For the past two days I’ve been immersed in professional development at the Midwest Education Technology Conference (METC). Now that the conference has ended, I finally have time to process all that I’ve seen, heard and learned. Looking back on the sessions I attended, several themes emerged that I think are applicable to all of us, regardless of teaching experience, grade level or subject matter.

The Definition of Literacy

David Warlick’s keynote address focused on 21st Century Literacy, and while we have all heard the phrase before, his remarks, and those of other presenters, helped crystallize the notion that the definition of literacy has changed. Whether it is reading, writing, or arithmetic, the “basic” content and skills that students need today far surpass what we learned during our formative years. Being able to efficiently locate, critically evaluate, and succinctly synthesize information is paramount in the digital age, and the consequences for not being able to do so are severe. Students must be taught to aggregate and disaggregate information, to act as filters and discern the credible from the questionable, and to construct meaning from the disparate resources at their disposal. As classroom teachers, we can help our students learn these precious lessons, but not without the assistance and support of our librarians.

Libraries and Librarians

Joyce Valenza gave three dynamic sessions on various aspects of the 21st century library, and it is more than just a space to house books, periodicals, and computers. Today’s library is as much digital as it is tangible, available 24/7, and staffed by skilled educators who have mastered the new definition of literacy. Students congregate to collaborate and utilize resources that were unimaginable to Dewey and his Decimal System. Information fluency, woven together with myriad Web 2.0 tools, creates, as Joyce describes it, “a rich 21st century cloth as teachers and librarians who value inquiry, thinking skills, ethical behavior, and innovative student work hone their craft on a funky and vibrant 21st century loom, with learners as collaborators.” And while her statement should resonate with all of us, the concept of “ethical behavior” has never been more pressing.

Copyright and Fair Use

David Jakes shared his expertise though two sessions, one devoted to Google Earth/Maps and the other to Digital Storytelling. Throughout each he stressed the need for students to properly cite/credit their media sources. Ethical behavior in the 21st century includes giving specific credit where credit is due; simply listing Google in the bibliography no longer suffices. Thankfully, sites like FlickrStorm and CreativeCommons provide project-friendly resources and David Warlick’s CitationMachine can help cite them. Although the guidelines regarding copyright and fair use can be difficult to interpret, our librarians can help us, and our students, make sense of what is and is not permissible in the pursuit of literacy.

Discover Your Own Themes

The themes I gleaned from METC were interconnected and of great interest and benefit to my professional practice. Regardless of your teaching responsibilities or geographic location, you are sure to find professional development opportunities that will meet your needs. I would encourage you to take advantage of them and share what you learn with your peers; just like our students, we can learn together.

Posted: 02|6|08 at 9:25 pm. Filed under: Conferences, Professional Development.
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