Empowering Learners, Chapter 2

Empowering Learners, Chapter 2

            School library media specialists hold a unique position in the school. They teach, collaborate with teachers to provide a variety of learning experiences and they are technology and information specialists. The library provides a place for all kinds of learning—individual study, small group study and large class study. It’s up to the LMS to teach students how to appropriately find, collect and use information; and to help students become active learners.

With all the vast array of technology and access to so much information, library media specialists and teachers are active learners just like students. Active learners examine information against prior knowledge and experience, collaborate with other learners to build upon and create new information. Because of this, students now have a more active role in directing and assessing their learning experience. Collaboration is an important part of the learning process and it’s important that library media specialists work with more than just teachers—partnering with parents, field community organizations, public libraries and many more.

Citation:

Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs. Chicago: American Association of School Libraries, 2009.