Resource based learning - topic 1

Resource-based learning is certainly a viable model of student learning. The opportunties for students to become active thinkers and learners through both independent and collaborative tasks is essential for students to be better prepared for future study and life beyond school. RBL empowers students to take responsibility for their own learning. It frequently is more challenging than teacher centered instruction but students need to be pushed to think on a higher level cognitively.
However, from my own experience at school currently (at an all-boys school) there is very little to no collaboration of TLs working with teachers. This is certainly due to limited TL staffing and also a school structure that doesn't facilitate this collaboration of teacher and TL learning. I am yet to see a teacher and TL working together at the planning and student learning stages. The school does consider RBL as an essential teaching methodology, in a classroom environment. However, school administration doesn't appear to support the collaborative nature of RBL between TL and teacher. TLs are certainly under utilised in my school. Potentially there could well be differing and clashing views between teacher and TL about how to go about the completion of the task/s. I can envisage differences between how and when resources are accessed, the tasks to be undertaken, the learning outcomes to be addressed and assessment means.

There is little doubt that much of the research indicates that the benefits to student outcomes of having active TL involvement and a well-resourced library is clearly demonstrated.

New technologies have certainly changed the nature of RBL. Not all teachers can be experts at all forms of technology. This is where a more collaborative approach can be adopted between TL and teacher. Perhaps it is the TL that may be more of a technology expert and based on that the teacher could allow the TL to be the facilitator of that part of the learning process.
Students need to be taught how to find and evaluate the electronic resources they have at their disposal.