Blog # 6 Why are schools needed?
Inquiry learning happens constantly in the Media Center. The library with its computer and information resources allows students to explore topics of interest which are relevant to them. Individual students come to the library on hall passes and head to the computers to connect to information on the internet and on databases. I observe technology savvy students designing their own comic pages or images with online tools while some students are just exploring topics of interest online. They are learning at their own pace about interests relevant to them. There a sense of excitement as they share their findings with their friends. It’s an engaging, creative process widening their exposure and knowledge of the world outside of our school. When I was a young student, I came to the library to conduct similar information searches. However, I was only able to inquire about the world from books, newspapers, microfiche, and magazine contained in the building. Today, our students connect to the world’s resources online. I see the library as the center of the inquiry learning process for the school and the professional librarian providing assistance to facilitate student inquiries and help with problems. The librarian also leads class discussions about research in the Media Center and online.
Schools can help take students from their personal views developed in homes to broader views. Schools unlock information contained in the world. As presented by David Perkins from Harvard School of Education, the inquiry-based approach allows learners “to create, design, imagine and develop new possibilities.” By studying with others at school, learners can reach broader understandings and connections to the real world. I believe inquiry learning explains a major purpose for the library’s existence. The library is one of the few places in the school which allows students to search and explore information for their personal interests or their real-life problems. Schools provide digital connections that help eliminate the digital divide that exists for some students. Liz Keren-Kolb discusses how “Technology tools at school enhance learning that could not have been accomplished without these tools.” Schools provide a wealth of online resources and teachers are a valuable resource for students when they have questions or problems.
I want to focus the mini-lessons on water issues from Science. To make for authenticity in the lessons, I will ask for digital presentations in the format of their choice about real problems in the US or in the world with flooding or lack of water in areas which are experiencing droughts. One lesson will focus on selecting resources for presentations and how to avoid plagiarism and properly cite resources.
I see the same things happening in class sometimes. When students are done with their work and have free time they find neat things to create on the computer. They love sharing what they create with the world through Instagram and Snapchat. Anytime there is a question that I cannot answer I get the student who asked it to do research and bring back the answer. They love doing this type exploring. I agree that schools can help students broaden their views. Not that anyone is trying to change the things that they learned at home, but to expand upon them. Schools get students out of that bubble they may have at home and give them another perspective. I think that you can only learn so much from home. Teachers and schools do provide valuable tools, guidance, and information. I too remember the days of only being able to do research through books, microfiche, and newspapers. Although it was all we knew, it was frustrating because it took forever. Kids today (and adults) have so much easier access to information now. The only kicker is learning how to determine what is true vs. false information.
ReplyDeleteMy students love having technology time and sharing what they create is one of their favorite things to do. I believe that schools are around to help expand on information and have students find more in-depth knowledge. The way of teaching has changed but teachers still have the same roles. Teacher are their to help expand and get students to dig deeper and want more knowledge. I think that the media center is a great place for students to explore and have time to use technology along with books and other sources of information.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure media specialists get to see some really cool things from students. When I was a student my media center was pretty outdated at the time. If I remember correctly we had a few computers with dial up internet and our print media was very rarely updated. Its amazing now to step into the media center at the high school that I teach at and see all of the awesome things going on. I partnered up with the media specialists this year and had the students use the green screen to make an economics crash course video. The students wrote the script, and did all of the editing and filming. The end result was really good, and I am excited to try some new ideas out next Fall.
ReplyDeleteI loved keeping my school's media center, substituting when the media specialist had to be out. It was a great opportunity to see my students do just what you described, explore! We were limited in the amount we could do in the classroom, without any computers. My classroom might have resembled the library you described, technology wise. In the Media Center we had many more options and I could see my students amazement with discovery and excitement to share. So great you get to be there every day!
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