all the *.tmp files on the hard drive. Don't do this! You will discover you have to reinstall the boot up files. Evidently most computers use *.tmp files when booting up. It is reversible though. So even if you accidentally delete an important file, you may be able to get it back.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Graduate School
I've been accepted into graduate school. I am going to San Jose State University to obtain a MLIS.
It is so exciting. Yesterday, I even started my first class.
I also recently found an interesting website which allows one to make accurate floor plans. I found it very fun to use as I rearrange my school library. The web site is www.floorplanner.com. I made the floor plan below with it. It is even drawn to scale.
It is so exciting. Yesterday, I even started my first class.
I also recently found an interesting website which allows one to make accurate floor plans. I found it very fun to use as I rearrange my school library. The web site is www.floorplanner.com. I made the floor plan below with it. It is even drawn to scale.
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