Web 2.0 for Media Specialists

I read a fabulous article about how Web 2.0 Tools can help Media Specialist. Since I am in my first year of being a media specialist, this article is beneficial for my planning. The article lists many reasons why using these tools would be important: “move students beyond searching for information to using it and creating it, get better results from student projects and research, provide more equitable access to digital tools and resources, integrate 21st century skills into the curriculum, foster more collaboration with the teachers to benefit student achievement, share information with colleagues online, showcase library media center activities, and make your budget go much further than you-or anyone else-thought you could.” ( 13) The article makes a point to tell the reader that the previous items should be desired to accomplish and if they are not, the reader may be in the “wrong profession.” (13)

We have moved from using the traditional resources such as paper, pencil, glue, scissors, etc. Students now have “computers, social bookmarks, RSS feeds, blogs, wikis, photo editing and photo sharing sites, digital video and video editing tools, social networks, podcasts, and other new resources.” (13) It is very important for today’s library media specialists to embrace these resources and learn how to use them in order to implement them into our programs. These tools will draw in the digital natives we see on a daily basis in the classroom and media center.

Although we understand the need for implementing these 21st Century Web 2.0 tools, there are barriers that may interfere. After completing a survey, Baumbach lists four major barriers in school library media centers. These are: Tools inaccessible at school, Erosion of informal professional development time, Lack of relevant training opportunities, and Lack of knowledge. I know from experience that our school system does not allow many of the Web 2.0 Tools to be accessed from our school. Of course, there is the issue with the lack of professional development and training opportunities for teachers to learn about these tools. For many, there is a simple lack of knowledge. Many teachers have no idea that these tools even exist.

Regardless of the barriers, school library media specialists can take a step in the right direction toward using Web 2.O tools. We can be the example for the rest of the teachers. If we can show how these tools can benefit student learning, more teachers will likely want to join. We can take the initiative to encourage this creative integration.

Click here for the PDF of this article.

Reference:


Baumbach, D. (2009). Web 2.0 and You. Knowledge Quest, 37(4), 12-19. Retrieved from ERIC database.