Take Aways from 761

Take it from the resident "tech person" in a middle school, technology can be wonderful when it works, but when it doesn't it is the thing nightmares are made of. Regardless, it is clear that our students need technology today in their education because it isn't going away. When it is working correctly it can open so many doors to new teaching methods that are super engaging and interactive. Speaking from experience, students today sometimes even teach me how to do things on the Chromebooks I didn't know about.

With that in mind, one of my biggest takeaways from this semester has been the importance of having multiple avenues to engage with parents and students. Today the first thing people look at is their cell phone even for news, so it only makes sense that the most effective way to reach parents and students alike is through social media posts. It can also be a powerful form of advocacy for your library when you celebrate all the wonderful things that are happening with the students you are serving. Some options on social media and some apps can actually cut a librarians' work load by making automatic mailings or postings. It can also serve to double check our work for errors. AI can help us brainstorm before we write. These are just some of the benefits of being a tech heavy school. Staying up-to-date on what is current in technology helps us to teach our students in a way that will make them more competitive and marketable to future employers and colleges.