The AASL and ISTE Standards Integration
Throughout my research this week, I
discovered that while both the AASL and ISTE standards share common themes, they
also keep the learner at the forefront. In
both realms they target learning outcomes and desired skill sets that can be
integrated effectively by school librarians who create rich learning
experiences for students.
The
Start of Something New, A Relationship between the AASL Standards Framework for
Learners and IB Approaches to Learning by Calypso Gilstrap (Knowledge
Quest. 47(5). 30-36.) stood out to me as a connection to how both sets of standards
and IB’s Approaches to Learning can be integrated to ensure that students
thrive academically and personally in the world they are living in. The International Baccalaureate Organization
was created over fifty years ago with the purpose of creating peace through
education. This growing program is chosen
by schools because of its focus on rigorous academics as well as students’
personal development. There is a clear
common trend in our current educational world to teach the whole child and to
continue to support all aspects of a student’s growth. Another common trend is that of employers who
are looking to hire people who display workplace skills. Gilstrap states, “Students must practice
desired workplace skills, including the ability to adapt to new technologies
and to communicate, collaborate, and think, while maintaining a high level of
research skills,” (Gilstrap, 32). Gilstrap
also includes practical applications for educators to facilitate teaching these
skills such as “Fish Bowl Discussion” and “Reflection 3-2-1 Exit Ticket.” As a 5th grade teacher, I often incorporate
activities like these to ensure my students are learning communication skills as
well as developing those inquiry skills needed to become critical thinkers and
researchers.
The ISTE standards provide the guidelines
and resources for librarians and all educators to help structure their learning
environments to cultivate these skills with our students. The AASL focuses on the librarian and the
learner whereas the ISTE standards include other school leaders such as
administrators, classroom teachers, interventionists, and coaches. As I think about how these two sets of
standards can be integrated and utilized by all educators in a school setting, the
question that keeps coming to me is, how does a librarian in an elementary
school create and manage learning opportunities for both the students and their
colleagues effectively and efficiently? In schools we have teachers who are reluctant
to learn new technology. How can I, as a
future librarian, ease the transition to integrating new technology within our
lessons for our students?
References
Gilstrap, G. (2019). The start of something new: A
relationship between AASL standards framework for learners and IB approaches to
learning. Knowledge Quest. 47(5). 30-36.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2022).
ISTE. https://www.iste.org/standards/iste- standards-for-teachers.
Hi Stacey - Thank you for your post. I think there are several ways that we as future librarians can plan to be a part of the literacy culture of our school. As a solo component of the school faculty (without a team, subject area, or grade level) we will need to be active and purposeful in our engagement. The librarian I work with visits grade level planning regularly, sits on the literacy committee and SIC, and sponsors of the JumpStart morning show, to name a few ways. I have also joined several library groups on social media and noted other ideas that serve to facilitate connections between the library staff and the school community. Some examples: library service menus, monthly/quarterly newsletters, faculty book clubs, and hosting family literacy nights or open houses.
ReplyDeleteHi Stacey! You spoke to a lot of the very same similarities and differences that I too saw between the two sets of standards – especially the idea that even though they had their differences they both kept the student at the center of everything they are trying to accomplish. As far as your closing question, I think the course I just finished before this one (SLIS 742) really helped me to understand all the different way to engage with the classroom teachers (even the reluctant ones) in order to show them all the ways that the library/librarian can be used as a resource for their classroom.
ReplyDeleteStacy,
ReplyDeleteI agree that students are the focus of both sets of standards. It's important to remember we should be providing our students with meaningful opportunities to use technology. There's a lot of great technology out there but if we can't find relevant ways to incorporate it's use with our students then it's not something we should acquire for our libraries.
Christine
Stacy, I agree that it is best to keep the students as a main focus while utilizing the standards in the library. It is also important that teacher librarian utilizes these standards so that we are view as actual teachers, just in a different manner. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDelete