Appendix 1: Discussion Starters

Standards Discussion Starters for Learning Leadership Teams

 

 

 

 

 

• How do we cultivate a collaborative learning community in a school? Who is involved? Why is it important?

• What are the specific needs of the stakeholders within the school community – students, parents, staff?

• How can these needs become opportunities for advancing a collaborative learning community e.g. 24/7 access to a variety of excellent resources as well as learning opportunities? How can technology help?

• Local, regional and global connections are part of the 21st century learning environment. How best can these relationships be facilitated to provide rich experiential learning experiences (and responsible global citizens)?

• How can an understanding and respect for the diversity of Canadian culture and Aboriginal people’s heritage be reflected to build a positive climate for the school Library Learning Commons community and encourage contributions from all?

 

 

 

 

 

• How will plans for the school Library Learning Commons align with school, district, provincial/territorial goals and plans?

• How will collaborative leadership for the school Library Learning commons team be framed and articulated? How will the role of the principal (administration), the teacher-librarian, the library learning commons support staff (in school and central), teachers (Classroom and specialists, IT specialists, students, parents, volunteers, the wider community etc., be considered and articulated?

• How will the success of the school Library Learning Commons be assessed? What indicators of success are important/significant?

• How do we ensure sustainability of the school Library Learning Commons as members arrive and depart to and from school or district sites?

• How will the school Library Learning Commons be a model for and leader of innovation and creativity?

• How will student learning and knowledge creation be showcased?

 

 

 

 

 

• What does effective instructional design look like in the school Library Learning Commons?

• What are the elements of effective instructional design?

• How does the school Library Learning Commons design for knowledge building, creativity and innovation?

• How can we make the best use of technologies, resources and spaces to support excellence in co-planning, teaching and assessing learning?

• How do we support both student and teacher growth and success?

 

 

 

 

 

 

• How do you define literacy? How do you define literacy for 21st century learning and literacy for global learners?

• What knowledge and skills do students need to be able to demonstrate in order to be “literate” for life, bearing in mind that literacy has multiple forms?

• How does literacy connect to different ways of knowing and learning? How do the school library staff engage/differentiate to connect with all learners for life?

• Life-long learners demonstrate a capacity to embrace new ideas, skills and ways of knowing. In what ways can the school Library Learning Commons encourage and facilitate this engagement?

• What role does technology play in fostering literacy(ies) in the school Library Learning Commons?

• How does the school Library Learning Commons empower individuals to engage in personalized learning?

 

 

 

 

 

• What does participatory learning look like? What kinds of physical and virtual features enable participatory learning?

• How do you assess the space and collection to know what is working, what is not and what could be tried to better support learning?

• What does a 21sr century collection encompass? How do you provide/activate access to the collection?

• How do you strategically organize the collection in order to support participatory learning?