Collaborative Practice - Topic 5 401

Having just read the Topic 5 readings on collaborative practice I am so amazed at my new found understanding of the role of a TL and the importance of collaboration. Teacher librarianship is not just about teaching information skills in isolation to the rest of the curriculum. My initial vision prior to this study, in the absence of an information skills programme at my school, is to attempt to establish an information skills programme for the students in my school.

However, the Topic 5 readings on collaborative practice suggests that a better approach is to incorporate information skills into the curriculum units being taught, rather than as isolated library based units of work. If it is integrated into the curriculum units then the students will have a more applicable set of information skills with which to apply to their particular assignment tasks.

My role as a TL would, in the future, would involve working collaboratively with teachers, not only to resource the units of work but also to instruct students on information skills processes with which to work though the research components of their assignments. The students benefit in that they would have two teachers to help and guide them with their understanding of their research.

There's so much more to learn about being an effective TL that plays an important leadership role in the school and is valued by other teaching staff.