Jun 12 2008
Thing #7a: My Experience and an Interesting Blog Item
Twitter, Widgets, Tags—my brain feels compacted! It’s not the new terms, the multitude of blogs, or even the new technology. It is the extreme shift that the Media Specialist’s job has taken in the nine years I have been an elementary school Media Specialist. I have worked or “played” all day today with the RSS, Google Reader, and scores of blogs, and not once did I even read the words “collection”, or “circulation”, “cataloging”or “Dewey Decimal System”. No, not once were they mentioned, and these were the essence of the majority of my studies when getting my masters ten years ago.
It’s a good thing I like new and challenging things. But who is to continue the work of the collection if we are busy with the new technology? Oh, I know that for the most part my dealings with the new technology will involve collaboration with the teachers and methodology with information skill lessons.But I still see my hand hovering over the panic button.
But blogs like Joyce Valenza’s and postings and video tutorials like those on 30Boxes‘ blog help us navigate the shift. Both sites offer tutorials and concrete advice as well as the philosophy behind the need to use the newer technology. Sites such as these offer the why and the how.
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I appreciate your post, Faye. Isn’t it true that progress rarely results from the status quo? Typically, there is an uncomfortable, unsettling period if real growth is going to happen. I think that’s what we’re all experiencing together at this point in our careers. We just need to support and encourage each other. Blogging is one way we can do that. After 30 years of teaching, I feel much like I did on my first day …all the excitement but minus the anxiety (thank heavens!).
I believe you are right. Thanks for the encouraging and supportive words.