Transforming Collaboration

Stefani Wiest

CO-Collaboration Strategies

IL-Location of Information

Jones, S., & Green, L. (2012). Transforming Collaboration. Teacher Librarian, 40(2), 26-31.

Summary: Although face-to-face collaboration between teacher and teacher librarian is becoming more relevant, there is still the underutilized resource of virtual collaboration using Web 2.0 technologies to develop online learning. This article proposes that school librarians collaborate with teachers to design, develop and employ online learning units (OLUs). The movement toward online learning enables the teacher librarian to introduce additional information literacy techniques into curriculum taught in a K-12 library program. The authors maintain that because of the prevalence of technological tools in the school library environment, school libraries have become increasingly comfortable in the use of these tools. The article stresses the continued importance of face-to-face collaboration between the teacher, teacher librarian and students, even as more technologies are employed in student learning. Online learning, though, should be a means to expand the collaborative approach in the school by virtually enhancing student learning.

Evaluation: I found this article particularly interesting due to the work we are doing in our LIBR 250 course for Transformation C. It addresses many of the topics we are researching in class regarding the feasibility of designing an effective online learning environment, as well as the potential successes of online learning. Many of the tools we are using in class were identified in the article as potential resources for virtual collaboration, such as Diigo, Edmodo, and Google Sites.