Explore dynamic, sustainable, inclusive and future-ready school libraries

Overview

As students and teachers live and learn in an information-rich, digitally connected world the school library and its staff can play a crucial role in the school community. Innovative programs, services and spaces, responsive and collaborative teaching and learning activities, sustainable collections, practices and infrastructure, productive and inclusive partnerships and communities, professional engagement and practice are crucial for the development of essential skills and capabilities for lifelong learning and the sustainability of leading-edge school libraries.

The conference will focus on four major streams:

The Dynamic School Library

This stream will explore how a dynamic school library is agile in responding to the learning needs of its community and provides flexible learning spaces, programs, microcourses and activities that are student-focused and/or student-driven with strong connections to the curriculum.

The Sustainable School Library

This stream will focus on different elements around the theme of a sustainable school library. Being environmentally friendly in construction, design, layout, collection development, and learning space configuration can support practical solutions to address sustainability.

The Inclusive School Library

This stream will explore how the school library can support diversity in its school community by building an inclusive collection, engaging with the community, providing access to curated/annotated content/resources, and embracing inclusive activities, programs and services.

The Future-Ready School Library

This stream will consider key components of a future-ready school library. A futureready school library professional engages in collaborative, creative and innovative practices to develop skills and capabilities to lead, teach, and support students and staff in preparing learners for a very different future.

Target Audience

This conference is best suited to innovative classroom teachers, teacher librarians and those on the executive looking to build capacity at a school level or within the individual classroom.

Supporting Association

Tickets

Tickets include tea/coffee on arrival, morning tea and lunch, along with a Certificate of Attendance (Mapped to APST).

9:00 - 10:00am

Speaker: Dr Kay Oddone, Lecturer, Course Director, Master of Education: Teacher Librarianship, Charles Sturt University

From Knowledge Keepers to Knowledge Leaders: Teacher Librarians and Generative AI in the Information Ecosystem

As Generative AI (GAI) technologies continue to advance, the need for educators and students to hone their information and digital literacy skills deepens. Beyond developing academic skills, today's students must cultivate robust information, digital, and critical literacies to actively engage in everyday life and contribute to the growth of our democratic society. In this ever-evolving landscape, Teacher Librarians (TLs) and school library staff hold a strategic position as information leaders and pedagogical experts, uniquely positioned to spearhead the development of policies and teaching approaches that enable all members of the school community to harness GAI responsibly and effectively.

Hear the latest advances in GAI and deep dive into core concepts like AI, data and algorithmic literacy. Consider the implications of bias and the influence of algorithms on decision making and consider ways in which school library staff can empower students and colleagues to embrace GAI responsibly, ethically, and with a balanced perspective.

10:05 - 10:50am

Speaker: Chris Bush, Head of Student Voice and Leadership, University High School

Unlocking the future of learning and libraries with AI

AI has had and will continue to have profound impacts on libraries and learning. Growing the digital and AI literacy in our young people requires that educators understand and can harness these powerful new tools. In this workshop, with AI expert and leading teacher Christopher Bush, you'll learn how to harness the transformative power of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models in your libraries and schools. Chris will teach you how to craft effective instructions (prompts) for AI models and introduce you to AI powered research tools that are changing how we all research and learn. By the end of the session you'll understand how to harness AI for your context and feel ready to teach others how to begin their AI journey.

10:50 - 11:10am

Morning Tea

11:10 - 12:10pm

Speaker: Joyce Sendeckyj, Head of Library and Information Series, Kilbreda College Mentone

What do I get out of it? Building the literacy and reading skills of lower secondary students into the future through ‘gamification’

In this session, you’ll meet Beanstack – a customisable online reading program for year 7 and 8 students, developed in 2021.

Incorporating elements of ‘gamification’ and incentives, Beanstack can be delivered both virtually and in the classroom with ‘flipped’ capabilities. It enables students to record which books they’re reading as well as the time spent, and engages them in response activities that demonstrate specific comprehension skills. Students are motivated to earn incentives or rewards in the form of ‘badges’ and use the built-in social networking element of the program to ‘friend’ other readers, and see what they’ve read and recommended.

We’ll discuss the program, reflect on its implementation and share ideas.

12:15 - 1:00pm

Speaker: Jason Saikaly, Head of Libraries and Information Services, The Southport School

Creative Reader's Advisory ideas

Hear simple but effective methods for the promotion of broader reading through Reader's Advisory and share strategies to complement these existing resources. Explore a range of additional avenues for finding a ‘good’ read, from leveraging staff and students, studying book cover artwork and creating Padlet displays, to building recommended reading lists.

1:00 - 2:00pm

Lunch in the Education Show

2:00 - 2:20pm

Speaker: Pam Saunders, Executive Officer, SLAV

SLAV Focus Group

Join us as we discuss ideas for SLAV going forward. This short session will give participants a chance to review and give feedback on what SLAV can continue to do to support library teams and generate new ideas for collegiality.

2:25 - 3:10pm

Speaker: Tracey Porter, Junior Teacher Librarian, Wenona School

How do school communities currently measure the value and contributions of the library?

Studies have revealed a strong correlation between having access to a well-resourced library and higher reading and academic achievements among students. In addition to improving student achievement, libraries can also help to engage students in learning, contribute to a positive school climate, help students develop critical information literacy skills and promote a culture of reading.

In this session, we’ll explore how schools can gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact that their library is having on student learning. We’ll move beyond the common measurement methods, to understand how a variety of approaches can deepen our appreciation of the value of our libraries.

3:30pm

Wrap up and Conference Close