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Post #2
Module 4

Developing your own ICT Skills and Pedagogy

It should start with a definition:

I was feeling rather embarrassed to admit that I had to look up the acronym ICT. I was just going to figure it out and move along, pretending I knew what it meant. However, I decided I mustn't be so hard on myself for learning. It is a steep learning curve and I want to learn as much as I can. Admittedly, I love it!! Despite the frustration I tend to encounter, on a regular basis, I am thoroughly enjoying this development. I can't be the only one who doesn't know these things and I am here to learn how best to develop individually as a Teacher Librarian so I can share with and help others.

In my search for a definition of ICT, I came across this YouTube video. It not only provides a good explanation of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) it is also a bit of a wake up call to realize that in the six years since this was posted, we are still struggling, world wide, with the same concerns. 

There should also be a feel good story:

This is my cousin, Mikale Fenton, who spearheaded a very cool initiative at the Vancouver City Library:

Follow this link to read the full story. This is a true example of  ICT combining grassroots library notions with the latest technology enabling people to track where Spokes 'n' Words will be located, allow patrons to sign out books and ask tech questions. 

What I have been doing to develop my ICT skills:

Conferences:

• Google Summit - This was a fabulous conference and introduced me to so many different apps, extensions, Google sites, ideas and much more. It was, in fact, rather overwhelming. I have tried to follow many of the presenters on Twitter and find some of their resources online. I would love to have my school district host this and offer it as professional development for all teachers. 
• Vancouver Island Learning Network ADST & Coding -  This was a great conference to explore design & computational thinking, challenge based learning, and coding across several platforms.
• Vancouver Island Library Staff Conference 2018 -  While not as much an ICT style conference, it was an excellent conference in terms of overall professional development, networking and learning. 
• Local Professional Development workshops - Some of our district Pro-D time has been spent with other TLs in the district sharing ideas and resources. 
• SD62 Teacher Librarians have recently formed a Sooke Teacher-Librarians Association. Through this, we hope to strengthen relationships with the district and advocate for funding to move libraries forward with ICT. 
• I will continue to take as much professional development through conferences as I possibly can with the hopes of passing along the information to other teachers and colleagues. 

Useful websites to follow:

• Canadian School Libraries - has many resources to assist in transitioning the library into a LLC and directing toward other development opportunities. One very important document available on their site is the Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada which may serve as a foundation for our local LSA. 
• I am subscribed for the BCTLA forum see events that may take plea through them. 
• A also subscribe the the LM List-seve program, which is a very valuable resource. I can ask any question technology related or otherwise and get responses very quickly.  
• Google - This is a great way to find out information on how to access or use technology. 

Share and Team Drives:

• Office 365 - There has been some sharing of resources here within my district; however, I have not accesed this as much as I have used the Google Suite. 
• Google Team Drive - This is an excellent was of sharing resources with teachers in teh school, the district and teams we form from other areas. 

Twitter has been a fantastic way to learn new ICT skills and discover new resources:

• Here are a few Twitter feeds I like to follow:

Tweets by bctla   Tweets by GoogleForEdu   Tweets by MrMaltais 

Tweets by jenadelvecchio      Tweets by LibrarianshipCA

Finally, the greatest source of my learning and development of ICT skills has been taking the Teacher Librarian Diploma course through UBC. Without the challenge and presentation of the courses in a way that promotes research and development of the skills, I would not know where to start.

There is always a great deal to learn and discover by following blogs of other TLs, teachers and colleagues. Learning about some specific resources and how best to manage these resources has been in invaluable portion of this program.

I look forward to delving further into how best to share what I am continually learning with others.

References

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://twitter.com/GoogleForEdu [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].

Onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca. (2018). Vancouver Island Library Staff Conference 2018. [online] Available at: https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/vilsc2018/wp-content/uploads/sites/3168/2018/04/VILSC2018-Program_April_26.pdf [Accessed 4 Jun. 2018].

Prest, A. (2018). North Vancouver book bike goes 'library viral'. [online] North Shore News. Available at: http://www.nsnews.com/community/neighbourhoods/north-vancouver-book-bike-goes-library-viral-1.23307113 [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].

Register.sd79.bc.ca. (2018). Vancouver Island Learning Network ADST & Coding. [online] Available at: http://register.sd79.bc.ca/events/vancouver-island-learning-network-adst-coding-session-2-2/ [Accessed 4 Jun. 2018].

The Norwegian Centre for ICT in Education (www.iktsenteret.no) (2018). The Future Starts Now - 2012 edition. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=NfN5SSiRoPs [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].

Twitter.com. (2018). BCTLA (@bctla) on Twitter. [online] Available at: https://twitter.com/bctla [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].

Twitter.com. (2018). Jennifer Delvecchio (@jenadelvecchio) on Twitter. [online] Available at: https://twitter.com/jenadelvecchio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%23 [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].

Twitter.com. (2018). Librarianship.ca (@LibrarianshipCA) on Twitter. [online] Available at: https://twitter.com/LibrarianshipCA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252FMrMaltais%26ref_src%3Dtwsrc%255Etfw%26ref_url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fpublish.twitter.com%252F%2523%23 [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].

Twitter.com. (2018). Maltais (@MrMaltais) on Twitter. [online] Available at: https://twitter.com/MrMaltais [Accessed 1 Jun. 2018].