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Please forgive me. I thought I took care to remove the html formatting, but I see that it still came through. Knowing how annoying that is, I'm re-posting. 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. 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