Class 2: More on Standards

Some of what I found most interesting from last week's class:

• It's important to distinguish between work that is done to improve the lives of young people and work done to improve products or processes. School librarians and educators are not the same as other professionals, and the standards they follow should bear this in mind. Standards can try to make a common goal for all, but the human aspect of the profession should always take precedent.
• School librarians are about helping all students, regardless of their career/life ambitions. Whether students want to be physicists, stay-at-home parents, cosmetologists, etc., students are well-served by a librarian who can connect learners to technologies and knowledge that will benefit them. Effective search strategies can help students research which college to attend or in finding online jobs to apply for.
• Not only are school librarians developing students learning, they can play an active role in facilitating staff learning. By staying current with educational and technology trends and standards, the librarian can become a crucial individual within the school system. Because librarians have to serve various populations within the school, they will need to be mindful of what their priorities are.
• I don't normally think about school librarians when I hear the term "globalization," but as educators of technology and information-seeking, there is definitely a connection. More than ever, students are expected to be engaged both at a local, community-based level and at an international level. Because technology is a key proponent of globalization, it makes sense that a tech-savvy librarian can help students find their place in the digital world. Similarly, librarians can help implement AASL and other standards through inquiry-based learning and other initiatives in the school library.