3.3 Information Technology
Digital tools and resources are some of the most motivating means of engaging students in the media center and classrooms of today. Often, classroom teachers need support to help create relevant learning experiences around these digital tools, or students need a way to conveniently access the best in a world of limitless information sources. Pathfinders are one example of a way to meet these needs, and my two artifacts here represent my mastery of this standard.
Pathfinders are a convenient, easy way to curate resources for all media center users, or a specific group of researchers. These artifacts both represent grade level, content specific needs, but this format can easily be adjusted for other groups. A pathfinder also lends itself to easy updates: a link can quickly be added or deleted, whereas often our print collections are weeded in a much slower cycle. Pathfinders can also be that collaborative step needed to help reluctant teachers explore digital tools: they can meet needs of both student and adult researchers. As classroom teachers explore new projects or themes of research, a pathfinder can easily adjust to their requirements.
Having the experience of creating these pathfinders in my coursework as a classroom teacher and then editing my work for use in the media center has strengthened these artifacts. Practicality and efficiency are essential for classroom teachers, and the practice of creating meaningful resources for researchers to access digital tools is one I will keep with me as I build my experience in the media world.
Pathfinders are a convenient, easy way to curate resources for all media center users, or a specific group of researchers. These artifacts both represent grade level, content specific needs, but this format can easily be adjusted for other groups. A pathfinder also lends itself to easy updates: a link can quickly be added or deleted, whereas often our print collections are weeded in a much slower cycle. Pathfinders can also be that collaborative step needed to help reluctant teachers explore digital tools: they can meet needs of both student and adult researchers. As classroom teachers explore new projects or themes of research, a pathfinder can easily adjust to their requirements.
Having the experience of creating these pathfinders in my coursework as a classroom teacher and then editing my work for use in the media center has strengthened these artifacts. Practicality and efficiency are essential for classroom teachers, and the practice of creating meaningful resources for researchers to access digital tools is one I will keep with me as I build my experience in the media world.
The pictures above link to my Pathfinder Websites: It's Alive First Grade STEM and All About Animals Informational Writing.