Wearing that PD Hat!

This week I focused on the article “Putting on the Professional Development Hat.” by Carl Harvey. He discusses the many hats we wear in the Library Media Specialist role. I've only been in this role since January- and I did not see all these hats coming! I am just peeling back a corner of the many layers of the work to be done. As everyone probably knows by now I am a newbie at the Library Media Specialist gig, and I'm simply trying to hold on to to my hat (aka- keep my job). 

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I appreciated how Harvey discusses that professional development from the librarian perspective is not all "formal" PD. There are many times where we can scaffold for staff new technology, research design or digital databases. PD can be one on one, classroom coaching, small group such as a PLC or a more typical lecture based session. 

It was a bit of an overwhelming article to assume one needs to be the "expert" on everything. I calmed my stressors with thinking that you can only be the expert on one thing at a time. For example, spend a lot of time learning Canva, share Canva with your staff. Then you have Canva in your toolbox to share with teachers. Next, get some robots. Learn your way around the robots. Share that with your teachers. Now you have the robots in your toolbox. And on and on....until all that tech gets replaced and you have to learn new things! =)

In my role I have 7 schools I oversee. And I have 6 library assistants that I support. I have provided them 2 PDs thus far. Coming from the classroom teacher perspective I have big feelings on PD. I have been in far too many unproductive PD environments. When I am leading PD I attempt to keep the vision of providing skills and information people can use in a timely fashion. I personally love a "make and take" or an opportunity to do the work in action. I am leading a PD this week where we will discuss our district library collection policy and then use their guidelines to help weed. The 6 library assistants will all gather at one school to support their building in the overwhelming weeding process. 

I am aware that everyone's time is precious and we should consider this in providing PD. We should allow PD experiences to be effective and improve the function of our attendants work. 

Harvey, Carl A. “Putting on the Professional Development Hat.” School Library Monthly, vol. 29, no. 5, Feb. 2013.