Virtual Collaboration

Chambers, Julia

Jones, S. A., & Green, L. S., (2012). Transforming collaboration. Teacher Librarian, 40(2), 26-31. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=84415738&site=ehost-live

The central idea of this article is that teacher librarians should broaden their collaboration with teachers to include designing, developing, and executing online learning units that stand alone as information literacy units or are integrated with curriculum that is accessed by students online. This type of collaboration is especially suited for flipped classrooms, in which students are getting instruction at home, online, followed by teacher-guided experiential learning in the classroom.

The advantages to virtual information/media literacy instruction are that the lessons can be delivered when the students need it most; students will no longer be limited to the librarian’s schedule for face-to-face instruction. The authors also point out that that developing learning units such as these serve as evidence of the librarian’s expertise and role in students’ learning.

Four models of online instruction are introduced:

1. Split-Time Unit (in which a  curricular unit is taught both in the classroom and at home online with information literacy skills incorporated within)
2. Skills-Based Unit (developed to teach students how to use a specific technology)
3. Independent Unit (executed entirely online, focusing on information literacy skills independent of classroom assignments)
4. Professional Development Unit (meant for teachers)
5. Student Produced Tutorials (the idea being that students-teaching-students increases the learning of everyone involved)

The article ends with a list of potential collaboration tools, including Diigo, google sites, Learaist, Mentor Mob, PBWorks, Pearltrees, Screenshare, Scribd, Thinglink, Twiddla, Voicetheread, Voki.

In general, this article brings up an emerging solution to an age-old problem of the librarian not being able to be with students at the exact time they need assistance. The technology has offered a solution that school librarians should include in their outreach efforts for the reasons mentioned above. 

CO-Collaboration Strategies