The document discusses the journey of transforming school libraries into learning commons within the Greater Essex County District School Board. It provides details on current staffing levels and qualifications of teacher-librarians across elementary and secondary schools. It also outlines a phased approach and costs associated with the transition, ranging from low-cost initial steps like weeding collections, to moderate costs like improving technology infrastructure, to high costs requiring a complete physical makeover of library spaces. Key aspects of the plan include professional learning for administrators, developing virtual commons, and emphasizing collaboration between teacher-librarians and other school specialists.

1. The Learning Commons: Beginning the Journey OLA Superconference 2011 Sharon Seslija Martha Martin Greater Essex County DSB

3. What do we mean: "Learning Commons?"

4. A District Description 60 elementary schools 7 almost full or full time TLs 22 half-time 33 less than half-time 14 secondary schools 12 full time TLs 2 halftime TLs

5. Elementary TLs 14/60 qualified with AQ Librarianship 17/60 are VPs none of the VPs have TL qualifications

6. Secondary 12 have AQ qualifications 3 are LTOs with no Librarianship AQ

10. $$$$$ What will it cost????? Almost Free Minimal Cost Moderate Cost Complete Makeover

11. Almost Free Weeding Integrations of wikis and blogs Cloud computing Student Focus Groups Collaboration between school specialists

12. Minimal Cost Shelving removed Virtual Learning Commons development Book purchases First Class conference Key administrators to Superconference

13. Moderate Cost Investment in bandwidth Students are encouraged to bring personal computers that access school network Comfortable areas for reading

14. Complete Makeover Wireless networking throughout all schools Increase in professional staff Investment in Microsoft Sharepoint to create cloud computing

15. Weeding and Shelf Removal

16. Student Focus Group More books (current fiction, non-fiction and periodicals Coloured printer Lamps, rugs Food and drink Small higher tables (café style) Meeting and seminar spaces More electrical outlets to charge computing tools Audio and eBooks eReaders Extended hours Glue, scissors, staplers, etc. Faster computers

17. Grade 7 PLE

18. Web 2.0 Collaborative Tools

19. Say Something

20. Collaboration of School Specialists TL/CIESC dual role TL and Instructional Coaches TL/SERRS dual role TL/VP dual role

21. TL Instructional Coaches Year One : Who: four coaches for half the year Role: to support elementary school TLs in various areas. Focus: advocacy and facility management with collection development taking over due to two Ministry money drops. Year Two : Who: four coaches half the year Role: to support elementary and secondary school TLs in various areas Focus: elementary TL supports for program and secondary facility management. Including the development of Java Client training and manual for Symphony

22. TL Instructional Coaches continued: Year Three 2 coaches for the full year Role: to assist focus elementary schools. Principals indicated that they wished to have concentrated support by the Library IC. Focus: TL support of SIP, movement towards collaborative teaching periods and TL support of school PLCs. Also provide support to collaborative inquiry teams.

23. TL Collaborative Inquiry Projects

24. Professional Learning for Administrators 9 secondary and elementary administrators to Superconference Friday Free conference admission Superintendent paid for travel and accommodation

25. Virtual Commons: Board Redesign of the Student Reference Portal Sharepoint – Enterprise Portal Cloud Computing gecdsbtlresource wiki Reading Forest wiki NTIP wiki SPM wiki HPE Planning wiki

26. Virtual Commons: School

27. Learning Commons as Collaboration Central Smart Notebooks Collaborative Projects using web 2.0 Both virtual and in the physical commons

28. Experimental Learning Centre

29. In summary..... Multiple entry points One step at a time

30. Big Think: What will it cost????? Almost Free Minimal Cost Moderate Cost Complete Makeover

31. To End….. http://www.rim.com/newsroom/mediagallery/index.shtml