Group Session 2

Firstly, each individual identified up to 3 gaps in the TL research and/or gaps between TL research and practice. Groups then discussed these gaps and agreed on up to 3 to present to the larger group. They then explored possible solutions to filling the gaps (groups are numbered in no particular order). Scroll down the page for individual anonymous responses.

Group 1:

Common themes:

• How do we cumulate/connect disparate sources of research?
  • researching practitioners
  • academic research
  • complementary fields
• How can TLs broaden their horizons to understand more of the educational system and scene?
• How can important issues be identified? (and possibly prioritized?)

Solutions:

• Revisit preservice TL/T education
• Intentionally engage strategic partnerships
  • principals
  • expertise outside of schools
  • other academic depts.

Group 2:

Common themes:

• What influence do the personal attributes of the TL have on the success of the school library?
• What are the key factors in building influence for the TL?
• How might the profession of TLs be sustained in an uncertain future?

Solutions:

• Look outwards not inwards
• Partnerships
• Too reliant on self reporting means
• Extend validation
• School based action research

Group 3:

Common themes:

• How does the information skills process apply to multimedia to enhance student learning?
• Developing diverse models for effective collaborations within systems/schools

Solutions:

• School based action research
  • Share with other TLs

Group 4:

Common themes:

• School library 'spaces' -- spatiality and design
  • the way they shape the way we are
• Gap in TL understanding research -- reading, interpreting, and doing
• Promotion of research findings outside our own discourse group

Solutions:

• Research required
• Teacher education training and TL training
• Partnerships e.g. individual TLs need support network/mentors, etc.
• Reports in non library journals
• Presenting at other discipline and management conferences
• Having hands on the current research to do this
• Partnerships in research outside our own discourse

Group 5:

Common themes:

• Distance between research and practice -- getting the message out. PlacingTLs in mainstream of educational research
• Skills transfer across disciplines and between levels of education and beyond school
• What can we learn from how students use technology?

Individual responses to identifying gaps:

a) Cumulative research--research building and development
b) Academic research that may be at too esoteric a level
c) How TLs can learn and develop better communication skills

a) Review of TL pedagogy against post-school life for authentic relevance
b) Review of obsessive TL pre-occupations -- e.g. Info. Lit
c) Review of traditional concepts of Reading and Writing

a) Parallel micro-research, able to be replicated simultaneously, building to synthesis of strong picture
b) Multi-modal generation and knowledge building
c) More on culture of schools--fragmentation of information/fragmentation of knowledge

a) Very little research is done into how TLs can serve administrators info needs
b) How can we instill in practitioners the desire to research and disseminate?
c) How do we conduct research now that will help us prepare TLs for roles not yet apparent?

a) Ethical practice (not just plagiarism) in light of new technologies

a) Stress related issues in role of teacher librarianship
b) Difference in distance Ed TL roles
c) School environments and TL role

a) What are the personal attributes required for success as a TL
b) How might the profession of TLs be sustained in an uncertain future
c) How should undergraduate teacher training programs be modified to acknowledge the info process?

a) Industrial and/or organisational barriers to the effective practice of TLs
b) Enabling TLs to apply visual literacies as well as print literacies in their practice
c) Developing the TL profile in educational leadership circles

a) Reliability of data -- sample size, credibility
b) Longitudinal studies -- need more
c) Creating opportunities for practitioners to do research -- is this a gap? scholarships? bursaries?

a) Look at enhancers (??) not just barriers
b) How collaboration with TL enhances/improves learning
c) need more Australian research (micro and macro)

a) Can students learn solely from online tutorials or is a human necessary?
        -Can students learn to search the Web effectively from online tutorials?

a) Does the CPPT model meet the needs of TLs and teachers
b) Assessment for higher order thinking skills -- best method
c) Does the Information Literacy process meet student needs in a digital environment

a) Student use of internet
b) Integrating ICT into curriculum

a) Influence of TL on student learning
b) Influence of interpersonal relationships on profession
c) Importance of TL in transfer of skills across disciplines and levels and lifelong learning

a) Staffing levels/TL roles/student achievement
b) Resource levels -- student achievement
c) Changes of lib. usage/ICT levels change

a) Research into the political influence of the TL in the school administrative structure
b) Mentoring for TLs
c) Inclusion of the role of the TL in teacher training

a) Rhetoric and practice of whole school IL policy

a) Longitudinal studies of impact of INFO. Lit. skilling on students
b) What teachers really want (and do) re info seeking
c) Research (Australian) that is practicable and interesting when applied to the real world of pedagogy

a) Affective aspects in regard to TL qualities--personality, behaviour, etc.
b) Research needs to go to Education authorities--international level
c) TL lack of knowledge of types of research, methods, etc.