LIBE 477 - Reading Review A- Creating an online community of learners

(image source: https://tlsruletheworld.wordpress.com)

 

I’m in my second year of being a teacher-librarian. Part of the challenge with my role is that teacher-librarians are not common in schools in Alberta. My school has never had one, so not only was I new at being a TL, the role was new too. While some schools have library techs, many schools have cut this role entirely. My goal last year was to show the value, scope, and importance of a teacher-librarian, to build a dynamic program, and begin the transition from library to learning commons. It was ambitious, especially for a 0.5 position.

(image: Rundle College Learning Commons. image source pinterest.com) 

COVID caused some of my plans to be put on hold while other opportunities came forward that I would not have jumped on otherwise. I started a LC blog, I began recording book talks, I created a virtual library classroom with resources and read alouds and I supported teachers curating online resources rather than physical ones. As we continue to adapt to COVID conditions and changes, how the LC operates is far from how I hope it would look. One of the best parts of the LC is the community, having it be the center of the school and the feeling of connectedness among staff, student, learning, and literacy.

I wonder, how can I create part of this same community online? As the learning commons does not have a website, I am interested in creating one. I think it will be positive, for students and staff to have a central place to go to, for research, resources, OPAC, and LC initiatives. I have no experience or any idea of how to build and maintain a website. However, I didn’t know how to screencastify, blog, or build a virtual classroom before 2020. I feel this is a worthwhile task, especially with the support of LIBE 477.  In addition to creating a LC website, I need to create an underlying plan for website maintenance and updates. I will also need to pitch this idea to my administration, share my plan, and have it approved. In order for this, I will need to create a philosophy and general policy of the intent and purpose of the website. 

(image source: google images) 

The guiding questions I have are, 
-what makes a good school library website?  
-was are some guiding principles for an effective online presence for LC’s in Canada?
-how can websites be used to encourage student participation/ involvement?
-how can websites facilitate community building?
-what are some common elements included on LC websites?

(image source: google images)

Keywords: learning commons websites, digital community, digital community, school library online, effective websites, website design

Hopefully, researching meaningful website design and student engagement ideas will allow me to begin to build an online community that serves all learners and staff. Although we are not in the learning commons physically, that we can find spaces way ways to connect that matter.