Blog Post #1: Standards
When looking at the two sets of standards, one of the first things that really stood out to me was how they are not only designed for use with students, but also for educators and other people involved in the library. Prior this upcoming school year, I was a music teacher in an elementary school where the standards that i used were designed just for teaching students and what the students learning outcomes should be. So moving forward, it will be nice to have standards that are more related to everyone involved in the library. (not to mention, both sets are way easier to read than the standards I am used to!)
The article Portrait of a Graduate and the National Library Standards, Ehler-Hansen and O'Meara (2019) discuss how the state of Vermont is considered advanced on the scale of states with guidelines and policies in place to allow students to receive a more individualized education with multiple pathways to graduation. They have what their state education board describes as a "Portrait of a Graduate" that shows what a successful graduation candidate would look like based on requirements and accomplishments.
The AASL standards work very well with this portrait. The standards allow for individual growth at the student level, and allow for growth from the library/librarian to help the students reach that level of achievement (AASL, 2017). These standards allow for a graduate who not only not only meets the requirements to receive a degree, but is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to continue learning throughout the rest of their life.
Simillarly, the ISTE standards also do this, but with a focus on technology and things that are more digital. These standards allow for both students and educators to become tech savvy individuals that can adapt to new technologies and allow for one to keep that inquiring mind in the digital space (ISTE, 2024). It also has a big focus on digital citizenship, allowing the learner to grow even further by listening to different viewpoints, not just being smart regarding passwords and posts online.
Both sets of standards place an emphasis on inquiry, collaboration and participation. They want students, and educators, to grow and to become lifelong learners, as well as someone who can effectively collaborate with others.
References
American Association of School Librarians. (2018, August). National School Library standards
crosswalk. https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180828-aasl-standards-crosswalk-iste.pdf
Ehler-Hansen, D., & O’Meara, C. (2019). Portrait of a Graduate and the National School Library Standards. Knowledge Quest, 47(5), 23-29.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2024, April 2). ISTE standards: For students. https://iste.org/standards/students
Hi Adam,
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I appreciated about both the AASL and ISTE standards was that they used very user-friendly language. I have had similar experiences with standards being difficult to read and have had to spend a lot of time mapping out what skills and competencies standards covered. O’Connor (2019) talks about creating I can statements based on AASL standards, “.... we created our own AASL Standards-aligned “Student I Can Statements and Evidence of Assessment Opportunities” posters for students to see and connect with during library class time” (p. 18). This is something that we were asked to do at my school in the classroom setting but with the standards not already in student friendly language this was a very time-consuming project. Therefore, I like how the AASL and ISTE standards have a set of standards for both librarians and students.
References
O’Connor, M. L. C. (2019). An appealing menu of digital literacy tools resources.
Knowledge Quest, 47(5), 16–21.
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DeleteHey, Adam! Thank you so much for sharing your perspective, specially from the lens of a former music teacher. I definitely agree with your point about it being refreshing to have sets of standards that are not only designed for students, but for educators and all LIS professionals as well. The standards in my high school English classroom are very much geared towards student outcomes the state of SC deems acceptable, and not just their personal growth. It can be frustrating. I am excited for the day I can put these two sets of standards into play when I enter the librarian role! Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteWe also have a graduate portrait so to speak in my school district! That really helps teachers have a clear example of what they are working towards with students. Teachers seeing the wanted outcome and using the standards allows them to grow students into successful graduates!
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