Seventh Week

My Role in this Pilot Project

Yesterday our Lead Teacher came into the Media Center.  She wanted to rehearse the Professional Development that she would lead today.  She asked two questions, one about PowerPoint and the other about YouTube.  I knew the answer to neither question.  BUT, here is what happened. 

The PowerPoint question I googled.  There was a PDF online with the steps to do what she wanted to do.  I printed it out and handed it to her.  Turns out she needs administrator rights to her computer in order to download something in connection with these PDF directions.  I knew how to get her that.  Sent her an email with that information.  First question, done and done.

The YouTube question I needed someone else in the district to answer.  I emailed him.  He answered the email quickly and with the needed information.  I forwarded this to the Lead Teacher.  Second question, done and done.

When I was in Library School we took a class called Readers Advisory.  In this class we learned about finding out exactly what a patron is asking for and then figuring out how to provide it.  This can sometimes be a fairly long process, because people are not always able to articulate what it is they want. Of the two, it is easier to FIND what they want than to FIGURE OUT what they want.

So I am excited to feel like I am doing some Technology Advisory work.  The example from yesterday was easy, because she knew what she wanted, so I just needed to FIND what she wanted.  That makes me feel useful.

But my biggest challenge, and what I feel my role in this project is, is to FIGURE OUT what people want, especially when they think they don't want it :)  When I started thinking about technology, I was overwhelmed by all the web tools out there that are helpful to people.  As I learn more about the web tools, they seem like the easier part of the equation.  It is figuring out what is helpful that is the hard part.  

This figuring out part has to do with listening and developing a relationship with a teacher so that I can ask intelligent questions about their work.  That is what we learned in Library School.  I feel that this is happening slowing but surely with the teachers I am working with this year, and it is very educational and rewarding for me.  I hope that it becomes so for the teachers also.