SLANSW PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING LAB
Group 3 - Thursday Afternoon
Research suggests that customised and practically focused professional development delivered by fellow practitioners though their professional subject associations is more valued by teachers than the support offered through sources such as syllabus documents and associated support material (O’Sullivan et al., 2008). To this end, a SLANSW Professional Learning Lab invites members to connect virtually for one 90-minute session and two one-hour sessions to discuss three topics focused on the role of school libraries and those who work in them.
Designed as an interactive professional conversation amongst colleagues, each of the three Lab sessions will be kickstarted by a 10-minute recorded introduction from a featured guest. In the ensuing facilitated discussion of the topic, participants will share their experiences, and build on and shape the ideas of colleagues in the pursuit of informed and better practice in their school libraries.
SLANSW Library Learning Labs are available exclusively to SLANSW members. To encourage the collaborative integrity of the professional conversations, each Lab will be limited to 12 participants who are encouraged to ensure their availability to engage in all three sessions.
Series 1 2022
School Libraries: Improving the Academic, Vocational and Social Outcomes for Young People
Join us for SLANSW’s inaugural Professional Learning Lab, which will focus on the recent research of Dr Margaret Merga. Three short interviews with Dr Merga will provide the stimulus for three online professional conversations amongst a small group of colleagues. Registration for the Lab includes a copy of Dr Merga’s recent publication, School Libraries: Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing.
Professional Conversation #1:
School libraries and reading engagement for literacy
Professional Conversation #2:
School libraries and reading engagement for student wellbeing
Professional Conversation #3:
Challenges to visibility and advocacy for school libraries and staff
About Dr Margaret Merga
Dr Margaret Merga is an honorary adjunct at the University of Newcastle, and an international expert in literacy, libraries and research communications. She has written more than a hundred peer-reviewed and research-informed publications, including four research-informed non-fiction books, such as the recent School Libraries Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing (Facet, 2022). As of 2022, she is the inaugural Patron of the Western Australian School Library Association, and in 2020 she was honoured as inaugural Patron of the Australian School Library Association. In 2021 Margaret won an American Association of School Librarians ESLS Research Grant, and she is a keen advocate of the UK Great School Libraries initiative. She has consulted with schools, professional associations and government departments on a range of literacy projects, such as the Department of Education Western Australia’s Never Stop Reading programme.
Margaret is keen to see Teacher Librarians (TLs) engaging with the research and ideas presented in her new book. As both student literacy and wellbeing are key target areas for contemporary Australian schools, aligning the school library and its staff with improved student outcomes in these area makes sense, particularly in these challenging times. The book can help readers to further build a case for the importance of their role and library, improving understanding of their value within the school. It can also help TLs to build upon their current literacy and wellbeing offerings, and extend them where applicable to build the capacity of the library. The book also explores some of the challenges facing school libraries and their professional staff that may need to be mitigated to ensure that they can reach their full potential for supporting student literacy and wellbeing.
Registration
This first Professional Learning Lab will be offered three times to accommodate the varied circumstances of participants; three evening sessions, three afternoon sessions; and three morning sessions on a weekend.
The registration fee for the Library Learning Lab is $260. This includes a copy of Dr Merga’s book, School Libraries Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing (RRP $105).
Group 3 Sessions
Each session will be held on a Thursday Afternoon from 4pm in the SLANSW Zoom Room. You must register to ensure you are sent the Zoom login details within 24hours before your session.
Dates: June 2, June 9, and June 23
Reference: O’Sullivan, K-A., Carroll, K. & Cavanagh, M. (2008). Changing teachers: Syllabuses, subjects and selves. Issues in Educational Research, 18(2), 167- 182.
