In today’s age, technology—especially in the form of
computers, the internet, and web 2.0 tools—is incredibly important to the growth
and development of current student learners and future members of adult
society. While the classroom is an important area to learn the necessary skills
to thrive in the adult world, another equally important place is the library.
The library—as well as the librarian—has moved beyond what used to be thought
of as an archaic, dull, quiet, book-focused locale. Today, school librarians
are also media specialists and are looked at by fellow educators to help
students grow, prepare, and build the necessary skills for adult life. While
there are many important skills for the 21st-century learner, there
are three that are particularly important in conjunction with technology and
skill building: Giving equitable access to all technology and materials for all
students, building crucial technology skills for future employment needs, and
participating in the important social context necessary for learning.
The AASL’s Standards for the 21st-Century
Learner (2007) details the important standards for every school librarian.
Although most are crucial, one of the most important standards is giving
equitable access to all technology and materials for all students. Many of
today’s youth are low income or, for any various reasons, cannot access certain
technologies or books. It is the librarian’s job to make sure every student—no matter
race, gender, or socio-economic status—has equal access to the same materials
so that every student has the opportunity to have an equal learning experience.
Once students have this equal opportunity learning experience, then the
librarian’s other standards can come to fruition.
With technology growing exponentially throughout
society, it is only natural that technology must be incorporated into both
learning and employment. For the youth of today to become skilled workers in
the future, they must learn appropriate skills in school, much of which will be
taught by librarians. Church (2011) explains that librarians must master the
learning process to better prepare themselves for college and careers, and they
must lead those students into growing those “skills of inquiry, problem
solving, and critical thinking” (p. 10). There are many tools to use to build
these skills, as well, but they are not the only skills necessary to build to
create successful workers.
As the AASL Standards also explain, there is a social
context to learning. Students must be able to build social skills, though
sometimes it is difficult to do so due to potential embarrassment or social
awkwardness. Weaver (2010) uses the example of Twitter and how useful it can be
in a classroom setting. It can be used to post questions or conduct polls. And
for the more reluctant students who might not want to raise their hands or
respond in class, Twitter (or other social media or Web 2.0 tools in general)
gives the ability to overcome the public fear by allowing them to respond ‘silently’
or anonymously.
Overall, technology is highly beneficial in the
classroom setting, and it is up to the librarian to help push further
technological tools in order to make stronger learners and build better,
important skills necessary for succeeding in today’s society. Without the
school librarian, it is still possible for the classroom teacher to implement
technology, but the classroom teacher does not always have the time or
knowledge to do so. The librarian is the perfect facilitator to bring these
skills together practically and easily.
References
ALA. (2007). AASL
Standards for the 21st-Century Learner. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf
Church, A.P. (2011). School
librarians as teacher leaders. Delta
Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 77(3), 10-12.
Weaver, A.
(2010). Twitter for teachers, librarians and teacher librarians. Access, 24(2), 16-20.
