John McDonald, Connersville Middle School, is an active school library media specialist with seemingly endless energy and ideas. A few years ago as a beginning teacher librarian, he proactively initiated changes that truly impact students, his school and community. John has been successful in collaborating with administration, teachers and students.
Learn more about John McDonald at http://eduscapes.com/sms/mcdonald.html
You may want to start with discussion about his part in the adoption of an information inquiry model, or how he teams with students in the media center, or his insights on professional involvement. But feel free to bring up ideas and issues related to any part of his work.
John,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your insights on addressing finding cheap books. I was a middle school math teacher for almost 10 years and I never had a collection in my room. I really wanted one though. I am sure there were lots of us that felt the same way. I want my school to have these collections in the classrooms. Books need to be readily available during SSR or when students finish a test early etc. I am so excited that I can find these items through weeding sales at the large public library.
I am also quite impressed with how many student helpers and their list of responsibilities in your library. How much time do you think you spend training them and how much time do you think you save by delegating responsibilities to them? Do you have a policy on selecting helpers? Do you envision the ‘Blue Jacket’ students going to help the teachers show other students how to use multi-media?
Thanks,
Jenni
Here's a question on a slightly different topic... At the middle school/junior high level, do you have specific suggestions for getting other faculty 'on board' with your meida center program and with the importance of information literacy in general? Do faculty consult you on curriculum issues? Do they see you as an 'idea' resource...not for just a book or video suggestion...do they see you as a teacher as well? Hope this question makes sense.
ReplyDeleteGood evening! Like most of the others who have posted comments, I am particularly impressed with the ‘Greencoat’ idea.’ Our middle school utilizes student helpers as well, (they actually take ‘media helper’ as an elective for a twelve week trimester) but they don’t have nearly the same kinds of responsibilities as your students. My experience with this age group is that middle school students are usually very eager to help out, but it can be very time consuming to train them—especially when it comes to more complicated projects. Do you train your kids during their class time, or do the more experienced greencoats do most of this? Is any part of this program extra- curricular or do students get done only what they can during their study period?
ReplyDeleteThank you again for taking time out of your schedule to ‘talk’ to us. I look forward to hearing a bit more about your program.
Sadie Smith
Nancy McGriff
ReplyDeletenmcgriff@scentral.k12.in.us
John said it - join AIME. AIME provides so many opportunities for you to 1. get involved 2. make a difference 3. network to get ideas and stay current 4. make friends 5. share your ideas
Most of the amazing professional experiences I have had started with joining and AIME and volunteering for a committee. That committee asignment grew into a committee chairmanship, then I became a district director, president elect, conference chair, president, that led to involvement with AASL, ILF committee work, ILF Board, ILF president, etc. It all starts with joining AIME.
John,
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for such detailed responses to our questions. Your program sounds so amazing :) Working with middle schoolers as well, I got a huge kick out of the 'things they love to do.'
A quick question for you: when your students create multimedia projects, what software do you primarily use? Have you found certain programs to be more user- friendly than others?
Thanks!
Sadie Smith
John,
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you. I cannot begin to tell you how many wonderful ideas I have gotten from your postings. You sound like exactly the proactive kind of media specialist that I want to be...I'm sure the rest of our class feels the same way. One more thing...I have to respond to your plug for Annette and Larry... I am currently teaching 7th grade composition on a temporary contract for a teacher on maternity leave. I am here for their expository wriing unit, and I have turned it into a true Inquiry Project thanks to Dr. Lamb's 551 Information Inquiry course... I am having a blast, the kids are having a blast...and they are beginning to 'get it'...they are researching out of their own interests, and they are enjoying the ride (i.e. learning the information search process...) The Information Inquiry course was invaluable to me--personally, with my own children, and now with my awesome students! I recommend that class to everyone.
Your suggestions for getting faculty on board were very helpful. I'm printing them out for next year when I'll (hopefully) have a 'real job'.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sadie’s question about software and John’s issue with find good cheap editing software, I have a recommendation to pass along. I attended the Indiana Department of Education’s West Central Media Specialist Meeting held on September 14, 2005 at Avon Intermediate School West. The conference was led by Elizabeth Winningham. She highly recommended the use of Arcsoft Showbiz 2 digital editing software at $70 a copy because of the ease of use by students. Now I do not know if this program can be used with MAC computers but Elizabeth said she really liked it.
Also, several media specialists I have talked to highly recommend AIME as well. Information on upcoming conferences, grant opportunities and Indiana specific curriculum ideas and concerns are addressed. They recommend it over any other group by far!!!
Jenni
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI know Connersville at least I used to know it. I was raised in Cambridge City. I am interested to know how the community reponds to all the new things that you are trying there, not to be negative but I remember it being sort of backwards. I also know that things change a lot in twenty years. I went back to CC a while back and still found it backwards. My question is how do you get the backing of the teachers and community to support a modern, up-to-date media center? I will probable be taking a postion at a school where it technology and the media center haven't kept up with modern standards and practices, so I would like some ideas to accomplish this.