IASL Research Abstracts: 273

Branch, J. & deGroot, J. (2008). World Class Learning and Literacy through School Libraries: Preparing Teacher Librarians for a Web 2.0. Canada.

Abstract: This paper presents the initial findings of a study that looked at students’ experiences with and reactions to learning about Web 2.0 tools. The research questions guiding this study were: How effective is a graduate-level course in helping teachers and teacher-librarians learn about and integrate new Web 2.0 technologies? And, What are the knowledge, skills, and attributes that these teachers and teacher-librarians develop as
a result of undertaking this inquiry? Participants were students enrolled in a graduate-level technology course offered through the Teacher-Librarianship by Distance Learning program at the University of Alberta. The major assignment for the course was an inquiry on Web 2.0 and students were required to write blog posts as they explored 10 new tools. The major source of data for this paper came from the first blog posts, which were analyzed and then categorized into four main themes: feelings, experiences, design of the blog, and challenges. Although this paper only reports on the initial stages of the study, early analysis of all the data indicates that this course has been a great success in helping teachers and teacher-librarians learn about and integrate new Web 2.0 technologies into their personal and professional lives.

Subject Categories: 3, 19, 22

Abstract Submitted by Janice Newsum, Florida State University