For this module we created a mock discussion assignment. Please view these following documents from the persona of a student new to the online blended learning environment.

Please review these resources to see how to make the most of this online learning experience.

1) 15 Ways of the Successful Self-Directed Learner

I am currently taking this course and another course on Librarianship and it has reminded me of how much I love learning. I can EASILY sit in front of my computer for an entire day, reading, writing, watching, thinking and then creating. I use the internet to look things up daily to learn how something works, what something means, or how to do something. Just this morning I was looking to decide what to cook. I went to a print cookbook. The recipe I decided on had an ingredient I wasn't familiar with, so, I looked up the ingredient. Then I looked up a substitute for it. I now have a plan for dinner! This is a minor example, I know, but it is how we use the internet in our everyday life.

On a professional level, I am a member of several list serves and professional groups on Facebook, and I use Twitter. All of these spaces help me learn on a daily basis. I have MANY bookmarks, groups and lists I keep to go back to when I want to find something. I have been enlightened, encouraged and engaged by these groups. I have walked away with lesson ideas, bulletin board ideas, apps or hacks to use in class. Twitter is a treasure trove and I stop myself from going on it too often now as I find I become so immersed I lose track of time. Besides learning, Twitter has taught me I am not alone. In my last position, I was at a school I once described as 'being deeply rooted in the past'. The majority of the staff were teaching the same way they taught 20 years ago. The prevailing attitude (was even said out loud to me) "Why should I change? I am happy the way things are." I felt alone and isolated as I tried to encourage faculty to move forward. I had a very good friend on faculty and had found a few allies but I felt I didn't have a 'tribe' and I felt the head of school did not appreciate me and what I was trying to bring to the school. At this low point, I turned to Twitter. It help remind me of the like minded people I knew professionally, I engaged in chats and became mentally stimulated. I re-found my tribe. So, the internet can be more powerful than we think sometimes!

Thinking about how to support my students using internet will depend on the age of my students. I feel strongly that younger students need to be directed and sent to curated sites. One day this year after teaching my second graders how to use several library databases, I invited them to just go online and learn anything they wanted using those sources. One would have thought I had let them loose in a candy store. There was a gasp of joy and excitement as students looked up information, found images and videos. The room was full of 'look at this!" If I were teaching older students or adults I would teach them how to use search terms, to develop a PLN, use sites that can help them learn. Just yesterday I read a blog form the LA Public library about how many FREE online learning sites can be used with one's library card. I would discuss the use of social media, hashtags and help my students find their 'tribe.' This will further their learning and increase their engagement.

Reflecting on the Standards

For this part of my reflection I will be honest to say that I think I have a pretty open mindset, I am known for being flexible. A colleague told me just this week that she likes working with me because my response to an idea is "Let's try it and see what happens." I am flexible in mindset and I am willing to change and adapt. In thinking about my work within this class I want to go back to the the last module and reflect on the Domain 2 Qualities and the Competency of Grit & Transparency.

Competency 1: grit

Standard A: Engage in deliberate practice and persevere toward ambitious, long-term educational and professional goals.

Standard B: Maintain and model persistence, confidence, and optimism to resolve issues.

Competency 2: Transparency

Standard A: Openly and frequently share successes, failures, and challenges.

Last week, and this week the spill over from the last module reminded me of why it is important to show and embrace the idea of 'Not There Yet' I added this as a grading column on rubrics years ago. The whole point of the activities we do is to learn. If learning is a struggle (within the Zone of Proximal Development) fantastic! This is why we need the NTY category. This was me last week. How could I have been so off on creating my CC and transcript? For some reason this was a challenge for me. I struggled with YouTube, I looked for online guides to help me. Since YouTube was in a Beta stage it was difficult to find the exact tutorial I needed. I was poor at reading directions, like my students at times, I felt confident and then frustrated because it was harder than I expected. However, I went back at it and did it over and over until I finally got it, showing grit and appreciating getting a second and third chance. I think being transparent about learning challenges is important for teachers. Our students need to see us struggle and then show how we succeed. I tell my students when I don't know something and say, 'Let's find out' or 'Let me look it up.' 'Come back to me and we can go over it.' I did this just on Friday with a group working on a project. I also think teachers online can demonstrate this if a course discussion goes in ways that are unexpected. Assignments can be adjusted for a person or a group. The important thing is learning happens and students see a teacher being responsive to their needs and the needs of the class. This model of open-mindedness is important as students need to know that we all continue to learn and that we don't know everything, and that at times we are learning with them side by side. This builds relationship and trust and sets a model for them to follow.

Final Reflection

I am in the beginning of 'research season' many classrooms are doing projects to prepare of Open House at the end of May and I hope to teach the research process, which connects to the idea of how we use the internet. I am unclear with how many faculty actually teach these skills other than to say go to "such and such" a website. I actually stepped in when one grade level wanted to send the work of the research home and have the parents direct the students to finding the answers. They didn't want to teach this at all. I don't know why and will have to sit down with them to discuss. In my new role as librarian, next year, I want to establish norms for faculty. I want them to vet resources before assigning topics or let me help them. I hope that I will have the opportunity to support my faculty in the research process and model for them how to teach students about the internet and how to best use it for learning.