Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Response to Generra Singleton - Flexible Schedule or Not?



Classmate Generra poses a recurring dilemma in primary school libraries in her blog – flexible schedule or not? I’m at a secondary school library, where it’s not as much of an issue. At secondary schools, regularly scheduled library times are not practiced. As explained by McGregor (2006), students in secondary schools tend to visit the library on a “point-of-need basis,” and the library is seen as “an extension of the classroom.” But all teacher-librarians must recognize the shift from just providing access to information in pre-determined, structured lesson times, to allowing for inquiry and investigation as students are inspired on their own.

McGregor (2006) reviews a study of six elementary school libraries and how flexible scheduling was implemented. At the very heart of flexible scheduling, is the issue of how learning occurs. Proponents argue that we must support the constructivist model of learning, and open the library up as a source for information, which can’t occur when it’s bound by a strict schedule. What rigid scheduling does offer, is planning time for teachers. I sympathize with primary school teachers who need time to create, plan, and collaborate with other teachers. The review of the literature concerning the study concluded with eleven assertions, several of which focused on the attitudes of teachers, librarians, and support and administrative staff. It really needs to be an adoption by the entire school, and everyone will have to make adjustments for the sake of the children’s opportunities of learning to increase.

The stakes are even higher to make this young generation information literate and prepare them for research at the college level. My fifth grader is fortunate to have a cart of iPads in his classroom, and the teacher provides guided time in to investigate and conduct research. Depending on the resources available at different schools, flexible scheduling seems like a feasible option, to incorporate more time practicing effective information-seeking skills.

References

McGregor, J. (2006). Flexible scheduling: Implementing an innovation. School Library Media Research. 9. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/slr/vol9/SLMR_FlexibleScheduling_V9.pdf

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