iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

Too many classes, all grade levels, begin the school year with getting down to academic business – starting to cover content, discussing expectations regarding academic requirements, giving tests, and other academic information provided by the teacher to the students in a mostly one-way communication.  The human or social element is often disregarded.

I believe that all classes should begin with focusing on having the students make connections between themselves and the educator; and between one another.  I want students to learn about one another in a personal way.  I want to learn about my students so my instructional strategies can be more personalized and tailored to their needs and interests. 

This August, I’ll be the new media specialist at Tampa Preparatory, an independent 6-12 school in downtown Tampa. This will be my first time in seven years at a new (to-me) school. Needless to say, I’m both excited and anxious at the same time. What programs should I plan? How will the culture of the library shift? What can I do to build relationships with my new teachers and students? Planning helps me focus and calm down, so I’ve been spending some time lately thinking about what my priorities are for the first half of the year.