#FutureReady - Professional Learning Librarian Predictions for Education Trends in 2017 As 2016 has ended and we are in the middle of program evaluation, we have been looking locally, regionally, and nationally at trends that will impact our schools. These predictions (made from librarians) from Scholastic look at paperless classrooms districtwide, trying silent conversations in the classroom, and implementing virtual reality, to learning programming languages and focusing on students’ social and emotional learning. Check out the librarians’ full responses at scholasticblog.com: ❏ Kristina Holzweiss (@lieberrian) – Providing Opportunities for Empowerment - It is not so much what toys and tools that are in our makerspaces, the books that are on the shelves, or the databases that they can access from home or at school; it is how our students can use these resources to learn about their neighbors around the world. ❏ Julie Greller (@cybrarian77) – The Paperless Library - We are now in a place to support students so they can develop communication, collaboration, cooperation, and creative problem solving skills in order to participate in a culture of understanding and respect. ❏ Todd Burleson (@todd_burleson) – Makerspace Technology - Providing the opportunity to work with virtual reality, 3D printing, and prototyping. ❏ Anita Cellucci (@anitacellucci) – Focus on Emotional and Mental Health - Librarians provide a safe space for various topics of conversation, and we are looking for creative ways to weave current topics and opportunities into curriculum and the learning space. ❏ Michelle Colte (@Michelle_Colte) – Stop teacher-directed lessons and create opportunities for students to direct their own learning-on-demand. ❏ Sally Smollar (@smollas) – Coding Education Continues Websites such as Code.org, Code Combat, and Google CS First are making coding not only easy to learn but tremendously entertaining. ❏ This is a chance to lead your school and to expand opportunity for your students—and Code.org is here to support you. Consider their programs if you want the skills to teach computer science. They offer high-quality professional learning — at no cost. ❏ Deimosa Webber-Bey (@dataquilter) – The Rise of Digital Humanities - The use of technology to evaluate and visualize big sets of data. Using data to tell your story. ❏ Laura Gardner (@LibrarianMsG) – Shining a Spotlight on School Libraries - Now is the time to proudly and loudly share the great work we and our students do in our school libraries. What does it mean to be a librarian in the digital age?
#ParkwayReads After the Book Talk This excerpt was taken from Scholastic's 2017 trends list and would be a great follow up to the book talk, especially as students start reading the books. "Silent conversations: I borrowed this idea from my librarian friend, Debby Vandersande. She puts copies of the state award contenders on tables with chart paper and pens. Each paper asks a question, shares a quote, or invites students to respond to a prompt related to the book. Students respond to the books/prompts that they’ve read or that interest them. Debby then leaves the charts out for other classes/students to discover." This would work great on a dry erase wall.