Pre Planning

Welcome to my first blog! This site will host the details of the Collaborative Unit Plan for LIS 7320 ~ The Media Specialist as Teacher and Instructional Consultant. This will be a group project between Susan and myself. Susan will be the library consultant and I the classroom teacher.

I am a bit apprehensive about this blog and unit plan, since I am unsure of what the final project is suppose to resemble. My feeling is that the overall directions for this project are a bit vague at this point. I am unsure of how to approach the unit and lesson plans since I do not have a good picture of the overall project. I anticipate that this will become clearer as the class progresses.

In addition, I am leery of using the blog and wiki since I have not used these in the past. I am not a 'blogger' and I do not participate in any other blogs, so this is new. Therefore, as I am completing the objectives of the project, I am also learning new software and technology skills as well.

I am excited to work with Susan as a team member for this project. From what I can see, my classmates are very enthusiastic and conscientious about their work. At the graduate level, usually most people pull their own weight because we all want to be here for one reason or another. I am however always worried about communication and working together on-line. Since I work full time and have children that keep me very busy, it is always a challenge to find the time for my own schoolwork. Once we start the unit, I am sure that Susan and I can work out a schedule that will be satisfactory for both of us.

I feel that one of my strengths is working as a team member. In my current job and previous work experiences, I have gained the valuable skill of being a team player. I feel that as a person grows and acquires more experiences, they are able to adapt too many different situations. Sometimes, you and your co-works get along wonderfully, and sometimes, you have to work with people whom you would otherwise not associate. This is all part of life. From what I gather after viewing the introductions, Susan and I have similar interests so I do not anticipate any problems working together.

One weakness that I feel I bring to this project is the lack of experience in a library setting. I have never worked in a library and am still new to this program so I am learning more all of the time. Since Susan has library experience, I am sure she will help me out in this aspect.

As far as a unit plan goes, I am not sure what to do. I would like to complete something that I can use within my own classroom. That would make is something practical and not just an assignment to be completed. I teach high school business computer classes and have a few ideas such as a unit on desktop publishing. I currently teach a desktop publishing simulation but it really lacks the foundation of what desktop publishing really consist of. I think an introduction to desktop publishing 'rules' would be something I could use. Susan and I will together decide on a topic that will work for both of us.

Even though I have been teaching for several years, I honestly can say, I have not consulted with the school librarian in any planning issues nor have I ever taken my students to our media center. This concept of coordinating a unit plan with a media specialist is foreign to me. I am however, excited to see how this will work so in the future, I can assist teachers when I become a school librarian. In my experience, I do not know of any true collaboration going on. Our librarian is helpful but I do not think teachers ask for her help in planning or assisting in a unit.

I am excited to work on this project and to learn how to use the blog and wiki. Even though I think this will be a challenge, I am willing to grow and learn to become a better teacher and in the future, an excellent school librarian.