Reflect on how the concepts of information literacy, technology, and digital/media intersect. How did this week's readings, resources, and podcast inform your understanding of these concepts? Specifically address your own information diet and what you believe the information diet of a school librarian should look like.
The P21st Century Learning Framework shows the importance of integrating all key concepts to help our students. It allows for teachers and students to know what’s important to learn about in today’s world. They must be critical, creative thinkers and know how to use technology. Students' use of technology is far different than it was 10 years ago and it will only continue to evolve. To be able to use technology, we must insist our students are prepared to use it and can evolve with it.
Using the perspective and context of a KQ article I explored, compare/contrast the AASL and ISTE standards. What differences do you see? What similarities? How do you envision these standards working together?
So here's the thing...after my years in education, I have learned that to get everyone within a school to do their part, teachers must buy into what we're selling. After reading Deborah Ehler-Hansen and Casey O'Meara's (2019), Portrait of a Graduate and the National School Library Standards I was about 89% sold into believeing the standards are the thing that will help our students. I appreciated how they not only showed how the standards were broken into I Can statements, but they were also put into a rubric to help show students proficiency level. But, I'd like to see some data. Where are the numbers that shows us that these standards are great, purposeful, useful, and that thing that will make our gradutes ready for this world with the abilities to think, create, share, and always grow?
Well, here you go... It may not be numbers, but this video is evidence directly from students. Watch as students as young as 3rd graders explain how some of these standards are beneficial and helping them become better thinkers and problem solvers.
AASL video showcasing students explaing the inquire
standard in which they try to find answers to questions
Photo of the Shared Foundations
of the AASL Standards integration
The Shared Foundations are beneficial in helping to see some of the differences in the standards. But the most beneficial resource Ifound in helping me see the alignment between ideas is the AASL created National School Library Standards Crosswalks with ISTE Standards for Students and Educators. It uses the shared foundation to and creates domainsfor each standard. Then each standard within a domain is placed side by side to see connections. The thing that stood out most to me in terms of differences betweent theAmerican Association of School Libraries (AASL) standards and the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) standards isthe verbiage and word choice. Due to the word choice sometimes competencies or alignmentsfor the learner, school librarian, or school library weren't covered by the ISTE standards though they were covered by the AASL standards.
The ISTE standards seem to be geared more toward technological advancement while the AASL standards only specifically mentions the technolgy standard in the Engage domain. However, that is not to say that the AASL doesn't see the importance of technology, though not explictly mentioned it is implied. Again, that is just the word choice of the standards. It also makes sense that ISTE has technology weaved through its standards when you considering the word technology is in its name. Nonetheless, Both set of standards work together to increase students critical thinking, digital literacy, problem, solving skills, and ability to access resources. Each need to be taught and/or utilized to create powerful, engaging lessons for students.
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
The AASL and ISTE standards are necessities in a school library. The standards provide the teacher librarians with a framework of what to teach and ensures the students are recieving all the information. Upon reviewing both standards I can appreciate the similarites, but question some of the differences. However simialr or different the Shared Foundations are used regardless of the standard because they are the core values promoted and reflected by learners, school librarians, and the school libraries (AASL, 2020).
References
American Association of School Libraries (2017). Learners interprets the standards: Inquire. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlGLPyAFqVc&t=12s
