Could it have been any busier? -written October 15, 2015

Posted on November 17, 2015 by dawntelfer

Yesterday was incredible!!!! At one point during the day the following things were all happening at the same time:

retired teacher and volunteer extraordinaire working at a table with a group of gr.3 students
parent volunteer working with a small group of grade 6 students on a math skill
gr.6 class arrived for their book exchange times – teacher worked with a small group, several students worked in SOLEs to complete group task, several worked at individual computers to do research and many selected, exchanged and read books
members of a gr.5 class led Student Vote in our Maker Space – polling stations were set up throughout the afternoon as our junior classes visited and submitted their votes

What was I doing during this time? Collaborating with our music teacher on plans for upcoming Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Did the noise level make some staff members uncomfortable?

Sure, but when walking through the space each group of students was focused and on task. Chatter was all task related.

Could we have been busier? Maybe, a little, but this is exactly what we have been working towards. Multiple groups using the space for different tasks at the same time.

I’d count that as a success along the journey.

Green Screen Success – written on October 9, 2015

Posted on November 17, 2015 by dawntelfer

This week saw our first attempt at a green screen production in our new Learning Commons. One of our grade 5 classes has been diligently working to learn all they can about the upcoming Federal Election to prepare for Student Vote 2015, taking place at our school on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. The class was divided into 5 groups – Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Green Party and Elections Canada. Their classroom teacher then had each group learn about their party’s platform, research the local candidate and prepare a section of bulletin board outside of their classroom.

Researching at one of our Collaboration Stations.

The Elections Canada group had a different task. They needed to learn the ins and outs of how and why to vote. Their group decided that they would like to visit the participating classes to present in advance of voting day. Wouldn’t it be great if part of their presentation could be a video? Of course!

The Elections Canada student group started by completing their research and writing a script. The classroom teacher then took them through the editing and revision process with their script. Next was rehearsals and planning which backgrounds they would like to use. Each student in the group chose an image and shared it with me through our GAFE accounts.

After several rehearsals it was time for recording. After recommendations from 2 other TVDSB educators, we decided to try our TouchCast, a free app. I did watch several of the tutorials prior to the students visiting to ensure I knew the basics before we began.

TouchCast was easy to use and allowed us to select the green screen effect. Imagine how big the eyes of the students were as we held the ipad camera and looked around the room. As we came to the green screen, the image they had chosen for the first scene appeared! Instant excitement and engagement. For our first attempt, I was the cameraman and we did not use the teleprompter function, but I see many future applications.

Our green screen area is out in the open. We do not have walls or doors to shut out the sounds. Because it was our first attempt, we chose to work during a lunch break. There was a meeting happening out in the library space, but we were able to record without background noise. I also created these signs to hang on the door in hopes of limiting excess noise:

Sharing the end result with our principal was important for two reasons. First, he was the one hosting a meeting out in the library space and was impressed to see how the Learning Commons can host multiple groups at the same time. Second, we looked at what could make the video better. The answer: a tripod, new ipad case to connect to tripod and a microphone. His response? Please place an order 🙂 Oh, the doors this will open to further videos and audio recording in both the Learning Commons and around the school.

Baby Steps

Posted on September 30, 2015 by dawntelfer

We’re four weeks into a new school year with our redesigned space. As I’ve mentioned before, timetabling was our biggest stumbling block as we planned how we would go forward this year. Here’s how we decided to start things off:

Our staff is learning to use GAFE and began using Google Sheets as online signout last year. The picture above shows the current signout for our former computer lab space which now houses our Maker Space, some of our SOLEs and our Green screen. We divided the schedule into two types of sign outs. The green spaces are open for staff to book and use in whatever way they plan. Green = Go. Yellow spaces are to be booked after consultation or co-planning. Yellow = Caution.

We’re hoping that this will allow both staff and students an opportunity to become comfortable with the new layout and way of thinking.

I am currently working with our grade 5 classes. They are learning about the levels of government and are getting ready to choose a social or environmental issue and create a brochure. As a lead up to this project, we are working on how to work collaboratively and how to research. These skills could really take months, but in a few short mini-lessons the students are better prepared.

Step 1: Students visit to review how to access our databases. They do this through a Database Scavenger Hunt. Each group completes only one piece of paper, but each student has a specific role. (We’re still working on great French terms to define each role)
a. Mouse Master – student who logs in and is in charge of clicking, dragging and scrolling
b. Secretary – student who records all of the information **important to note that this students does not need to locate, or read info from screen, just writes it down.
c. Eyes and Ears – 1 or 2 students who read, explore, discover and tell mouse master and secretary what to do/write next

During one class, we stopped their work frequently during this activity to redirect not only volume level but also to remind students of their specific role. It was very difficult for some students not to assume all three roles and leave the other group members to do little or nothing.

After students completed the Database Scavenger Hunt we debriefed with the question “What did you find challenging about what we just did?” To begin with, the students spoke about which questions were the hardest to find answers for, which database was most difficult to navigate. These were really surface level answers and not touch upon what I was hoping to find, so we re-framed the question. “What did you find most challenging about how we worked today? What was difficult for your group while working at the SOLE stations?” These questions produced a different set of answers. Some students found it difficult to hold back as they are typically the take charge type. One group had tried to switch roles for each question on the hunt and decided it would have been easier if they had kept one role for the whole activity.

As the teacher, I noticed that students need to learn how to speak quietly when working in groups – no surprise here! They were also a bit uncomfortable with the idea of one sheet being enough. Many are used to each person completing the same sheet.

Step 2: One group was back today to focus on how to take jot notes and to do some beginning research exploration. While they are very good about picking out key sentences in articles, they still seem to write everything down, in complete sentence form, instead of just recording key points. We worked together to draw key terms and ideas from an article they had used in class. No full sentences here 🙂

Step 3: Early next week they will be choosing their research topic and we plan to have them complete the research as a group and then complete brochures individually. They aren’t quite ready to enter the wilds of Google searching to find their own information, so we will be using a combination of database searching and pre-selected website links to help them. Looking forward to seeing how that turns out.

“I’m ready! Show me the new and improved.”

Posted on September 16, 2015 by dawntelfer

**Originally written on Friday, September 11, 2015. Just a slight delay in posting.**

It’s the end of our first week back at school after summer break and we have jumped back into things here in the Learning Commons at Trudeau. I have been looking forward to sharing the redesigned space with our students. They are certainly the focus of all we have been doing.

Junior and intermediate classes have been visiting this week to tour the redesigned space, reset passwords (an annual September task), and select library books. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. From gasps as they enter, to wide eyes when they walk through the new Maker Space, it’s hard not to be excited about the possibilities when our students are in the space. Here are some of the things I have heard said:

“I’m ready!” Show me the new and improved.”

“I feel sorry for last year’s grade 8s. They missed all of this.”

“Green screen? You mean we can make awesome movies?”

“Are you sure the teachers are ready for this?”

commons couch

Our students are certainly ready to embrace the changes and are looking forward to exploring the possibilities. It could be a bumpy road, but no matter how many times we need to step back, examine our plan, change direction and start again, our students will be ready to give it a try.

This coming week we are hoping to release our draft schedule and sign out plans for the space. It really has been the stumbling block for myself and our focus group. How do we ensure that the space is being used to it’s maximum potential? What can we do to support teachers so that the new design isn’t used in the old way?

Looking forward to reflecting on this next step.

Lots of progress

Posted on September 2, 2015 by dawntelfer

It’s been too long since my last blog post. My apologies. June, as always, disappeared before I realized it had even started. I then spent my summer focused on being a mommy and wife and tried very hard to leave the school work behind (other than a ton of great reading, of course).

The last week of June, our traditional library and lab space underwent a physical transformation. Here are some of the before shots to help you remember what we were starting with:

Yep. That looks like a library and a computer lab for sure. Now for the transformation.

Step 1: Our wonderful, incredible, fantastic Learning Coordinator responsible for Libraries agreed to come and spend an afternoon with me moving the shelving in the library side of our space. The nonfiction section had shelving on wheels. No problem. The fiction? A different story. Three long banks of shelves that needed to be totally emptied before they could be moved.

Section by section, the books were placed in piles on tables, labelled so they didn’t get out of order. Not a clean job at all. Books are super dusty. Oh, did I mention that emptying the shelves also meant taking out the shelves themselves! Way too heavy with them in.

Next we measured to make sure the shelves ended up in the right location and marked the floor with masking tape, which you can see in the picture above. Then we tried to move the shelves. Nope, not going to happen with just the two of us. Time to visit our wonderful custodians! They stepped right up and helped out with all of the heavy shelves. We even made use of scooter boards from the gym to make things a bit easier.

Shelves moved, floor vacuumed and most of the books put back. A busy afternoon, but very productive. The next morning I was able to put the remaining books on the shelves.

One of the most exciting things for me was the buzz created among the students as several came through the space and asked about what was happening. We posted a floor plan on the wall outside the library doors and these visitors became promoters of the new space with anyone who would listen to them.

Step 2: After a day of “normal” work, I moved on to moving around our computer lab. This time, I enlisted the help of our incredible, fabulous, couldn’t-live-without her, Instructional Coach (you may know her as @jen_aston) She arrived ready to work. We started by disconnecting all of the computers. Next, we enlisted the help of some students to relocate some of the machines. In our building of almost 800 students, there is certainly no such thing as an “extra” computer. Our intermediate teachers in the portables were very happy to receive one.

In advance of our work day, I had labelled all of the furniture with tape that indicated “stay”, “go” or the new location for an item. This made our job much easier. We piled all of the “go” furniture in a corner and then reconfigured the remaining pieces.

The result was fantastic! We could see our SOLE stations coming together, the new Makerspace was wide open and ready for possibilities and the extra furniture could wait until summer to be moved out. Just a few more last minute touches and it would be ready for September.

What happened next was my favourite part of this busy, and exhausting week.

On our final day of school before summer vacation, the one without students, I hosted a coffee break in our new Learning Commons. Staff were invited to come during a one-hour block for a tour and to have some coffee and treats. Now, I’m not sure about you, but if there is the offer of caffeinated beverages and free food, our staff seem to all be available.

Not accidentally, the coffee and treats were all the way back in the Makerspace so that staff had to walk through and see all of the changes that we had made. It became a 2 hour visit for most and I was thrilled to overhear the members of our Learning Commons Focus Group chatting with colleagues about the possibilities for the space. One even recorded a list of questions and ideas for me to take home and look at over the summer.

This transformation has become something owned by our staff and not just me. I am pleased to have such a great team for support and also to share my passion and hopes for this year.

Where’s the final product? Coming later this week. Just a couple more details to finish up before I post the final photos.

Updates:
1. In a previous post I mentioned that our space was limited due to teacher desks in the computer lab space. I’m happy to report that we were able to find them all different “homes” in our building and as a result we have more space to use.

2. Scheduling – this continues to be our biggest question/hurdle. School is just around the corner and we are ready to try some new things. I’m sure our first plan won’t be the perfect one and we have asked our staff to be ready to try a few versions of scheduling this fall. I’ll be sure to post about what we try and what we find most successful.

Any thoughts? I’d love to hear how others are doing with their own transformations.

Moving Forward – Time for staff input

Posted on May 7, 2015 by dawntelfer

It’s time to begin considering how we will prepare our staff for the change that is set to come in September. After meeting with my principal, and looking at our plans, we decided that I should gather a focus group of colleagues from our school. Five staff members were invited to join me for a short meeting to look at the idea of a Learning Commons and our vision for that change here at Trudeau. The focus group includes teachers from gr.1, 2, 5, 8 and one of our LSTs. Each of these colleagues was chosen for various reasons – experience with technology, current use of inquiry/collaborative practices in their classroom, and most importantly perhaps is that they are all voices valued by their colleagues and can be a communication piece for this process, bringing me questions from their colleagues and sharing information back with them as well

The focus group members received some information in advance of our meeting. Links to this blog and a copy of our school board’s recent announcement on the support of the Learning Commons were available to clarify some big ideas before beginning.

During our meeting, there was an overall feeling of support. This is certainly a group that embraces change and moving forward, especially when the focus is on what’s best for our students. Not surprisingly, mixed in with the nods and excited smiles were questions and potential roadblocks. Here are some of the issues we will need to consider as we move forward:

1. Scheduling – huge! How will we make this work? Right now, each class has a scheduled time in the library, many have scheduled lab time with a Media teacher and there are also open times available through our Google signout. We are all curious as to how we can open up the schedule to allow for the flexibility needed, but also ensure that everyone has access. What happens when only a couple of students wish to come and use the space vs a teacher who wishes to bring their whole class? I will be contacting other schools in our board who have already moved into the Learning Commons model to see what they do. I’m also hoping that my PLN on Twitter will be able to provide some insight.

2. Mindset shift for teachers – collaborative work vs individual, planning around use of technology as part of what they do, not an event. This was certainly the next biggest concern of the focus group. Inquiry and collaborative inquiry have been buzz words for the last year or so. Some teachers are beginning to experiment with what this looks like in their classrooms. Many are not there yet. What can we do to further their understanding? Well, we certainly hope to provide PD opportunities if needed but also hope to engage our phenomenal Instructional Coach to help. My role as Teacher-Librarian will be integral in collaborating with staff and students to create opportunities for learning. I think it will be important to remember baby steps vs jumping in too quickly.

3. Training for teachers – It was noted that some teachers may still be uncomfortable with some technology tools. Modelling through collaborative projects in the Learning Commons will be one way to make this happen. Our staff are also open to before and after school mini-PD sessions. We hope to continue this in the fall with various staff taking the lead depending on their area of expertise.

4. Maker space – need more direction. The idea of a “Maker Space” was met with much excitement. Once the buzz wore off, members of the group began to ask questions. Where will be get our supplies? Storage? Work in progress? What types of projects can we do? How do we ensure one class’ projects are not bothered by another class? Something we will definitely do is create a set of “Maker Space Norms” (Merci M. Thwaits). We also hope to enlist our IT Learning Coordinators as we learn more and share with our staff.

5. Prep teacher desks – Our current redesign plan allows for five prep teachers desks to have their home in the Learning Commons. Our school is very crowded and there is no extra space, however, we are hoping that some creative solutions might be found for moving these desks and allowing the Maker Space area to expand.

What a pleasure it was to experience the excitement of this group. I was certain they would be supportive but hadn’t anticipated such overt enthusiasm, especially mid-week, after school. There was even an offer to physically assist with the change. Pizza and moving shelves and desks? Sounds good to me. The group has received a copy of proposed design and will be sharing with their colleagues to gather feedback and questions to bring to our next gathering.

My next steps – I am going to do some more research in scheduling and how other schools in our board are making their new spaces work. Purchasing of some items we need is going to happen now and we will be creating a wish list for later. Some physical changes are going to take place now – moving some of the library shelving, removing excess furniture and equipment from the lab, relocating and lowering whiteboards to allow for ease of use by students, moving prep teacher desks to new location within the lab. We plan to roll out the design to our staff at our June staff meeing. I’m looking foward to enlisting the members of the focus group in this process instead of it all coming from me.

So readers…

Any suggestions? What has been your experience? Are we missing anything?

Planning process – where am I now?

Posted on April 22, 2015 by dawntelfer

The planning process is well underway for our Library to Learning Commons transformation. While there will certainly be noticeable changes, there will be some things that remain constant. Our current library space will have some things moved around to improve the flow and functionality of the space, but nothing will be removed. Our computer lab space will see the biggest changes as we move away from the traditional 1:1 student to computer model.

Recently, our board released a statement supporting the creation of the Learning Commons in our schools. “As we advocate for increased mobile technology use within our schools, we will leverage opportunities to move away from desktop labs to the creation of a Learning Commons which incorporates print and digital information in large flexible-use spaces.” TVDSB, April 8, 2015.

Our current lab has 22 computers arranged around the room. There is a data projector connected to one of the computers that projects to a wall-mounted screen. There is a small carpet in this area for group lessons. Two armoires house extra bits (cords, keyboards, mice, etc) and also some of our mobile technology – iPad minis, Zoomy microscopes, document cameras, etc. Due to space issues at our school, the lab is also home to three non-classroom teachers and their desks.

Our current design is very traditional with the library and lab space functioning as 2 separate spaces.

Here’s our vision:

A huge thank you to Learning Coordinator, Aretta Blue, for her help with this draft plan.

There will be 5 single computers along one side of the lab, 5 SOLE stations for collaborative work, a green screen area for recording and video projects, a large open area that can be used with mobile technology or as a maker space.

This new area will be set up to include charging stations for our mobile technology, a printer and yes, unfortunately, will may still need to include between three and five desk for teachers.

Next steps? After meeting with our principal, who is extremely supportive of the transformation, I have a better idea of our timeline. I am forming a focus group – 3-4 other staff members who can help me to look at the design, and vision, and provide input from their perspective. The group will include both classroom and non-classroom teachers, primary and junior levels as well as various levels of experience with technology and also teachers who are currently using great collaborative experiences in their classrooms. They will also be part of rolling out the plan to our staff at our June staff meeting. By this time, the design will be finalized and we will also have a list of items to order for the space.

We’re moving forward. One step at a time. I’m anticipating the focus group will both provide reassurance and push my thinking. Looking forward to sharing that experience soon.

Back to the Beginning

Posted on February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 by dawntelfer

As we plan our transformation from library to learning commons, I am trying to be mindful of the why and not just the how. This has meant lots of reading, conversations and reflection. As I was working on the floor plan for the new design, and was almost ready to share with our staff and in this blog, I realized that I really needed to take a step back and remind myself of the why.

What is a Learning Commons?
A Learning Commons is a flexible and responsive approach to helping schools
focus on learning collaboratively. It expands the learning experience, taking
students and educators into virtual spaces beyond the walls of a school.
A Learning Commons is a vibrant, whole-school approach, presenting
exciting opportunities for collaboration among teachers, teacher-librarians
and students. Within a Learning Commons, new relationships are formed
between learners, new technologies are realized and utilized, and both
students and educators prepare for the future as they learn new ways to learn.
And best of all, as a space traditionally and naturally designed to facilitate
people working together, a school’s library provides the natural dynamics for
developing a Learning Commons. Together for Learning

The passage above is one of the very first paragraphs from Together for Learning, a document I referenced in my first post. There are some key words and phrases that hit me this morning as I read through it for perhaps the 20th or even 30th time. Here’s what hit me:

“focus on learning collaboratively” – So often, I still see students working with tunnel vision. Quiet, focused, hopefully engaged. There may be little conversation and often no collaboration at all. It is my hope that a physical transformation will also lend itself to a shift in how students work. Plans for computer stations with one machine and 4 chairs (SOLE model), more open space for group work, multiple technologies available in one space – these could all support a collaborative learning environment.

“vibrant, whole-school approach” – this is perhaps what struck me the most this morning. Although I spend most of my day working with staff and students, much of my planning and dreaming is done in solitary. For our new learning commons approach to work at it’s best, I need to start sharing the vision now, prior to making any major changes. This involves not only staff, but students and parents as well. It will be important for me to have them excited about the possibilities and also help them to realize that this “new” plan, fits in with current best-practice.

What is a Library Learning Commons?
A learning commons is a whole school approach
to building a participatory learning community.
The library learning commons is the physical and
virtual collaborative learning hub of the school. It
is designed to engineer and drive future-oriented
learning and teaching throughout the entire school.
Inquiry, project/problem-based learning experiences
are designed as catalysts for intellectual engagement
with information, ideas, thinking, and dialogue.
Reading thrives, learning literacies and technology
competencies evolve, and critical thinking, creativity,
innovation and playing to learn are nourished.
Everyone is a learner; everyone is a teacher working
collaboratively toward excellence.
Some metaphors for the school library learning
commons might be: learning laboratory, idea
factory, studio or even “great room” in the school
and community. Canadian Library Association, Leading Learning

Again, this second document used the term “whole-school” approach. I’m also struck by the reference to it being the “hub of the school”. There is nothing I love more than multiple groups/classes using our current library at the same time. The buzz of many students, working on multiple tasks, gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. A relative once told me that they were sure their child’s school library had tumbleweeds blowing through. Whenever they were in that school, the doors to the library were closed, the lights were off and no one was using the space. This is something I have worked very hard to avoid. No tumbleweeds here.

“Great room” – what a wonderful idea. The learning commons as the heart of the school. The gathering place where all are welcome. A space that is comfortable, open and thriving.

Change can be scary. From my past experience, it is also often messy. In the coming months, I have plans to connect with several schools who have undergone this transformation, or are in the midst, and am looking forward to their insight.

If there are any readers who have passed where we are headed, I am curious to know your thoughts. How do I ensure that the changes we make best fit our school? How do I ensure that this becomes a whole-school approach and not just a change in the library?

Blogging Beginnings

Posted on February 4, 2015 by dawntelfer

Well, here goes. I’m making the leap into the world of blogging. To be completely honest, it may be more of a fall after being gently pushed. Regardless of how I arrived at this moment, I feel ready to use this medium as a means of recording where I have been, where I’m going and reflecting on the whole process.

I have been in my current role as Teacher-Librarian for the last 5 years, over the course of which we have seen a huge move from “library” towards “Learning Commons” in our schools. No longer are we content to stay as the library in a traditional sense of print resources and quiet reading/work space. The move is towards the “learning commons” – a space that is both physical and virtual; a space that encourages collaboration, inquiry and innovation; a space that sees students as creators and not not just consumers.

There are 2 current documents that drive many in this field. Together for Learning was produced by the Ontario Library Association (OLA) in 2010. The latest is Leading Learning, written by the Canadian Library Association (CLA) in 2014.

Although I have made programming changes over the last few years to lead our school in this direction, we are now looking at taking the giant leap and have begun plans to change the space physically as well.

Here’s what our current physical layout looks like:

There is also a traditional computer lab beyond the back wall that you will be able to see in the photos that follow.

Picture book area with SmartBoard; open area with tables for working; circulation desk with French novels and Professional resources along back wall. One of our favourite features of the library it it’s flexible furniture arrangement. We transform 2x a year into a book fair, host monthly parent meetings, and have used the space for author visits, theatre productions, and so much more. (It was even transformed into a temporary classroom for 5 weeks one fall).

A cozy reading corner for our younger students; most of our collection – 3 banks of Fiction and 3 of Nonfiction. The shelving often seems very tall to visitors who ask if we have any concerns about sight lines. We are fortunate to have a student population where this isn’t much of an issue. The taller shelves have left us more open space.

Our computer lab. This began with 30 computers. We have seen it used both as a prep delivery space and on a sign-out basis. This year we have reduced the number of computers to 20, as we have opened several new classrooms. The space is currently a combination of open sign-out and permanent bookings for our Media Literacy teacher. The space also houses the desks of 4 non-classroom teachers and is the home of our Lego-robotics club.

While I love the size of our space and most of the components we already have, I feel they can be rearranged to produce a different feel, and better support student learning, especially in our lab.

The planning process is already underway. I am looking forward to recording successes, roadblock and questions during this journey. Stay tuned for my next post which will include thoughts on the planning process and a draft of the new design.

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From Library to Learning Commons

Thoughts along the way