Getting there – not getting there???

The last days I spent with reading. My problem: I spend too much time reading around in the forums, how to’s, helpful links etc., instead of concentrating on the literature.

I got nervous when I read through rules of referencing: very different from what I learnt back in Germany almost 20 years ago. I also realise that it is one thing to talk, teach, read and listen in English, but another to write academic texts.

Module 6 from ETL 401 was a very interesting and challenging reading. Not so much the part of how to manage time. I feel that I am not too bad at that, but the articles about conflict management. As I am now the “boss” of two library assistants and also in the position of having to deal with some very special teacher colleagues I found the statements and recommendations extremely valuable to me and hope that I can put some of them into practice next term.

I liked this one….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJYpsB3o0Uc&feature=player_embedded

There are no teacher librarians in Germany…

Yesterday I came across the different names of teacher librarians in Australia, the US and England.

Well…. as I am from Germany here comes something shocking: We do not have teacher librarians in German schools, because there are rarely libraries in those schools. There are small rooms where you can borrow books, these rooms usually have the size of a classroom and are run by one or two teachers during their recess break.

Now that I am getting to know the ideas behind the school libraries here in Australia I am wondering why this simply doesn’t exist in the country I am coming from ( and the truth is – I never missed it). I think I will have to have a look at the German curriculum….

Thinking about how we provided research material, I would say that the teachers copies the material and brings it into class, or takes his class to one of the computer rooms to have them work on a research project.

Could be an interesting topic to do some profound research about!

Topic 1: Using the library’s databases – searching for relevant resources, Activity 1

7.7.2011

Today I printed out some more papers that I prefered to have in my hands rather than in my computer… can’t help it.

I worked my way through the first Activity of Topic 1 and learned about EbscoHost Database, which I found very helpful.

New for me was the use of the asterisk *.

 I was amazed by the amount of articles available and the perfect way to be able to look them up and find them. Also the fact, that articles can be translated and be read out loud is definitely a significant help . The fact that SFX ist forwarding a search in case Ebsco can’t find it is great and saves a lot of time by not looking through other database.

How much has changed in the almost 20 years I studied German at the University of Cologne!

Warming up with “blogging”

6.7.2011   I created this blog as part of my studies to become a Teacher Librarian.    I still have to learn how to personalize it. By working my way through the Introduction of ETL 401 I already learned many new things (e.g.: the different libraries in Australia and their major roles, the principles of ALIA, etc.) . I am impressed by the use of IT through CSU, and feel, that I am still torn between a “book to touch in my hands” and e-books.