swift (student web instruction for teachers) a hennepin county library initiative american library...
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SWIFT (Student Web
Instruction for Teachers)A Hennepin County Library Initiative
American Library Association
Annual Conference June, 2005
WELCOME
Cyndi Webster
SWIFT Project Manager
Youth Services Librarian
Amy McNally
Former Project Manager
Youth Services Librarian
What is SWIFT?• A partnership between Hennepin County
Library and area secondary schools
• Improves online research skills among students and teachers
• Teaches students and teachers to use Hennepin County Library's online resources, such as TeenLinks, to access databases, selected websites, and the library catalog
• Promotes information literacy by teaching students and teachers how to effectively locate and evaluate internet sources on a specific topic
How Does SWIFT Work?
• SWIFT includes classroom visits and staff development workshops
• Classroom workshops designed to work within a class period (45 min.)
• Staff development workshops more in-depth (1-1 ½ hr.)
• Both types of workshops include hands-on component
Example of PresentationContent Outline:1. Introductions to trainers and to
Hennepin County Library home page (up to 5 minutes)
2. Using the Library Catalog (up to 10 minutes)
3. Ask a Librarian (up to 5 minutes)4. Online Library Card Application
and My Account (up to 5 minutes)
5. TeenLinks: Homework Help (5-10 minutes)
6. TeenLinks: Read On (up to 5 minutes)
7. Hands-on Experience (10-20 minutes)
The Seed of an Idea
• Following classroom visits, teachers said that they needed online instruction as much as the students
• Pew Internet & American Life report: Students report that teachers need more in-service training on how to integrate Internet into their curricula. (“The Digital Disconnect: The widening gap between Internet-savvy students and their schools.” August 14, 2002) http://www.pewinternet.org
Ineffective Old Model
• Responding on-demand
to individual requests
from schools.
• Visiting a full day of
classes with the teacher
relatively uninvolved
•Focus on book-talking, not homework and
research•Very staff intensive•General library overview is a tough to sell to
students
New Model
• Managing the relationship by defining the service
• Involving teachers in planning and co-teaching the content
•Focusing on in-service workshops
•Stressing efficiency. The library really can make their school lives easier!
Establishing and Nurturing Relationships
• Build on existing connections
• Encourage public library to use
media specialists as primary school
contacts
• Help public libraries understand the
particular need of schools in
general, and of individual schools
• Understand what public libraries can
do to contribute to student learning
Collaboration
• School libraries and public libraries have
different, complementary roles
• Public libraries should not replace school
library media services, but enhance those
services
• Connecting with teachers is a very efficient way
to reach students
• Media specialists are the key to a successful
collaboration between schools and the public
library
Conditions for Success
• A shared vision and common goals• Process of formal planning• Ongoing evaluation processes• Commitment from those involved• Channels of communication• Adequate funding• Adequate staffing
» School and Public Library Relationships
Shirley A. Fitzgibbons, Associate Professor Emerita
Getting it Rolling
• A champion takes on the cause
• Grant is written to/approved by the library foundation
• School partners are secured
• Position is posted
• Work plan is created
Library Foundation: Funding and Support
David Lane made grant request for…
• Part-time project manager (.4 FTE)
• Part of PLT (Public Learning and Training)
• 9 month pilot program
• Budget of $20,395
Pilot Program
• Modeled after PLT
• Underlying philosophy: “Work with the living”
• Must be manageable and useful to librarians
• Goal is to balance needs of schools with needs of library
SWIFT Advisory Group
• established to help create the content of the websites, both public and staff
• 3 librarians with different backgrounds and interests gave input drawing from their diverse experiences
• Websites one of the main sources of communication with public and staff
Getting Librarians Buy In
• Differing levels of staff participation
• Encouraged to do presentations with colleagues
• Sub funds to cover both preparation and time of presentation
• Project manager available to assist
• Guidelines and objectives established
Communication Between Schools and Libraries
• Learning about teachers’ needs
• Adjusting the library’s message accordingly
• Having a person to contact and avoid the run around
• Focused mailings, avoiding information overload
Research and Statistics
• Colorado– www.lrs.org/documents/lmcstudies/CO/CO2brochure.pdf
– www.lrs.org/documents/fastfacts/150LM2PL.PDF
• Missouri – www.dese.state.mo.us/divimprove/curriculum/lmcindex.htm
• School Libraries role better understood– NCLB www.ala.org/ala/aaslbucket/AASLNCLBbrochureweb.pdf– Information Power
– www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/informationpower/informationpower.htm
Critical Success FactorsFocus on the classroom assignment
Teacher’sCurriculum
Unit
Teacher
HCL OnlineResources
School Media Resources
HCLLibrarian
“Units! Units! Units!” -Glenn Skoy, Media Coordinator, Minnetonka High School
Web Pages Go Live – Staff page
Various handouts and resources for library staff
Pilot Program Stats
From February 2003 to February 2004…
• 1512 students,• 241 teachers, and• 125 media specialists
received training
Pilot Program Feedback
• More focused evaluation during last two months of pilot program
• 54 teachers returned evaluations
• 8326 students taught by these teachers (average: 154 students per teacher)
Pilot Program Feedback
• 50/54 responded that they were likely to use the information they learned for class assignments
• 96% rated the usefulness of content as “excellent”
• 96% rated the instructor’s presentation as “excellent”
• 98% rated the instructor’s knowledge of material as “excellent”
Moving Beyond the Grant
• Taking it to the top: selling program to Library Administration
• Sharing program with library community and with state government
• Securing Staffing
System Wide Involvement
• Commitment at the top levels
• Position folded into a full-time Youth Services Position (.5 YS, .5 SWIFT)
• Other groups and committees started looking toward SWIFT for support in questions about working with schools
• Continued presentation to library staff about program
Keeping It Fresh
• Input from staff and schools• Presentations to other
groups– Child care providers– Parent groups– Access cable– County Commissioners– On statewide committee– School festivals
• Updates and expansion of web pages
You Can Do It Too!
Regardless of size of your system
• Dedicated staff• Find funding source• Administration
support• Start small if need be
and expand• Statistics say it all
Contact Information
Cyndi WebsterSWIFT (Student Web Instruction for Teachers)Project Manager for Hennepin County Libraries [email protected]
565 Prairie Center Dr.Eden Prairie, MN 55344Voice Mail: (952)847-5386
http://www.hclib.org/ToolboxForTeachers
Additional Resources:
Our Favorite Websites
• ALSC School/Public Library Cooperative Activities
www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/forlibrarians/SchPLCoopActivities.htm
• ALSC Electronic Discussion Lists -ALSCPUBSCH
www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscnews/alscdisclist/electronicdiscussion.htm
• AASL Resource Guides for School Library Media Program Development
www.ala.org/aaslTemplate.cfm?Section=studentachieve
• Professional Development: School Public Library Cooperation www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/profdev/schoolpublic.htm
More Web Sites
• Fools Gold: Computers in Childhoodwww.allianceforchildhood.net/projects/computers/computers_reports_fools_gold_download.htm
• Northeast Massachusetts Library System www.nmrls.org/youth/idylls.html
• School and Public Library Relationships, by Shirley A. Fitzgibbons. Available online on AASL web page.
• Partners in Learning Bibliographyhttp://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listschoolpa.html
• New York Public Library’s CLASP (Connecting Libraries And Schools Project): http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/clasp/default.htm
• Multnomah County’s School Corps: http://www.multcolib.org/schoolcorps/