The Teaching And Learning Environment

I see students as the next generations’ heroes in so many fields. In my vision, I have to inspire students and prepare them with confidence, knowledge, experience and skills. Which means I encourage, communicate, guide, teach, and assess students in order to enrich their infrastructures.

Education Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Scottish Government designed the Curriculum for Excellence to offer flexibility, appeal to young digital learners and enrich Scotland’s education system (Education Scotland, 2015b). CfE offers an up-to-date, progressive and “coherent curriculum” to motivate and engage pupils allowing them to reach their full potential (Education Scotland, 2013). Due to an evolving digital world, technology has become culturally relevant for our digital young learners, and it is necessary to incorporate technology into education in order for pupils to successfully engage with the curriculum, to enrich learning and also transform teaching in order to achieve an inclusive education. As Jalasvirta (2010) states, we reside in a technological ubiquitous world so it is imperative include technology in education. Education Scotland (online) state that pupils are more engaged and interested when curricular content are supported with technology and visual aids. To promote the use of technology in schools, information and investment on resources is made available for practitioners to avail of, to enhance learning and teaching (Wesley, Krockover & Hicks, 2008). The Scottish Curriculum for Excellence has a section dedicated to allow for flexibility and creativity in the use of technology to enhance pupil’s learning in the geography experiences and outcomes and developing attributes and

In New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist’s Guide to Success, Ruth Toor and Hilda Weisburg present a one-stop manual for first-year school library that details numerous aspects of what it means to be a successful school library media specialist. The authors, both of whom are veteran former school librarians, outline everything from the job interview to the last day of school, sharing years of wisdom and practical insight into the ins and outs of the profession. Special attention is paid to developing relationships between the various members of the school population and associated individuals, including students, teachers, administrators, school board members, parents, and volunteers. The authors remind school librarians to keep

The process I used to create the advocacy video provides evidence of how my core values as a school librarian can positively affect the students and teachers around me. Based on the Texas Education Agency’s SBEC School Librarians Standards for the initial Preparation of School Librarians the following standards were met:

I strongly believe that there is an urgent need for new pedagogies that develop 21st century learning for students as they prepare for their future. Schools should be looking at rethinking purpose, pedagogies, curriculum, structures, assumptions and expectations. The old pedagogies persisting into the 21st century are no longer relevant. What’s needed is a 21st century pedagogy which will serve as a paradigm that reflects a strong and creative commitment to relevance and quality learning and teaching (Whitby,

In this report I will explain the purpose and design of the curriculum proposal. I will then review the feedback obtained from the validating panel and the changes made. Professional values will also be explained and the importance they have in the lifelong learning sector. In addition, I will explain how the course will be evaluated providing a summary of how records are currently being used. Finally, I will create an action plan highlighting development needs to the course design.

Although I am a librarian by practice, I am a teacher by choice. I believe in the educational mission of libraries and work hard to perpetuate the democratic ideals on which our profession was founded. I encourage my students to take their learning personally; to look beyond the assignment to see the connections to their everyday lives, and beneath the information to see the systems of social, economic, and political power that build and inform our world. As a teacher, I take the work I do seriously and I encourage my students to do the same.

A driving objective for a teacher is to affect students to advance their expertise in education by finding them the correct course. The teacher should promote positive motivation and inspiration by adhering to legislation and codes of practice which will increase every student’s focus in developing and bridging gaps to display eagerness towards a healthy broad mindset, creative thinking and brighter approach. A mentor should coordinate assessments which will reinforce the ability to perceive individuals’ abilities and knowledge progressions and moreover support them further to boost their learning capacity to acquire a well-established national standards skill set.

The roles, responsibilities and boundaries of a teacher and establishing ground rules within a learning environment

Bolstad defined 21st century learning as something that is not a fixed prescription or known formula. In fact 21st century learning is considered to be continually emerging of new ideas, beliefs, knowledge, theories and practises (Senge et. al. 2012, p.7). This then became visible in schools with an understanding of key features and themes stated by Bolstad as personalised learning, new views of equity, diversity, inclusivity, a curriculum that uses knowledge to develop learning capacity and a culture of continuous learning for teachers and educational leaders using partnerships and relationships. Teachers also have a large input into the key features of creating learning environments where students are able to work together as a team and also

In the 21st century, collections and services will need to meet customer's needs in a much more personalized and customized way. Collections will need to become more diverse, in terms of format, language, and access. Librarians will need to have knowledge of new formats for library materials, and plan to use their funds in purchasing materials that will meet and promote various skills. Customers will want library materials that use their critical thinking and problem solving skills, promote creativity and innovation, allow for communication and collaboration, and teach information, media and technology skills. Library materials, that are accessible 24/7, in a range of cutting edge formats, that promote and support learning and using new skill sets, will be the norm. Library services, like library materials, will need to be accessible 24/7 in a 21st Century library. Librarians will need to think about services as customer-centered and focused. Reference services in the 21st century will not be based on the librarian's knowledge and access to information, but the customer's starting point. 21st century customers are coming to librarians, not for answers to questions, but for new access points, or new skill sets. Children's and Teen services will need to incorporate skills for the 21st Century, including critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, information and technological literacy. The expectation will be that library

Central Idea (Need): The worth of public libraries in America extends far beyond the books they offer; libraries also provide access to computers and internet connections, meeting places for community activities and groups, guidance services for patrons, tutoring programs, and advocacy for child literacy programs. Despite the value of these resources to struggling communities, libraries have seen a decline in both public usage and federal funding in recent years.

The overall functioning of a classroom is impacted by trust, safety, and consistency. When a student does not feel safe he or she will reflect this through his or her behavior. Trust is important for students to take risks and allow learning to occur in the classroom. Trust, safety, and consistency are beneficial in the learning environment. A classroom where students feel safe, realize the teacher is consistent, and trust is developed, will allow students to grow and change socially, emotionally, and academically. This will offer a positive learning environment.

For students to be adequately informed about the value of the university library and resources such as the Internet in information retrieval there must be a careful collaboration between teaching staff and library staff (Kenney, 2007). The focus in this task, of course, is preparing students not just for the immediate research project at hand but rather to prepare them to be life long learners, to prepare them to be successful and productive once they leave the academic environment and take up their chosen careers (Lauer & Yodanis, 2012).

Teaching and learning in the 21st century develop skills beyond listening, watching and remembering. Education in the 21st century incorporates advanced learning tools, development of skills, while actively involved in your own learning and environment. Also, education today is motivating while inspiring and preparing students for today’s world. Students gain the ability to adapt when needed for the changing world of tomorrow. Twenty-first century education is understanding how students learn with a more hands-on approach while building skills. However, the ‘4C’s creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration’ (Kolk, 2011) are skills that are important for students learning. Therefore, they can actively consume and create data and knowledge in ways that deliver substance and relevance to them (Bolstad, Gilbert, McDowall, Bull, Boyd & Hipkins, 2012; Watson, 2012). Clearly, the classroom in the 21st century is a modern environment. This modern environment consisting of little groups of tables placed together for students to sit and learn together as well as discuss what they are doing. Meanwhile, displaying student’s art to decorate the classroom has a sense of pride. Above all, the classroom has visible items as an interactive whiteboard, Internet access, projector and computers, accessible for student and teachers daily.