Library Media Tech Talk

L to R Mr. Dial, Mrs. Rash, and Mr. Evans When I returned to public school librarianship this year, my goal was clear: to transform the library into a vibrant hub for immersive programming that brings curriculum to life. I've seen firsthand the impact that this type of programming can have on the student learning experience. The first major collaboration—an interdisciplinary experience for 8th graders reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders —exceeded every expectation. I have so many fond memories of bringing books to life through collaboration, and it is incredibly exciting to have the full support of the Malvern Middle School building and district administration! Planning the Experience: ELA Meets Science With the help of Principal Mr. Ben Dial, one of our ELA teachers, Mrs. Terah Rash, showed immediate interest in a deep dive collaboration based on The Outsiders . Since Mrs. Rash also teaches Science, this opened up thrilling possibilities for the kinds of experiences we could ...

I have always loved the music of Elvis Presley. When I was a child, my parents frequently played Elvis records at our home. This music was a major influence on me when I became a musician as a teenager. From a library and programming perspective, Elvis is an important artist to share with the entire learning community since his influence made rock and roll music popular on an international scale. A Spontaneous Idea Hits Big Several years ago in January, we decided to put on an "Elvis Week" program in the library when I was the Jr. High librarian at Lakeside. I remember it being a success since most learners didn't really know much about Elvis (other than recognizing his image and some of his music). I have been wanting to bring this program back but wasn't sure how our high school learners would respond. We brainstormed the idea for this January (as a way to celebrate his birthday). We decided to have an Elvis "lip curl" photo activity. We thought ...

I've noticed over the past few years if I am passionate and excited about something, this energy is usually contagious. One of the things I have enjoyed since high school is playing music on saxophone. I spent 12 years as a public school band director. It was a very rewarding job that I especially miss during the holiday season. I liked helping my band students prepare for a winter holiday concert each year. Luckily, I married a musician and can enjoy playing music anytime! My wife Cindy (who is also a school librarian) plays piano. We enjoy playing together in church and other local engagements. I have always wanted to record music since my college days. It is now  possible to create recordings using a simple laptop computer and microphone setup. These recordings can be combined with video to make exciting music videos (or for digital storytelling, etc). Use your skills to model technology projects for students & teachers This might be an option for some students to ...

The Lakeside High School Jazz Band performs in the library during lunch I love trying new things in the library as we approach the end of the school year. Students and teachers are weary of the normal "grind" with end of year activities and testing. I was so glad to get a text message from one of our band directors asking me to check dates in the library for the jazz band to perform during lunch! We jumped at this opportunity to have live music in the library! The jazz band could only perform during our grades 10-12 lunch period, but that was fine. We knew we could come up with something else for the grades 8 and 9 lunch period. The jazz band performed big band classics along with more modern, popular tunes. Our student patrons certainly enjoyed this change of pace! They also invited me to play a solo with them (I was a band director for 12 years, and I still enjoy playing the saxophone!). Students have enjoyed "Vintage Vinyl Cafe" for 3 years now! ...