Opening the Space: School Libraries as Sites of Participatory Culture (Knowledge Quest Webinar)
1. Opening the
Space: School
Libraries as
Places of
Participatory
Culture
Knowledge Quest Webinar
October 9, 2012
Andy Plemmons, School Librarian,
David C. Barrow Elementary, GA
3. Relatively low barriers to artistic
expression and civic engagement
~Henry Jenkins
Source: http://bit.ly/opm6Ml
4. strong support for creating and
sharing one’s creations with others
~Henry Jenkins
Source: http://bit.ly/opm6Ml
5. what is known by the most
experienced is passed along to
novices
~Henry Jenkins
Source: http://bit.ly/opm6Ml
6. members believe that their
contributions matter
~Henry Jenkins
Source: http://bit.ly/opm6Ml
7. members feel some degree of
social connection with one
another
~Henry Jenkins
Source: http://bit.ly/opm6Ml
8. Not every member must contribute, but all must believe
they are free to contribute when ready and that what they
contribute will be appropriately valued. ~Henry Jenkins
Source: http://bit.ly/opm6Ml
10. Makerspace Culture….
“a place where young people have an opportunity to explore their
own interests, learn to use tools and materials, and develop creative
projects. The key is that it can adapt to a wide variety of uses and can
be shaped by educational purposes as well as the students’ creative
goals.”
Source: http://makerspace.com/
Polls: Look at where people are from and what levels they work with. Thanks for attending. Highlight the article in KQ and build upon.
Discuss the apprehension by some to allow younger students to be creative through technology. The most common compliment I get is I had no idea you could do that with younger students.
My main point in orientation this year was that the library is a place to get books but it is also a place to create. I make a point to tell students that they have an audience before we begin a project.
Possibly mentoring, but this can also be a collaborative of expertise.
Multiple opportunities
First section: showcasing a variety of snapshots of projects across grade levels.
Mention permission to play, opportunities for all, low barriers so that anyone can do it. It’s not just for high school students.
Mention the adult support that this kind of project takes…..think of barriers and how to get around them. Lower the barriers.
Storybird and ABC books…again highlight the structure needed for younger learners
Mention the stages of this project and how it was modified for Navigating the Information Tsunami published by Cherry Lake Publishing.
Mention my new approach to exploratory research and how it invites students to make choices while still being accountable for information
Mention the choices in this project: Animoto, Glogster, Zazzle, Skype, white board,
Section 2: Discussing ways that our library gets student work out to an audience. How are we connecting students to a global community?
Mention the district’s open access by students & teachers and how this has changed over the past few years.
Showcasing work does not have to be elaborate displays. It can be found opportunities.
Connecting students with mentors. This takes listening and harnessing opportunities.
Discuss the barriers to sharing student work and overcoming those barriers through their very documentation.
Section 3: Discuss how knowledge is passed on in multiple ways. It isn’t about connecting students with expert mentors only.
Math buddies.
Glogster epiphany.
Fishing for the constitution designed in class and implemented as part of a center rotation
Mention exemplary open house and bus tour student presentations.
Section 4: Begin talking about student book budget and connect to how student input and decision making is a big part of our library.
Got an overview of what I do to select books before diving in.
Looked at catalog selections. Thought about school population. Thought about who was in the selection group and how to overcome gender barrier.
Developed a survey with what they considered to be the most popular topics.
Used iPad to survey as many people as possible.
Mention that these books are among the most popular and this project has been one of such importance that it is now a part of our budget every year. It’s hard to argue with data that comes from students.
Section 5: Offering multiple ways for kids to participate….connect back to element of participatory culture….not ever member must contribute. Mention bookmarks here.
Mention looking and listening closely for opportunity. When students mention a book they loved, I mention ways they might share that book with others: written review, video review, BTV review, book mark, poster, etc.
Last section: Mention the design of the new library currently being built and what I hope to do in the coming months/years.
Playing games, learning from games, designing games: motivation, innovation,
Most everything I do is planned and intentional or at least initiated by me. This will always be a primary way we participate because it’s school, but when does participation become spontaneous and what is ok and not ok…….i.e. story of girls coming to the library to plan a babysitting service. Or….guys starting a card game group during morning wait time.
