ETL504 Teacher
Librarian as Leader has provided me valuable insights into my ongoing role as
the teacher librarian in a primary school. As the final subject of my Masters
of Education (Teacher Librarianship), it has given me a clear path forwards to
enhance the profile of the school library and provide valuable support in
curriculum implementation and instruction. The following is a critical
reflection of the knowledge and understandings that this subject has given me
on the leadership role of the teacher librarian.
This subject really
enlightened my thinking by reading about all of the different leadership styles
(BenBrocker, 2012, March 22; Marzano, Waters, &
McNulty, 2005). I had not
previously understood that there were that many different approaches to
leadership (which is clearly illustrated in my first
blog post), but it makes perfect sense when you consider the range of
different personalities and values (Sergiovanni, 2005) we encounter on a daily basis. I
began to classify people in my home and school environments according to their
styles of leadership and evaluated the effectiveness of these different styles
through the way people interact with each of these individuals. It certainly made
me more aware of the ways that I assert my
own leadership. Ideally, I as a leader I am a combination of
transformational (inspiring), servant (ninja) and instructional (teacher). Important
also to my learning was the deepened understanding of the reciprocal
roles of leadership and learners (Mengel, 2015, September 26, 11:27) through Leadership
for Learning (Swaffield & MacBeath, 2008).
The teacher librarian
plays an important role within a number of teams in the school (Aguilar, n.d.; Belbin, 2012). Being part of a leadership team
is important for knowing what is happening within the school, impacting upon
curriculum and educational change within the school, and enhancing the profile
of the library through a better understanding of the services a teacher
librarian can offer. As a way forward, I intend to be more proactive in involving
myself with different teams within my school.
I had not considered
the importance of problem solving processes and change management theories
before. Tapscott (TED, 2012, June 28), Kotter (n.d.) and Cameron and Green (2009) were particularly significant in
my shaping my thinking, as evidenced in my blog post on Four
Principles for an Open World. Having clear principles and processes aid in
achieving the desire outcomes. Previously, I feel I was definitely more hot
headed and oppositional when dealing with change (I identify with being a
critic & victim in response to change
(DoodleSlide., 2012, March 16) ). As a result of my learning I
now resolve to be more of a navigator and aid in the transformational processes
of the school setting whilst also being more aware of potential responses that
others may have to change and prepare for those. I particularly liked the idea
of survival anxiety having to be greater that learning anxiety and that learning anxiety must be reduced rather than
increasing survival anxiety (Cameron & Green, 2009).
Transformational leaders need a
vision. This unit has opened my eyes to the importance of having a clear, well
thought out vision for the future (Collay, 2011; DoodleSlide, 2012, July 11; Townsend,
2011; Wong, 2012). Over the coming
term, I intend to apply a thorough, STEEP environmental scan (Watt, 2011) using
my blog
analysis as a rough framework to create a mission statement that
encompasses our current position in the school and a vision statement for the
future. I feel I am now
able distinguish (Mengel, 2015, October 03 21:33) the clear differences
between a mission and a vision, thanks to JISC infonet (2012) and Johnson (2010).
Now that I am aware of the difference and the specific role each of these
statements can play, I want to harness their power to increase the profile of
our school library and create a strategic plan for the future.
Finally, ETL504 has
shaped my understanding of the role of the teacher librarian in 21st century.
My understanding of educational theories has shifted after learning about the
concept of connectivist theory, that is not only creating understanding, but
generating new knowledge (Starkey, 2012). Trilling and Fadel (2009) discussed the interplay of
skills and themes which lead me to investigate learning commons models (Accardi, Cordova, & Leeder, 2010; Brooks Kirkland
& Koechlin, 2015; Hayes, 2014; Koechlin, Luhtala, & Loertscher, 2011) and Makerspaces (Loertscher, Preddy, & Derry, 2013; Wernick, 2011). Combes’ (2009)
writing on important steps to becoming a leader for your library and O’Connell's (2012) work on supporting the needs of
community through leadership was
inspiring and I plan to be guided by these over the coming years. In
particular, the instructional leadership role will be important to embrace. I began
collaborative planning with teachers in own school last term, and aim continue
forward with the strategic plan created for assignment.
Accardi, M. T., Cordova, M., &
Leeder, K. (2010). Reviewing the library learning commons: History, models, and
perspectives. College &
Undergraduate Libraries, 17(2/3), 310-329. doi: 10.1080/10691316.2010.481595
Aguilar, E. (n.d.). Effective
teams: The key to transforming schools? K-12
Education & learning innovations with proven strategies that work:
Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teacher-teams-transform-schools-elena-aguilar.
Belbin, R. M. (2012). The art of
building a team. Team
Roles at Work. (2 ed., pp.
97-106). Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. Retrieved from http://CSUAU.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=535053.
BenBrocker. (2012, March 22).
Leadership theory and critical skills [video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAzhiEsZtY
Brooks Kirkland, A., &
Koechlin, C. (2015). Leading Learning. Teacher
Librarian, 42(5), 45-47. Retrieved from: http://www.teacherlibrarian.com/
Cameron, E., & Green, M.
(2009). Individual change. Making
sense of change management : A complete guide to the models, tools and
techniques of organisational change. (2
ed., pp. 12-61). London: Kogan Page. Retrieved from http://CSUAU.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=433139.
Combes, B. (2009). Challenges for teacher librarianship in
the 21st century: Part 3 - status and role. SCIS Connections, 69. Retrieved from http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/challenges_for_teacher_librarianship.html
Collay, M. (2011). Chapter 3:
Teaching is leading. Everyday
teacher leadership: Taking action where you are (pp. 75-108). San Francisco, CA: Wiley.
DoodleSlide. (2012, July 11). What
is transformational leadership? [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60O2OH7mHys
DoodleSlide. (2012, March 16).
Change management explained in 1 minute [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmoDpj1jtyA
Hayes, T. (2014). Library to
learning commons: A recipe for success. Education
Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.cea-ace.ca/
JISC infoNet. (2012) Defining and articulating your
vision, mission and values. Retrieved from http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/mission-vision-values/
Johnson, B. (2010, May 12). What's the difference between
mission and vision [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2MyaR0gMo0
Koechlin, C., Luhtala, M., & Loertscher, D. V. (2011).
Knowledge Building in the Learning Commons. Teacher
Librarian, 38(3), 20-26. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=59242981&site=ehost-live
Kotter, J. (n.d.). The 8-step
process for leading change. Kotter
International - Innovative Strategy Implementation Professionals. Retrieved from: http://www.kotterinternational.com/our-principles/changesteps/changesteps
Loertscher, D. V., Preddy, L.,
& Derry, B. (2013). Makerspaces in the school library Learning Commons and
the uTEC maker model. Teacher
Librarian, 41(2), 48-51. Retrieved from: http://www.teacherlibrarian.com/
Marzano, R. J., Waters, T., & McNulty,
B. A. (2005). Some theories and theorists on leadership. School leadership that works : From
research to results (pp.
13-27). Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development. Retrieved from http://www.csuau.eblib.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/patron/Read.aspx?p=280397.
Mengel, M. (2015, September 26, 11:27) RE: Task 1:
Introduction: Leadership for learning [Online forum comment].
Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&course_id=_6073_1&conf_id=_6711_1&forum_id=_32373_1&message_id=_406627_1&nav=discussion_board_entry
Mengel, M. (2015, October 03, 21:33) RE: Task 2: Vision vs
mission [Online forum comment]. Retrieved from https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/discussionboard/do/message?action=list_messages&course_id=_6073_1&conf_id=_6711_1&forum_id=_36295_1&message_id=_416825_1&nav=discussion_board_entry
O’Connell, J. (2012). Change has
arrived at an iSchool library near you. In P. Godwin & J. Parker (Eds.), Information literacy beyond library
2.0 (pp. 215-228). London:
Facet.
Sergiovanni, T. J. (2005). The
virtues of leadership. Educational
Forum, 69(2), 112-123. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=15852244&site=ehost-live
Starkey, L. (2012). Chapter 3:
Knowledge and connectivism. Teaching
and learning in the digital age: Taylor and Francis.
Swaffield, S., & MacBeath, J.
(2008). Leadership for learning. In J. MacBeath & N. Dempster (Eds.), Connecting leadership and learning
: Principles for practice. (pp.
32-52). London: Routledge.
TED. (2012, June 28). Don Tapscott:
Four principles for the open world [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfqwHT3u1-8
Townsend, T. (2011). School
leadership in the twenty-first century: different approaches to common
problems? School Leadership
& Management: Formerly School Organisation, 31(2), 93-103. doi:
10.1080/13632434.2011.572419
Trilling, B., & Fadel, C.
(2009). Chapter 3: Learning and innovation skills. 21st Century skills :
Learning for life in our times. Wiley.
Wa t t , D. ( 2 0 1 1 , A u g u s t 4 ) . St r a t e g i c pl a n n i n g f o r s c h o o l l i b r a r i e s [ S l i d e s h o w ] . R e t r i e v e d fr o m http://www.slideshare.net/halfpintofwisdom/strategic-planning-for-libraries
Wernick, L. (2011). Changing
spaces. American School &
University, 83(9), 24-28. Retrieved from: http://www.penton.com/
Wong, T. (2012). Strategic
long-range planning. Library
Media Connection, 31(2), 22-23. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=iih&AN=82392196&site=ehost-live