Supporting You: Professional Learning

Professional Learning – For Expertise And Leadership

Meaningful professional learning is essential for realizing the potential of the school library learning commons approach. The introduction of Leading Learning provides a great entry point, with its overview of the library learning commons vision and goals of the document. The “See it in Action” illustrations provide hundreds of authentic learning opportunities for administrators, teachers and parents new to the learning commons approach as well as extended learning for those already seasoned in this movement. In the “Moving Forward” section  a page of illustrated suggestions for professional growth, reflection and renewal provide a practical entry point for professional learning. A glossary of terms and an extensive bibliography provide in depth support for further study.

 

The document itself is structured in such a way as to make it easy for professional learning communities in districts and schools as well as university training programs to embark on studies of the learning commons approach.

 

The standards support the personal learning journeys of school library leaders and professionals who are working to transform their spaces and programs into a learning commons approach to teaching and learning. We also see evidence of more formal courses and presentations where Leading Learning is studied as a major support for transformations.

Approaches and Tools to Help

Leading Learning in Action:

“The Library Learning Commons Digital Badges are designed to teach you about the Canadian Library Association school library standards: Leading Learning. These badges will then guide as you put the standards into action in your library.”

  • QSLIN – Promoting Canadian Identity & Diversity in Your Library Study the Quebec School Librarians Network approach to referencing Leading Learning for promoting Canadian identity and diversity; explore the wide variety of learning and teaching resources provided.
  • British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association (BCTLA) – From School Library to Library Learning Commons: A Pro-Active Model for Educational Change “This document summarizes the work, over three years, of two groups of Vancouver teacher-librarians — one elementary and the other secondary — engaged in teacher inquiry. The inquiry groups have described, in both personal and professional terms, the continuum of change by which a school library becomes a Library Learning Commons in BC. They have been joined by voices of TLs throughout BC who have successfully undertaken similar initiatives.”
  • Alberta Regional Consortia – A provincial professional development consortia offers “Byting into the Learning Commons” webinars and video clips that explore key aspects of the learning commons led by teacher-librarian specialist consultants.
  • Canadian School Libraries Journal Article (Winter 2018) – This article begins an exploration of the impact Leading Learning is making specifically on teacher-librarian training and ongoing professional learning in provinces and territories in Canada.
  • Canadian School Libraries Journal Article (Winter 2018) – Overview of the UBC Teacher Librarian Education Program Revised Framework This article details major revisions over the past three years of the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Teacher Librarian Education Program (LIBE) (certificate and diploma) including  “incorporating the new national school library standards (Leading Learning)” as an impetus to revise.