Roberta Harris Teacher Librarian

 I have learned so much about digital technology and the benefits of integrating it's use into our everyday practice.  There are so many options and services available to us and we are able to communicate in endless ways worldwide!  It is like a magical journey! Although I thought of myself as pretty "technically savvy" I had no idea how many resources and applications existed.  Through our personal learning network I learned of even more fabulous ways to engage learners in my classroom and provide a well balanced learning and teaching experience.   With such a wide range of resources it was difficult to come to a decision about what my final vision project would be. As we read the book "Why School" (which ironically I had difficulty reading due to it being an e-book and I could not get a print copy) I realized I need to take the plunge and dedicate myself to become more of a 21st-century educator.   Richardson reminds us that "our kids and even w...

 As teacher librarians we have the world at our fingertips!  I have learned it is our duty to be with the times and current in order to effectively share the world with others.  Libraries are not only about books and research, libraries are a link to the outside world literally!  We can travel across the world with technology especially lately since we have been reduced to communicating digitally due to Covid-19.  My interest lies in becoming a 21st-Century educator.  This is not an easy feat.  There are many barriers like remoteness, lack of technology, skills, equipment and access to training and professional development.   Many of the barriers can be overcome with the use of technology, willingness and the desire to learn.  I have learned so much over the last term. Explore:  Areas I have explored include how to be a 21st-Century teacher, integrating STEM/STEAM into the classroom and the benefits of using digital technology to en...

 90 minutes a week!  Does that exhibit the importance of inspiring and creating lifelong 21st Century Learners?  My personal opinion is a big fat, loud and proud, NO!!!! (Can you hear me yelling from the rooftop?!).  Although I am happy to have the opportunity to be trained and hired as a teacher librarian I am not very happy when it comes to learning about the role of the teacher librarian and how much is expected with so little time allotted and minimal resources provided. Again, I will refer to teacher librarians as Superheroes!  I am not being facetious or flippant when I say this, I am totally serious!  With the responsibility and the task of providing a "variety of reference services... as part of their daily activities includes helping students define their information needs, creating learning environments for collaboration, teaching students to use the online catalog and databases, and helping students distinguish good information from bad" (Reidlin...