Standard 1

The Learner and Learning

Candidates in school librarian preparation programs are effective educators who demonstrate an awareness of learners’ development. Candidates promote cultural competence and respect for inclusiveness. Candidates integrate the National School Library Standards considering learner development, diversity, and differences while fostering a positive learning environment. Candidates impact student learning so that all learners are prepared for college, career, and life.

1.1 Learner Development

Candidates engage learners’ interests to think, create, share, and grow as they design and implement instruction that integrates the National School Library Standards.

Evaluating Resources Lesson Plan.pdf

Description

In this collaborative lesson, sixth-grade ELA students explored source evaluation and developed digital literacy and critical thinking skills. The goal was for students to critically assess sources for credibility, authenticity, and relevance.

Analysis

One strength of this artifact is its support for multiple learning modalities—direct instruction, modeling, group exploration, and independent practice. It helped students understand the importance of critically evaluating information sources and immediately apply the skill in ELA activities. However, a drawback was the lack of movement, as the two-day lesson involved too much sitting. Adding a movement component would better engage adolescent learners. Additionally, some resources were too difficult for students to read. To address this, my collaborative partner and I plan to use AI tools to adjust the reading level, making the content more accessible.

Reflection

The lesson was successful, with students making authentic real-world connections. After submission, I revised the objective to be measurable by aligning it with a SMART goal. The preassessment showed students had some prior knowledge of source evaluation, and this lesson reinforced its importance. While engagement was high, I would add a summative component next time, allowing students to evaluate sources on a personally meaningful topic.

1.2 Learner Diversity

Candidates articulate and model cultural competence and respect for inclusiveness, supporting individual and group perspectives.

PDF View

Description

The school analysis infographic synthesizes factual data about the Elkridge Landing Middle School community. It was used to analyze the diversity and needs of the school community.

Analysis

A key strength of the infographic was its use of visual elements that made the data easy to understand. The community information supported informed library decisions. A major weakness was the lack of space to display detailed data on the collection’s diversity. An unexpected insight was that, despite clear efforts, the collection still falls short of fully reflecting the community's diversity. The artifact was revised to include specific data on the age of each major Dewey classification, which better highlights the collection’s needs.

Reflection

I was pleased with the artifact, though I wish I had included more data about the library collection. The goal was to provide a snapshot of the ELMS community and library, but additional information on the collection would have strengthened it. I would like to add a graphic comparing the diversity of the student population with that of the collection to create a clear visual for advocating to decision-makers.

1.3 Learning Differences

Candidates cultivate the educational and personal development of all members of a learning community.

School Analysis & Curriculum Map.pdf

Description

The School Analysis and Curriculum Chart outlines all ELMS curricula and examines the school community. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive roadmap to help librarians align library services with students' academic needs.

Analysis

A key strength of the curriculum map was its comprehensive organization. However, a major weakness was the difficulty of representing courses offered to multiple grade levels. The middle school model added complexity to maintain consistency in the map. An unexpected insight was discovering how many subjects have complementary curricula, which helped connect staff and library resources. The curriculum map was especially useful for developing collaborative lessons and collection development plans.

Reflection

I was pleased with the artifact’s depth and detail. I would like to learn more about how to use this information to purchase materials and design tools that support classroom instruction. I am also interested in creating professional development resources and reference materials to help teachers expand their professional learning networks. The school analysis and curriculum map are valuable tools for narrowing the focus of the resources I collect.

1.4 Learning Environments

Candidates create both physical and virtual learner-centered environments that are engaging and equitable. The learning environments encourage positive social interaction and the curation and creation of knowledge.

Enlarged Image View

Description

The task was to redesign the Student Resources Canvas page to better engage students in Library Media activities. Students rarely used the course as a resource, and parents struggled to navigate it. I created a user-friendly interface that increased student engagement with both physical and virtual Library Media resources.

Analysis

The redesigned page improves navigation by simplifying access to information, incorporating images as directional cues, and enhancing visual appeal for students. Previously, users had to sift through 20+ modules with only a list of links. Now, tabs categorize content, columns keep key details visible, and button images indicate link destinations. The color scheme has been updated to school colors for a distinct identity. A drawback was that some images failed to load for students, reducing effectiveness. Next time, I’d beta-test with a student account to ensure visibility.

Reflection

I’m proud of the redesign, and many students have noted that the site is now easier to use. Accessibility tools ensure smooth navigation for screen readers and visually impaired users. The biggest lesson from this project was learning to anticipate user needs to improve site usability. Broken links and repetition highlighted the importance of beta-testing with actual user accounts before launching the site. I also realized that a website is never truly “finished,” as library events and information change frequently. Moving forward, I’d like to learn how to access functional student and parent accounts to create tailored tutorials for their course views.

Sources:

American Association of School Librarians. “ALA/AASL/CAEP School Librarian Preparation Standards.” American Library Association, 2019.

American Association of School Librarians. National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. Chicago, ALA Editions, 2018.

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