Talking Technology

I interviewed Mrs. Cathy Garland on the Shared Foundation Collaboration. At Southside Middle School, Media Specialist Mrs. Garland fosters a culture of collaboration by actively integrating the library into the instructional process. She works closely with teachers and students, making the library a dynamic space for learning, research, and digital literacy. Guiding Questions During our conversation, I asked Mrs. Garland: How do you implement collaboration in your library? What resources help support collaboration? Do you collaborate with teachers? How? What challenges do you face in collaboration? Do you have any final thoughts on collaboration and the librarian’s role? Collaboration in Action Mrs. Garland participates in teacher professional learning communities (PLCs), offering insights and resources that align with curriculum goals. She helps teachers integrate digital citizenship lessons into instruction and reviews curriculum plans to find ways the library can support learning. S...

At Wallace Gregg Elementary, a K-5 school, Media Specialist Mrs. Simms has seen significant shifts in her role. We discussed the Shared Foundation Inquiry. With an open schedule designed by her administration to accommodate technology troubleshooting, her ability to focus on inquiry-based learning has changed. Our conversation explored how these shifts have impacted the library and student learning. Guiding Questions During our discussion, I asked Mrs. Simms: How has your library schedule changed? How did your previous schedule support inquiry? What challenges do you face in fostering inquiry now? How does the current focus on ELA and Math impact the library’s role? What strategies do you use to keep inquiry alive? The Shift in Library Scheduling Previously, Mrs. Simms had a fixed schedule, with younger students attending storytime and older students participating in a research lab. She introduced students to essential technology skills, such as using a mouse, navigating a desktop, and...

Encouraging students to explore books and develop a love of reading is at the heart of any school library. I had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Deborah Daniels, the school librarian at Lucy T. Davis Elementary, a mid-sized K-5 school with approximately 500 students. The library is a vibrant, welcoming space filled with seasonal displays, interactive reading challenges, and opportunities for creative exploration. We focused on the shared foundation of Explore. Guiding Interview Questions: How do you encourage students to explore books and develop a love of reading? What role do play-based learning or hands-on activities (such as makerspaces) play in your library? How do you support students in exploring their creative ideas and storytelling? Can you share an example of a reading challenge, library program, or activity that sparked student excitement? Encouraging Exploration Through Displays and Reading Challenges One of the strategies Mrs. Daniels uses to engage students in readin...

 Mrs. Susan Lane, the media specialist at Moore Middle School, focuses on the Shared Foundation of Curate to ensure her library collection meets the needs of students and teachers. She carefully selects resources that support the curriculum, engage student interests, and provide diverse perspectives. However, the curation process comes with both opportunities and challenges.  Guiding Questions for the Conversation:  How do you select resources for your library collection?  What strategies do you use to ensure materials align with teacher needs? How do you encourage teachers to utilize library resources? What challenges do you face when curating your collection?  How do you address concerns or pushback regarding library materials?  Building a Collection with Purpose  Mrs. Lane curates resources using Titlewave to analyze book selections, ensuring they are suitable for middle school students and align with curriculum standards and student interests. She ...