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Engaging and empowering school libraries is a podcast that aims to raise the profile of school libraries by talking about topics that are current across education and teaching. We talk about issues that impact school libraries and invite guests to come along and speak on selected topics keeping our chats lively, engaging and current. We hope you enjoy listening. Find more CPD for school librarians and teachers here https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/
Episodes
Saturday Apr 13, 2024
The History of School Libraries in the UK from 1937 - 1986 (part 1)
Saturday Apr 13, 2024
Saturday Apr 13, 2024
FOSIL, Education and School Libraries (10)
Delve into the rich history of school libraries and their crucial role in education in this fascinating episode of the "FOSIL, Education and School Libraries" podcast. Darryl and I discuss various significant developments in school libraries over the years.
In a captivating conversation, we take a time-travelling journey, beginning from the inception of the School Library Association in 1937 to the progressive education era, illuminating the relentless evolution of school libraries. From the past, we make connections to the present and future, underlining the transformative journey of school librarianship in relation to education and philosophy. The underlying tone of our discussion revolves around employing academic honesty and fostering intellectual curiosity among students.
The latter section delves into the historical schism in the School Library Association and the changes in the focus of school libraries over time. We discuss the traditional and progressive approaches to education and their influence on library usage habits. The evolution from school libraries being mere conduits for recreational reading to valuable resources for independent learning is explored.
Experience the journey of educational reform, from traditional to progressive, and witness the increasing prominence given to school libraries. Learn about the UK's unique path in teacher librarianship and the potential promise of introducing microcomputers into school libraries during the 1980s. Embrace the past, understand the present, and envisage the future as we delve into the world of school libraries and their profound implications for education.
Saturday Mar 23, 2024
AI with and through the school library
Saturday Mar 23, 2024
Saturday Mar 23, 2024
Welcome to another episode of our podcast, "Engaging and Empowering School Libraries". In this episode, we explore the emerging trend of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into school libraries and the overall curriculum. Our guests, Linda Hoiseth, an international librarian, and Anthony Copeland, a technology integration specialist, offer their invaluable insights into how AI is shaping contemporary teaching methodologies.
This episode focuses on the potential benefits and ethical implications of using AI tools such as ChatGPT in education. Linda and Anthony share their unique perspectives, carefully weighing the advantages of embracing new technology while emphasising the need for preserving ethical practices. They underscore the need for IT Specialists, School librarians and Teachers to work together to acquire the necessary skills to keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
This podcast elaborates on AI's critical role in enhancing student engagement and retention. Conversations extend to the implications of AI in various disciplines, from physics to humanities, highlighting its versatile applications in education. It also underscores the need for the teaching fraternity to focus on the broader process of integrating AI and its impact on cultivating students' research skills.
Our guests shed light on the ethical considerations involved when adopting AI as a pedagogical tool, emphasising that AI should be used to enhance student creativity rather than compensate for students learning. Keeping track of rapid advancements in the AI domain and balancing the use of specific AI tools with the development of a comprehensive skill set for different AI advancements.
This episode encourages educators and school librarians to explore and embrace the transformative potential of AI in education. It paints a comprehensive picture of the dynamic realm of AI in school libraries and curricula, replete with challenges and opportunities. A must-listen for educators and school librarians keen on staying ahead in the rapidly evolving world of education technology.
Engaging and Empowering School Libraries Membership
Framework for Using AI with Students
Saturday Mar 09, 2024
FOSIL, Education and School Libraries (9)
Saturday Mar 09, 2024
Saturday Mar 09, 2024
In this episode of 'FOSIL, Education and School Libraries,' we discuss the evolving role of school libraries within the broader educational system. Addressing pressing issues such as the undervaluation of librarians and the alignment of library programs with institutional educational goals, this conversation underscores the library's essential contribution to student development.
With a focus on the IFLA School Library Guidelines, we also navigated the challenges of aligning libraries with the quantifiable outcomes often prioritised by schools. By examining strategies for librarians to articulate and advocate for their role in supporting holistic education, this episode presents a compelling call to action for educational leaders and librarians alike. Listen in as we explore the critical intersection of education, purpose, and the pivotal role of school libraries in shaping informed, curious, and well-rounded individuals.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Fact(ual) or Fiction(al): and other school library questions.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tonight we revisited our discussion around non-fiction collections in school libraries which we started back in July 2022. It seemed the right time to come back to this important topic as the conversation around reading for pleasure seems to focus more and more on our fiction collections. Many of my recent conversations have been about the balance between fiction and non-fiction when you are building your library collections. Do we know our non-fiction collections as well as we know our fiction collections and are we considering the role our non-fiction collection has on recreational reading and supporting independent learning when we decide on how to spend our budgets? We dive into some of this during our discussion this evening.
We dive into book awards, ways to find new non-fiction titles and ideas for encouraging non-fiction reading in your schools.
We were joined by factual book author Andy Seed and school librarian Jenny Toerien alongside my usual co-hosts Ruth Maloney and Sabrina Cox.
Reading for Pleasure in Schools Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544272119166812
Places to find new non-fiction
https://www.dk.com/uk/information/catalogues-and-bestsellers/
Membership - Engaging and Empowering School Libraries
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
FOSIL, Education and School Libraries (8)
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
In our last podcast, we talked about Douglas Knight’s two major and unique functions of a library and ended up having a great discussion about the purpose and function of our non-fiction collections.
In this episode Darryl and I cover
- The similarities with the SLA guidelines, including their bookstock guidance. Stott (1947, 1955), School Libraries: A Short Manual (CUP for SLA) and SLA (1972) | Libraries in Secondary Schools
- Understand the role of the school librarian via the IFLA School Library Guidelines
- Staffing in school libraries
- collection development and in particular non-fiction.
Making School Libraries Integral to the Educational Process https://www.sla.org.uk/Services/ItemDetail?iProductCode=8340&Category=GUIDELINES
Membership information -https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership
Last month's podcast https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/podcast/episode/adf7b60a/fosil-education-and-school-libraries-7
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
School Librarianship: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
In this episode we decided to start the year by introducing you to the hosts of this podcast, telling you a little bit about ourselves and our journey within the school library world and why we think this podcast is important. It is probably something we should have done at the beginning but we were just so keen to get started that this seems to have been missed.
We managed to cover quite a bit during our chat, including:
- The wonderful job a school librarian could have with the right support.
- The problems that school librarians face.
- Controversial (what we think needs to happen).
- What might be coming up next on our podcast.
Here are the links:
FOSIL, Education and School Libraries (7) where Darryl talks about 75% non-fiction. https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/podcast/episode/adf7b60a/fosil-education-and-school-libraries-7
Non-fiction collections in school libraries: Do we really need them?https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/podcast/episode/9d8adc04/non-fiction-collections-in-school-libraries-do-we-still-need-them
IFLA School Library Guidelines https://www.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/assets/school-libraries-resource-centers/publications/ifla-school-library-guidelines.pdf
Balancing Act: 5 Time Management Tips for School Librarians Working Alone. https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/post/balancing-act-5-time-management-tips-for-school-librarians-working-alone
Every school should have a school library https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/21/every-school-should-have-a-library-philip-pullman-calls-for-new-uk-laws?CMP=share_btn_tw
Membership and Training - Engaging and Empowering School Libraries https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership
Saturday Jan 13, 2024
FOSIL, Education and School Libraries (7)
Saturday Jan 13, 2024
Saturday Jan 13, 2024
In this episode, Darryl and I continue our conversation about Douglas Knight’s ideas about there being two major and unique functions of a library, regardless of type. These two functions are:-
- First, it makes possible meetings of mind and idea which are not limited by our normal boundaries of time, space, and social or economic level.
- To say this is to suggest the second great function of a library. It is the institution in our society which allows and encourages the development, the extension of ideas -- not their passive absorption, but their active generation. … The technical means of his encounter may be a record, a tape, a film, a print-out or -- most radical of all -- a book. Libraries are not bounded by means; they will and should employ any means to achieve their ends.
Clarification on non-fiction to fiction ratio: NF to F ratio should rise from 50% NF to 50% F through 66% NF to 33% F to 75% NF to 25% F as children move from Primary through Secondary (Darryl)
Link to Douglas Knight document can be found here https://bit.ly/3ShxMSK
Podcast - Non-fiction collections in school libraries: Do we still need them?https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/podcast/episode/9d8adc04/non-fiction-collections-in-school-libraries-do-we-still-need-them
FOSIL forum link -https://fosil.org.uk/forums/
Engaging and Empowering School Libraries Membership -https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
FOSIL, Education and School Libraries (6)
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
This month Darryl and I are going to head back to something we mentioned briefly at the end of last month's conversation which was about reading and making sense of something….
I know that many people associate school libraries with reading… However, the latest Reading Framework produced by the Government in the UK in July does not mention libraries as much as it should have and librarians even less…From a librarian's perspective that is sad but not surprising, so today we are going to help listeners understand the role the school librarian plays in reading, especially reading for learning.
We expand on how reading fits within the FOSIL framework across the whole cycle.
More information about this topic can be read here...https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/year-9-grade-8-interdisciplinary-signature-work-inquiry-blanchelande-college/
In this post - https://fosil.org.uk/forums/topic/year-9-grade-8-interdisciplinary-signature-work-inquiry-blanchelande-college/#post-80555
Membership information can be found here https://www.elizabethahutchinson.com/aboutmembership