Topic 2 - Key ideas

These are some of the things I got from the readings of topic 2:

Teachers need to become information literate in order to help students to become so;
Teacher Librarians need to support teachers more;
Principals need to support both by driving school policy and rewarding good practices. (Henri, 2005)

A reminder of the importance of 'learning to learn'. (Henri, 2005)

TLs and Principals can be an effetive team. There need to be effective communication between the two, and a common world view, then the TL can be 'an ally working for the common good of the school'. (Oberg, 2006) (Haycock, 1999)

Teachers need to show evidence that they have specialist skills, and that these are making a difference. They can do this by using research findings that already exist, or by generating their own research findings, e.g. student performance in relation to library use. (Oberg, 2002)

I found conflicting opinions in regards to the amount of research supporting the importance of libraries and TLs... Oberg (2002) seemed to think there is plenty of research out there, whereas I am sure I read elsewhere, during this topic as well as whilst completing my research project at university (on strategies to support reading for pleasure), that there is a need for more research linking school libraries with student achievement and/or reading habits.

Teacher Librarians should fit with these words: facilitate, support, change agents, innovators, opinion leaders, monitors, initiative, confidence, communication skills, leadership qualities, willingness to take risk, commitment to meeting student needs....... (Haycock ,1999)

Some big ideas, and some big expectations.