At EduTECH 2014 I had the opportunity to present the opening address, on behalf of the Australian School Library Association, at the K-12 Library Manager Congress. Here are some of my reflections from the first day. Our past is just as important as our future. It helps to inspire and guide. Sugata Mitra opened the conference and made reference to…read more →
I am pleasantly surprised, very honoured and slightly stunned to be awarded an Exponential Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2011. This year only 3 awards were presented. Here I am accepting the award from my Business Mentor Dr Marc Dussault, The Exponential Growth Strategist of Exponential Programs. I was attending the Business Blogging for Sales Lead Generation event hosted…read more →
Right at the start it is important to identify the difference between lobbying and advocacy. Lobbying is active campaigning of the government with the view to asking policymakers to take a specific position on an item of legislation. Advocacy is about working on activities that will influence policy. It is a consistent and persistent effort to shift perceptions through regular…read more →
Just returned from the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) Biennial Conference where I presented a keynote session — A profession at the tipping point: time to change the game plan Abstract: The nationalisation of K-12 education in Australia has the potential to have a Jupiter Effect (prediction that an alignment of the planets would create a number of catastrophes) on…read more →
The keynote address at the 2011 International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) 40th Annual Conference incorporating the 15th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship. Conference Theme: School Libraries: Empowering the 21st Century Learner Read More …
During the House of Representatives Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in Australian Schools, the principals and personnel from the State and Federal Departments of Education were asked if they were aware of the research. The definitive answer was, no. I find this staggering, especially when it is these decision makers who espouse either the ‘Google it’ approach or…read more →
Did you know that the ‘first use’ of the Internet is about age 5? The interim report from the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-safety,High-wire act: cyber-safety and the young (June 2011) has included some startling statistics on young people’s use of the Internet. The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s submission to the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-safety (July 2010, No….read more →
Having goals is absolutely crucial. One way to get started is to identify your strengths & weaknesses and….your threats & opportunities. Yes, a SWOT. Capitalising on your strengths and shoring up your weaknesses is a very dynamic approach. Identify your professional learning opportunities through targeting your weaknesses. Leverage the opportunities and use these as advocacy moments. The hard work is…read more →
Although numerous studies of school libraries in other states have proven that well-funded, well-staffed school library programs have a positive impact on student achievement, a 2008 meeting with Lucille Davy, then NJ Education Commissioner, prompted NJASL to commission a New Jersey study to clearly answer the following questions: What does a good school library look like? What role does a…read more →
In the last half of 2010 I set up a survey to collect information on what Web 2.0 applications were being used by school libraries for their library & information services. The demographic background of the respondents (teacher-librarians and librarian). What Web 2.0 applications do you use for your library & information services? Wikis and blogs were popular…read more →