|
PRESENT: Helen Barnes (A/Director Personnel, Policy and Planning), George Green (A/Director Teaching & Learning), Vince Gee (Senior Manager, Applications, Information Technology), John Healey (A/ Manager, Personnel Policies), Colleen Foley (PEO School Libraries), Rosie Charles (Premier's Reading Challenge), Di Simpson (ALIA), Maggie Roche
APOLOGIES: Victor Davidson (ASLA)
Thank you to George Green for arranging to have Colleen
present; a request that had been till now denied.
Unfortunately Victor was ill and ASLA was unable to arrange
an alternate representative.
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS - Upgrade of DET course
John Healey reviewed the proposal and asked for feedback.
Unfortunately we didn't know this was happening so hadn't had the opportunity
to consult with the relevant people, nor had copies of relevant documents
to give him. In Victor's absence the letter already received from him on
behalf of ASLA was tabled. Information will be officially given to TLs
when the consultation phase is complete, and it has gone to TQAP, the Teacher
Qualifications Advisory Panel.
PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE
Victor had reported that some TLs were frustrated not
being able to get access to password. Rosie gave a comprehensive presention
on all aspects of the challenge. Then she responded that they needed it
to be a secure site, and the only thing they had was the school email account.
When people ring her with this problem she recommends that they give all
the paperwork to the SASS. In 90% of cases the SASS has then given the
password to the TL, however she encourages TLs to use SASS to do the paperwork;
it's more appropriate, and they will need to familiarise themselves with
data entry - it's the way of the future.
Year 5-9 lists are being split 5-6 and 6-8 and they will investigate providing units for teachers based on titles.
When will remote access be restored to update current
school web pages?
Vince will check.
Current publications - Syllabus and document list
No time
Questions were relayed from NSWTL feedback last week re
OASIS
update.
George reiterated that the trial was satisfactory, the
problem is with funding. The projected budget was over $30 million. Given
that it is an interim measure prior to total update it wasn't cost-effective.
The training incurred the cost, but that was what people wanted in the
trial. The door is not closed; they are looking at ways of cost-cutting
eg using just part of it, or other ways of hosting OASIS so that it is
accessible from curriculum computers.
The problem as with everything is Treasury funding. State budget due June 22.
TECH SUPPORT
We reminded them that schools are crying out for tech
support. The news is the same. Following the restructure, the role of TAs
and CCs is being redefined. Strategies are being looked at for a better
level of support eg remote support. Timeframe?
PROFESSIONAL SUPPPORT AND CURRICULUM
LIBRARY POLICY and INFORMATION SKILLS IN THE SCHOOL update
Colleen stated that the underlying framework hasn't changed. She would look at updating terminology, some specific information and the handbook for things such as SCIS online. She would establish a working group, and suggested it would be a longer term task than first understood. She is interested in Quality teaching.
ALIA REPORT
Di showed the final draft June 2004 of ALIA/ASLA Standards of professional excellence for teacher-librarians.
Helen was very interested to receive a copy, and curious to know where and when it will be published. She thought it might be of interest to the Institute, and would be relevant to planning of professional development activities.
ASLA REPORT
Victor relayed news of ASLA professional development
i.) National online conference in
May – Info lit, Lit, ICT, EBP, KM – Quality of papers and moderation high
ii) NSW Biennial conference October
– comprehensive program, 100 items, broad scope
Victor recommends Australian and NZ Information Literacy Framework; principles, standards and practice 2004, developed by the tertiary sector. In the absence of up-to-date material from the DET he finds this useful. http://www.anziil.org/resources/
ASLA discussion paper Communicate, collaborate,
consolidate: Teacher librarianship education and the profession
Victor had sent copies to group, requesting its discussion.
Unfortunately, owing to the lengthy Premier's Reading Challenge presentation,
there was no time.
For follow-up
Vince: Loss of remote access to school website upload
Di: Standards of professional excellence for teacher-librarians
progress
Current publications - Syllabus and document list
Next meeting Thursday 2nd September 4:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Helen Barnes (A/Director Personnel, Policy and Planning), George Green (A/Director Teaching & Learning), Vince Gee (Senior Manager, Applications, Information Technology), Di Simpson (ALIA), Maggie Roche
APOLOGIES: Victor Davidson (ASLA)
It is not appropriate for associations to be giving out all this DET info, but TLs aren't getting it from anywhere else, and they need to know. We look forward to the time when information is disemminated from DET again.
A major trend, condemned by PSA, is that Refshauge is claiming that Treasury won't give any money. PSA suggest he tries harder.
DET RESTRUCTURE - Overview, relevant changes
They began filling teaching services vacancies before
Xmas, 1300 Public Service positions will be advertised next week, progressive,
beginning with displaced people. It's a huge exercise, will be gradual
over a period of months.
Regional consultancy
Rebuilding of regions will happen, over time.
Regional Directors have the capacity to structure and
use their consultancy team as they wish. This could include possible support
for TLs (eg a part-time library consultant, a shared position, eg library
and literacy, a library consultant for a one year focus etc.) in particular
regions where there is a fair demand, eg a large region with big schools
and a number of inexperienced TLs.
They are carrying out needs assessment of schools now.
Regional networks
Rebuilding networks will be one of the most +ve aspects,
because they will be larger than districts, so there is more scope for
professional development eg conferences. It will allow choice. Regions
can work with professional associations.
Each region has a CEO who is the regional consultancy
cordinator - a good point of contact to start the ball rolling.
When will schools have tech support?
Trial for changing support - completing report now, recommended
models, different options, variety of funding options.
Wait for answer and how it will be funded.
When will all schools have the OASIS Windows interface?
Mixed up in the overall blueprint. Questions of
i) how it will all be managed, aiming
for compatibility across whole system
ii) budget - where will they find
the money?
All acknowledged it was a terribly successful pilot.
The problem is OASIS still works.
The Minister needs to convince Treasury; they are saying
- come back when it doesn't work.
The folly of not planning ahead was discussed; Di reminded
everyone of the railways - vigorous agreement.
They reassured us it is getting there - it is one of
the runners. There is a projection of 3-4 years till we get to final base.
It is one of their goals, along with easing the burden
on TAs and CCs.
Will people be able to access their school email
outside school, or intranet only?
Yes, there will be a piece of software to load so that
access is secure.
Will there be any monitoring of DET email?
No active monitoring / Yes filtering - language etc
Child protection - They have begun to look at what will
be archived, and for how long. eg chat
When will teachers have remote access to upload
web pages?
Vince will check
General
Evaluation report not complete due to industrial bans
A year of transition due to restructure - looking at
regional structure, and funding
A subcommittee has just been set up to look at the future
of TA and CC role, and e-learning
Three directorates / sections?
1. Curriculum - large - strong focus this year
on supporting regions
i)
new 7-10 curricula (rolled out by BOS over next three years)
ii)
implementing the Eltis Review on Assessment and Reporting
2. Professional learning - T&D funds to schools and putting structures in place
3. Professional practice - small - away from the day to day hurly burly - to carry cutting edge stuff and innovation fwd
TaLE Teaching and learning exchange
A Centre for Innovation has been established (in the
Stategic Planning and Reg portfolio), goes across schools and TAFE. They
have advertised for a general manager at a high salary so they can attract
someone fabulous.
TaLE is part of that. Very early days. They want to rethink
pedagogy and learning; see technology used as a teaching tool rather than
resource delivery, with individualised learning.
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT
Budget has gone to schools, includes relief days etc.
For the needs of schools and individuals.
Schools have been given guidelines for use.
GUIDELINES is a notion supported by government as well
as unions !!!!!
Needs be tight, built into school planning. This is happening
in schools now.
Plans are to go to Regional Director through School Director
to be verified with the guidelines.
Deadline soon - April or end of term
Who will deliver?
Private providers are being kept under control to prevent
capitalisation.
They are looking to the Professional Associations, can
register as providers, put up programs.
They want the unis to get involved, the State library
for us, etc.
We can think more flexibly, eg use relief days to visit other schools.
We made the point that our professional associations consist of volunteers, and that although resources will be available to pay guest speakers etc, it is a big ask. Di suggested payment for organisers.
OASIS TRAINING
No information available
Is on the list and recognised?
CORE COLLECTION
This is available to schools, more and more are asking.
CD only, too big to upload to internet at moment.
Ring Colleen 9886 7488
NEW LIBRARIES PACKAGE
Has gone to tender. The money or the box! Schools can
now elect to get the collection itself, processed and covered.
PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE
Asked on behalf of Victor - TLs are frustrated not able
to get access to password. George asked for Victor to contact him with
the solution.
Levels - one list can't serve 5-8, they are proposing
to look at this.
LIST of CURRENT PUBLICATIONS - DET & BOS
They tossed this around, understood the need for better
information management, look forward to having it themselves. It
is a whole of government direction, every government will need one. Vince
will be looking at a directory of services, said it is a matter of identifying
what is available in electronic format. There will be an audit project,
a checklist with a link to relevant document. There is a large policy database
- mandatory stuff. None of this quite fits the bill for what was requested.
Vince suggested we email him with more information about the sorts of documents
- where/who - titles, original sources, who to ask. A volunteer is needed
to put something together, to clarify the request. [Could also send a formal
request to BOS?]
IN CONCLUSION
So much is going on - OASIS is a high priority. Stay
in touch
TO FOLLOW UP
Premiers Reading Challenge, Online syllabus and document
list, SASS review - competencies, secure library allocation?,
Meeting dates set for Thursday 3rd June, 2nd September, 11th November
PRESENT: Andrew Refshauge (Deputy Premier / Minister for Education and Trraining), Louise Wagner, (Policy Adviser), Peter Riordan (Director, Industrial Relations), Di Simpson (ALIA), Victor Davidson (ASLA), Maggie Roche
ROLE and RESEARCH
Victor described the role of the school library and the
teacher-librarian, and the research that is being documented, handing over
a copy of ASLA's Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement:
a Review of the Research.. Di supported it, and handed over an excerpt
from the recently published Ohio research. Andrew Refshauge was delighted
to receive both, saying that he is looking at the available education research,
looking for all the elements that give a good result. He thinks it is worth
drilling down, to get the right composition. Some of what has interested
him so far is Putnam on social capital and connectedness, the importance
of the principal, and others who say 85% is due to the teachers.
STRONG CENTRAL SUPPORT
Victor reiterated the importance of the principal, and
handed over the August copy of Scan with the article by Rod Gibbs,
principal of Barnier PS. Then he referred to the need for strong central
support and guidelines, so that principals can be supported by benchmarks,
to get those better outcomes. He highlighted the anomalies in the current
period of uncertainty, with a range from black holes to fully engaged schools.
IT
Victor then described how teacher-librarians are integral
to the ICT strategy, yet a lot are locked out. He asked if AR had heard
of OASIS. AR replied yes, he has heard how it is hated from Day One. AR
asked what is the problem with OASIS? Victor explained. AR said that it
wouldn't be possible to replace OASIS because of the enormous cost. We
explained how we are all looking forward to web-based catalogues in the
future, but for now the DET was looking at an interim solution. AR didn't
seem to know about the Windows interface solution, so we explained it.
That is a problem since the submission for finding was supposed to go forward
last year. We outlined the process; that a report was due from the project
team to the steering committee last October, then a month or so later,
a submission was to have been made to the Board of Management for funding.
We stressed the importance of funding for this to go ahead. AR knew nothing
of it, so we agreed to wait for information at the next meeting with DET.
(Scheduled for 4th March)
LIBRARY POLICY and INFORMATION SKILLS IN THE SCHOOL
Victor handed over a copy of each, and remarked on the
need for update, hoping that would go ahead this year as promised by DET.
AR asked 'Do they need updating?' He doesn't like updating things just
for the sake of it, and is aware that teachers have felt flooded with the
spate of documents in recent years. Various reasons for updating were discussed
such as the need to reflect developments in IT, and the need for status
and recognition by principals, which wouldn't come from a mere reprint.
Victor remarked on the importance of central policy in avoiding mistakes
others have made in removing TLs, moves which have been later recognised
as mistakes as they have had to to pick themselves up 'off the floor'.
AR stated emphatically that we will never have to worry about that happening
here as long as Bob Carr is in.
STRONG CENTRAL SUPPORT
We came back to the need for strong central support and
guidlelines, handing over the statement from Virginia Chadwick about admin
time as an example of something that hasn't been communicated to schools.
AR commented that with the new structure, regional directors will want
to support principals e.g. asset management. He then said interestingly,
I hope I caught the gist of it, that new syllabuses ...etc? from BOS will
DEMAND teacher-librarian involvement and support. Re PD, that TLS can teach
the teachers, and act as a powerful catalyst. ... in a more coherent way?...
not individual bits ... And that .... will ensure that teacher-librarians
are backed up. Sorry I didn't catch it all. Will check with Di and Victor.
INDUSTRIAL ISSUES
We moved on to discuss our most urgent issues, the constraints
that are stopping the profession from moving on. I owe everybody an apology
here. Because the Federation has commenced negotiations with DET, AR said
our our role with him now is the same as with DET, ie the Minister would
only discuss professional issues with the professional associations. We
hadn't realised it, and so missed a chance to prepare a presentation on
the potential that can be delivered. Ah, well, we're learning as we go.
Next time. We handed over our briefing papers.
THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARY
AR asked 'What are schools and libraries doing now? What
should they be doing in 20 years time? Is it the same as 100 years ago?
(Leading question perhaps) We said it wouldn't be very fruitful talking
about what they are doing now, as the constraints imposed by the aforementioned
industrial issues were preventing the ideal from being realised. But that
it would be useful to talk about what might happen in the future if situations
are resolved/improved. Victor talked about location skills. Di talked about
information literacy. AR asked 'What other things?' Di talked about literacy.
AR acknowledged the importance of literacy, and asked 'What do you think about the capacity of the TL to act as an adviser with IT, serving a number of schools? What is needed to break down the box-like nature of schools and classrooms? What is your thinking in terms of expanding your role?
We said that it hasn't been posssible to do much forward thinking since the cuts imposed by the Scott Review and devolution, as everybody is busy 'coping'.
We explored notions such as specialisation, networking, resource sharing, (enhanced by web-based catalogues). It was noted that there is a good infrastructure, with OZTL, NSWTL, EdNA, and now TALE with potential to be realised. We reminded them not to leave it all to the practitioners, expecting them to become ever more creative and productive, but that central support is needed more than ever. Instead of TLs doing it all, even if with specialisation and resource sharing, it is still more effective to have some jobs done once, by one person, such as matching websites to syllabuses. Di asked if he know about SCIS (he didn't) so Di explained what an effective service it is. Victor made a request to have material relating to information literacy on the Teaching and Learning Exchange (TALE).
SASS
Victor pointed out that we need the SASS review to make
a difference. AR didn't know about the Price Waterhouse Review, so Victor
elaborated on it and the need for technically skilled SASS, with effective
training and an efficient standard. That would allow TLs to focus
on their job, of teaching and syllabus support. He explained how for a
SASS in his school, studying as a library technician makes a difference.
I seconded it from a primary perspective, saying how having one day a week,
often untrained SASS from the photocopy room, means we have to do
4-5 hours of clerical work a day, and it is sucking us dry.
THE WAY FORWARD
In response to AR's question 'Where's the excitement
and imagination?' we said that we could tell them what they need to do
get the excitement back:-
1. Clean up the DET mess
2. Improve teacher morale
3. Then they could start to have forums discussing the
way forward.
FEDERATION and INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
We asked what is their next step. Peter said they are
researching all the issues put forward by Federation. When that is done
they will meet back with Federation.
Andrew Refshauge concluded by saying we will never get
ALL the resources we want. We said we understood that, but we need what
we have to be better managed.
He encouraged us to keep thinking about how we see school
libraries in 2020.
|