My introduction and thoughts about reference services in the information age

This is my first blog and my second course in this program. What a learning curve setting up a blog- as an online reflective journal. I feel a bit like I am standing in my undies! I have a few different hats on when I approach coursework. I was a classroom teacher for 5 years and during that time I completed a Masters of Arts in Leadership and Training at Royal Roads (amazing program!). I learned how to work with larger groups of people where I also learned some very valuable group process skills such as building a shared vision. I completed my thesis on motivation and looked at how working in the public sector impacts teachers' motivation to participate in extracurricular. Then when I completed the program I moved into a non enrolling teaching role and I became a community school coordinator for several years, a job that I loved. However, I have had two children in the last two years and I am pursing this role to work part time in school for the next decade.

 I thought being a teacher librarian meant collaborating with staff and working with students to achieve the curriculum. The farther I get into this program I see that my impressions were correct but that there is a hidden curriculum of Information Literacy that needs to be addressed. I am not sure I fully understand what information literacy is but I hope to discuss it for the remainder of this course. In my notes from a previous course I wrote down, "To be information literate a person must be able to recognise when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information". I think this a definition that will continue to work as the digital age we live in evolves. 

When I signed up for this course I wondered how relevant it would be to learn about various reference services when we live in such a "google" everything age. I am now starting to look at this course as part of the foundation for a successful journey, a foundation to build upon. 

A point I am going to try to shape my blog around is how all this relates to the big picture. "In order to provide successful reference services and support teaching (knowledge of the library media collection, effective conversation skills and competence in selecting and acquiring and evaluating resources to meet student needs) and given the realities of our time, I think that we need to embrace that we are life long learning educators and think about the big picture- supporting information literate learners." (Kristi's entry- Module 1- reference services)

When I posted this I was hoping for some conversation about others "big picture" ideas . Janice added, " Life long learning and the willingness to listen and communicate seems big to me" and I have to agree the listening piece is an entire course itself. When relationships are built collaboration will be a smoother ongoing process between members. 

Our instructor added the point in another thread that "we educators can't even decide who takes on the vision/responsibility for Information Literacy. Perhaps there are too many "literacies" around to confound our colleagues - cultural literacy, basic literacy, info literacy, media literacy..." and I agree that no one wants to take responsibility and leap forward, I see the "not enough time, training, motivation" as blockers to educators coming together with a shared vision. 

I think we have an opportunity as teacher librarians to shape some pro-d around various topics. I am going to "blog" about how I might work with my staff about adopting a school wide research process for my next entry.