Librarians as Learning Specialists

Meeting the Learning Imperative for the 21st Century

Allison Zmuda, Violet H. Harada

• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
• Year: 2008
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780313363757
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Library & Information Science
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Zmuda and Harada explore the increasing number of job descriptions in schools for learning specialists with the accompanying difficulty in effectively leveraging these roles to positively affect student learning. School librarians have been one of these learning specialists for decades. The ranks have expanded in recent years to include many other content area specialists. Grant Wiggins' foreword emphasizes the relevance of learning specialists is grounded in their ability to deliver results on mission-critical measures. This title incorporates quotations, exemplars, and findings from experts in both mainstream and librarian-focused education literature in an inclusive approach making the text accessible and credible for any leader charged with improving the system's ability for improved student achievement. There are an increasing number of job descriptions in schools for learning specialists - certified teachers with specialized areas of expertise whose job it is to improve student performance. While these positions are attractive ideas in theory, there are real challenges in effectively leveraging such roles to positively affect student learning. School librarians have been one of these learning specialists for decades. The ranks have expanded in recent years to include reading specialists, literacy coaches, writing coaches, technology specialists, mathematics specialists, science specialists, and teachers of English Language Learners. References included throughout the book incorporate quotations, exemplars, and findings from experts in both mainstream and librarian-focused education literature. This inclusive approach makes the text accessible and credible for any leader charged with improving the system's ability for improved student achievement. Grant Wiggins' foreword emphasizes the premise that the relevance of learning specialists is grounded in their ability to deliver results on mission-critical measures.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Illustrations
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Closing the Learning Gap: Reframing Our Mission
• Chapter 2 The Learning Specialist: Clarifying the Role of Library Media Specialists
• Chapter 3 Designing Instruction to Fit the Nature of the Learning and the Learner
• Chapter 4 Providing Robust Assessment and Feedback
• Looking to the Future: Providing Resources to Support 21st-Century Learning
• Afterword
• Index