Category: Scholarships

AASL 2021: Salt Lake City

11/24/2021

Welcome to our first hybrid blog post. This format was dreamed up while NSLA members got together for dinner in Salt Lake City during the conference. If you like it, please let us know!

So, what did I learn other than what I shared in the video? Tons!

Comfy shoes are life. There will be lots of walking. Also, check the weather forecast. I didn't, and I froze. Lesson learned.
A good conference bag is your best friend. You need ALL the space and very few things.
Take the time to meet the authors and interact with the vendors. I came back with so many things that just made me excited about books, literacy, and our amazing profession.
Plan ahead for dinners. Call and make reservations. Walking around unfamiliar areas may produce memories, but it does not produce delicious food on the table for a group.
Find a good roommate who you can talk and process with. This was the most crucial part of my experience. So much information is thrown at you. My brain went numb. Having someone to process with was incredibly valuable and helped me frame what I was learning.
I definitely want to go in 2023. First, it's in Tampa so it's warm! (See the first bullet.) Second, I have so much more to learn and try. School librarians are constantly evolving, and I can't wait to see what we do between now and the next AASL National Conference.

NETA from new eyes

7/5/2019

On March 29 and 30, I attended the Nebraska Educational Technology Association conference for the first time. The opening session of NETA was with Kayla Delzer, 2019 North Dakota Teacher of the Year. Ms. Delzer gave an inspiring and motivational presentation that was just what I needed. Motivational talks for teachers are often heard at the beginning of the school year. However, at this time of the school year when testing mode is in high gear, my teaching excitement and enthusiasm run a little low! Ms. Delzer talked about building relationships with the students from the moment they walk in the door on the first day of school. A quote from Ms. Delzer is one to remember, “Relationships between students and passionate teachers will always be the foundation for successful classrooms!” What a great reminder for this time of year when patience is running thin and stress is high!

As a first time attendee of NETA, I was a little overwhelmed with all of the session choices. Since I am planning for a school librarian position, I looked for sessions that would be relevant to a school librarian. Makerspaces are a hot topic now in the education field and one that interests me. After attending some sessions on this topic, I learned a few starter tips: 1. Start small and simple; 2. Ask for donations through school newsletter and social media; 3. Get organized; 4. Establish routines and expectations.

In other sessions, I was able to take away various ideas for both the classroom and the library. I learned about free websites and applications that I could use to teach the National School Library Standards: Inquire, Collaborate, Explore, Include, Curate, Engage. One document that has an incredible listing of tech tools and resources is: bit.ly/AASLTechTools. Last but not least, it was encouraging to know that school librarians like to collaborate and share. In the near future, I may need all the resources I can find for assistance in the school librarian position.

By Susan Becker

AASL 2021: Salt Lake City

NETA from new eyes

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