Collaboration Why is it important? What does it look like? How do we make it happen? What is it?

For years… School librarians had many hoops they thought were important!

Teaching how to care for books. Teaching the Dewey system. Teaching author, title, and subject cards in the card catalog. Understanding the importance of stamping the due date on the date due card. Understanding the importance of library-user signatures on those little cards in the back of each book. might Ordering books that might support the curriculum. All done in isolation – without direct knowledge of (or involvement in) classroom activities or direct input from the teachers!

What Hoop Is Important for School Librarians Today?

Establishing and Maintaining Establishing and Maintaining Information Literate Technology-Rich Programs… That are aligned with the curriculum

Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) teaching together –Teacher - responsible for content –Library Media Specialist - responsible for information literacy and technology Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) assessing student learning together –student mastery of content –student mastery of the process (information literacy skills) Collaboration Means…

Classroom Teachers Library Media Specialist

Classroom TeachersLibrary Media Specialist Integrated curriculum linking content, information literacy, and technology

Constructivist learning –Students building new knowledge –Scaffolding Information explosion Technology integration Student achievement –State standardized achievement tests –SAT/ACT –Reading –End-of-Course testing Collaboration supports…

Evaluation –Schools/Districts (State Report Card) –Teachers –Library Media Specialists –Library Media Centers Collaboration supports…

Collaboration Why Is It Important? “More is accomplished jointly than could have been individually.” Mattessich, Paul and Barbara R. Monsey. Collaboration: What Makes it Work: a Review of Research Literature on Factors Influencing Successful Children. Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1992.

Steps to Collaboration Cooperation Coordination Collaboration No Involvement Full Integration

Steps to Collaboration CoordinationCoordination is informal. No commonly defined goals or planning effort. No communication between the classroom- based teachers and library media specialist. Activities in the media center coordinate with topics the media specialist thinks are being taught in the classroom.

Steps to Collaboration CooperationCooperation is a more formal working relationship. Some communication between the teacher and the media specialist exists. No formal curriculum planning. Teacher often asks for resources to be checked out for use in the classroom. Media specialist continues to coordinate library instruction which is now based on requests from teacher.

Steps to Collaboration CollaborationCollaboration is a formal working relationship. Communication channels exist between the teacher and the media specialist exists. Joint effort in curriculum design. Classroom and media center instruction planned and delivered jointly.

Collaboration is… Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) planning together –Determing what students need to know –Teaching how to access information –Teaching how to evaluate information –Teaching how to interpret information –Teaching how to apply information

Collaboration means… Teacher(s) and library media specialist(s) jointly plan how and where the lesson(s) will be taught plan the content, the information literacy skills, and technology skills to be included plan how these skills relate to the content decide each person's role(s) and responsibilities

Collaboration Moves From Competing to consensus building Working alone to including others from different fields and backgrounds Thinking mostly about activities and programs to thinking about larger results and strategies Focusing on short-term accomplishments to requiring long-term results

Benefits of Collaboration

Students Benefits Learning turned into action –Involved in learning –Excited about learning –Transfer of learning Independent use of relevant, integrated information & technology skills Connections between subject areas Independent learner-information and technology literate Improved student achievement

Teacher Benefits "Two heads are better than one" Lightens teaching load Makes teaching more effective Renews excitement about teaching Provides additional resources for classroom instruction Assists with interdisciplinary instruction Improves student achievement

Benefits for Library Media Specialists Changes others perceptions of who the media specialist is and what he/she can do –Teacher –Technologist –Program Administrator Integrates library media center resources and instruction into curriculum

Expands leadership role of library media specialist Creates advocates for the library media specialist Renews (or creates!) excitement about library media center Improves student achievement Benefits for Library Media Specialists

Administrator Benefits Changes perception of who the LMS is and what the library media specialist can do Integrates library media resources and instruction into curriculum (Return On Investment) Expands connections to community Improves student achievement

Collaboration Making it happen

Roadblocks to Collaboration Perception of the role of the library media specialist –By Administrators –By Teachers –By Library Media Specialist Library Media Center schedule School Master Schedule Library Media Center staff

Overcoming the Roadblocks Start small Be enthusiastic Build rapport and trust Offer to serve on curriculum planning committees Begin/expand dialogue with principal

Overcoming the Roadblocks Keep all stakeholders informed Compile bibliographies and research guides Develop a curriculum map Develop a collection map KNOW the curriculum and content standards and DEMONSTRATE that knowledge!

Overcoming the Roadblocks Teach students in front of teachers Offer professional development classes Research issues that affect teaching Build library media center professional collection Model/teach effective use of technology

For collaboration to work... School environment must be positive and supportive. Media specialist must be seen as a part of "the group." Media specialist must be a part of the decision- making process. Communication must be open, two-way, and continuous. Vision and purpose of the media center must be shared with all stakeholders. Media center must have adequate and up-to- date resources that are aligned with the school’s curriculum.

Collaborate Successfully Know where you're going;if you're unclear about some of the issues, talk with knowledgeable associates Build relationships and alliances. Know who the key players are and what their priorities are. Find out how to help them. Disarm the opposition. Understand where potential opponents stand and why. Get their perspectives and learn from them. Practice win/win when problem-solving. Your ultimate objective is student achievement.

Collaborate Successfully Respect individual strengths Advertise your successes, esp. word-of- mouth Remain flexible Be willing to compromise Keep on keepin' on!

Collaboration Ensures that learners have access to relevant resources at the point of instructional need Provides professional development for faculty, staff, and administrators

Improved Student Achievement Collaboration + Reading Literacy + Information & Technological Literacy

Bibliography Buzzeo, Toni. Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher/ Librarian Partnerships for K-6. Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing, Donham, Jean. Enhancing Teaching and Learning: A Leadership Guide for School Library Media Specialists. New York, NY: Neal- Schuman Publishers, Noah, Carolyn B. and Linda W. Braun. The Browsable Classroom: An introduction to E-Learning for Librarians. New York, NY: Neal- Schuman Publishers, Olrich, Karen Browne. Making Flexible Access and Flexible Scheduling Work Today. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Thomas, Melody. "What Is Collaboration to You?" Library Talk 15, no. 2 (March/April 2002): Tschamler, Addie. "Top Secret: Collaborative Efforts Really Do Make a Difference." Library Talk 15, no. 2 (March/April 2002):