A district s_journeyto_the_learning_commons

The Learning Commons: Beginning the Journey

OLA Superconference 2011Sharon SeslijaMartha Martin

Greater Essex County DSB

What do we mean: "Learning Commons?"

A District Description

• 60 elementary schoolso 7 almost full or full

time TLso 22 half-timeo 33 less than half-time

• 14 secondary schoolso 12 full time TLso 2 halftime TLs

Elementary TLs

• 14/60 qualified with AQ Librarianship

• 17/60 are VPso none of the VPs

have TL qualifications

Secondary

• 12 have AQ qualifications

• 3 are LTOs with no Librarianship AQ

$$$$$ What will it cost?????

Almost Free

Minimal Cost

Moderate Cost

Complete Makeover

Almost Free

• Weeding

• Integrations of wikis and blogs

• Cloud computing

• Student Focus Groups

• Collaboration between school specialists

Minimal Cost

• Shelving removed

• Virtual Learning Commons development

• Book purchases

• First Class conference

• Key administrators to Superconference

Moderate Cost

• Investment in bandwidth

• Students are encouraged to bring personal computers that access school network

• Comfortable areas for reading

Complete Makeover

• Wireless networking throughout all schools

• Increase in professional staff

• Investment in Microsoft Sharepoint to create cloud computing

Weeding and Shelf Removal

Student Focus Group

More books (current fiction, non-fiction and periodicalsColoured printerLamps, rugsFood and drinkSmall higher tables (café style)Meeting and seminar spacesMore electrical outlets to charge computing toolsAudio and eBookseReadersExtended hoursGlue, scissors, staplers, etc.Faster computers

Grade 7 PLE

Web 2.0 Collaborative Tools

Say Something

Collaboration of School Specialists

TL/CIESC dual role

TL and Instructional Coaches

TL/SERRS dual role

TL/VP dual role

TL Instructional Coaches 

Year One: Who: four coaches for half the year

Role: to support elementary school TLs in various areas. 

Focus: advocacy and facility management with collection development taking over due to two Ministry money drops.   

Year Two: Who: four coaches half the year

Role: to support elementary and secondary school TLs in various areas

Focus: elementary TL supports for program and secondary facility management. Including the development of Java Client training and manual for Symphony

TL Instructional Coaches continued:

Year Three 2 coaches for the full year

Role: to assist focus elementary schools. Principals indicated that they wished to have concentrated support by the Library IC. 

Focus: TL support of SIP, movement towards collaborative teaching periods and TL support of school PLCs.  Also provide support to collaborative inquiry teams.

TL Collaborative Inquiry Projects

Professional Learning for Administrators

9 secondary and elementary administrators to Superconference Friday

Free conference admission

Superintendent paid for travel and accommodation

Virtual Commons: Board

Redesign of the Student Reference Portal

Sharepoint – Enterprise Portal

Cloud Computing

gecdsbtlresource wiki

Reading Forest wiki

NTIP wiki

SPM wiki

HPE Planning wiki

Virtual Commons: School

Learning Commons as Collaboration Central

Smart Notebooks

Collaborative Projects using web 2.0

Both virtual and in the physical commons

Experimental Learning Centre

In summary.....

• Multiple entry points

• One step at a time

Big Think: What will it cost?????

Almost Free

Minimal Cost

Moderate Cost

Complete Makeover

To End…..

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