Original Question: What do your teachers tell YOU are the most beneficial
aspects of collaboration for THEM? I know what the literature says and I
know what my personal experience tells me, but it's always so useful to
hear from the broader group.
Summary of Benefits to Teachers
¨ A reliable always-available time to meet
¨ A plan IN WRITING (a road map)
¨ Goals/objectives articulated
¨ Resources used in webquests are reliable and age-appropriate
¨ Watching/learning how a colleague approaches/teaches a topic
¨ Opportunity to take some risks/try new things
¨ Expertise with technical equipment
¨ Suggestions of new project ideas
¨ Introduction to new print and technology resources and new database
searching techniques
¨ Children learn from more than one person
¨ Encourage higher level thinking
¨ Provide books and other materials to enhance their curriculum
¨ Determining the reliability of websites and teaching students to do so
¨ Help with the citation process
¨ Source of information about new website and new technology to
enhance teaching
¨ Working as a team means an extra pair of hands, eyes, and general help
¨ Presearching of topics so that materials are available for all.
Full Responses:
The teachers I worked with consistently told me they did not want to have
to schedule the time to meet with me - -they were willing to meet but when
they were planning (at home or on prep time while I was engaged otherwise)
they wanted to know they could get with me to discuss... -- so this is how
we finally figured it out.
I was not prep time so I had control of my own schedule -- and every
teacher had a prep time once a day. So for 4 out of 5 days I scheduled
classes, large groups or whatever we needed. On the fifth day (usually a
Thursday as that suited them best) I scheduled the bulk of my
administrative work and as usual individual students and small groups were
always welcome. Teacher then knew that on that day that I would not be
"instructing" and could meet with them at any time during the day. They
would often stop in in the a.m. or leave a note in my box saying that they
wanted to stop in 3rd period or whatever.
They came in, we talked about what they wanted/needed. In the next couple
of days -- I'd put into writing the sequence etc. we talked about and give
it back to the teacher. It might go something like this...
1. Introduction of biographies (LMS)
2. Student check out - read (classroom)
3. Session on ... (LMS & Teacher)
....
4.
etc.
Once we had the roles nailed down -- the teacher could stop in an schedule
session 1; and we all knew what would be coming. When they were done with
session 2; we'd schedule 3 etc.
Saved a lot of time and each of us knew where we were going and what needed
to be done before the next session would occur. It made for a lot of
flexibility as if a session took longer than we expected it was no problem.
Short answer: Teachers' time is at a premium. They appreciated:
1) a reliable always available time to meet with them.
2) a plan IN WRITING once we were finished so we didn't always have to
revisit every step along the way. We had a road map.
3) goals/objectives articulated
***
I designed a webquest on penguins for my third graders. I worked with a
couple third grade teachers who helped me design the lesson goals and the
student project; my job was to pull it together into a webquest
online. One of the two brought her class a couple days ago, and as we were
helping the kids with the research portion, she commented that when she
worked with me, she knew that the resources used in the webquest would be
reliable and age-appropriate.
***
What I frequently hear back from the teachers that I collaborate with is
that "I enjoy watching/learning how my colleague approached/taught the
topic." "It allowed me to take some risks/try things I normally wouldn't."
***
In my school it is my expertise with technical equipment. Also, suggesting
new project ideas is appreciated.
***
"I didn't know the school had all these resources."
"I learned as much as the kids" (about database
searching)
We need to do more of these kinds of things. There a couple of teachers
here who are active in their curriculum area organizations. I'm always
offering to do a presentation (am finally getting to do one - maybe) and or
write up something for their newsletters.
***
I'm told on a regular basis that the benefit of my collaboration is that
the children learn from more than one person and that my input and bringing
of resources is a big bonus because I act as a support system for the
children and encourage their higher level thinking and provide books and
other materials to enhance their curriculum. Of course, since I also tend
to be a "techie" pusher, I often will challenge them and their students as
I present electronic resources, websites and other useful online
information to them. And sometimes that puts the teacher at a place where
they are forced to grow and open their minds to the resources that stretch
them beyond their comfort zone. I usually get told that AFTER the fact,
but most do appreciate that even though it requires them to learn some new
things along with their students.
***
Here is what I hear from teachers:
They are unsure themselves how to determine the reliability of websites and
appreciate having me teach their students how to do this - especially since
they learn techniques themselves.
They appreciate my help with the citation process. They are unsure of all
the details of correct citation and appreciate my training in that area.
They look at my as the person who will keep them informed about new
websites or technologies that will enhance their research projects and
their classroom teaching.
They depend on me to "translate" technology to them. The computer director
talks above their heads and I explain things in real English.
***
Working as a team means an extra pair of hands, eyes, and general help to
insure every student is gotten to and is successful during that time.
And, our ability and willingness to presearch their projects (as long as
they are willing to modify) means that we KNOW the materials are available
for every topic (changes might be spelling corrections, better keywords,
additions to their list or elimination of hard-to-find topics).
Posting a hit would be beneficial to all of us -- we too are always looking
for another angle to snag teachers into the library.
Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita
Maine Association of School Libraries Board Member
Buxton, ME 04093
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com
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