D.W. Daniel High School - Collaborate

 Collaboration in The D.W. Daniel High School Library

Interview with Lexi Somerville Travis - Media Specialist

    Lexi Somerville-Travis is a certified school librarian working at D.W. Daniel High School. Travis works hard to provide and promote collaborative efforts to all teachers at D.W. Daniel High School. Some of the ways in which she is implementing these competencies is to approach and email teachers about student assignments. Often times this leads to discussion about her role and how she can help in the making and facilitation of assignments. Travis gives teachers ideas and tips to make instruction work.

    One core way in which Travis implements collaboration competencies in her school library program is by scaffolding the instruction with the collaborating teacher. The librarian may come into the class and instruct a portion of the lesson or assignment. Resources that the library using to implement these competencies are Adobe Express, Canva, Chromebooks, a podcasting/recording studio in the library, databases, and Discus. 

    An example of collaboration between teacher and librarian was when an English teacher approached Travis to discuss collaborating for an upcoming literary assignment in which students work in groups to create and design a podcast about a book. The librarian took on the role of technology instructor where she taught the students the ins and outs of podcasts, which included how to design and the elements of a good podcast cover, styles of podcasts, and how to physically create a podcast with music.

    Some of the challenges that Travis faces when trying to implement the competencies of collaboration are time constraints and lack of understanding or wanting assistance. There is almost a sense in the school that teachers think they do not need assistance. Teachers in the school often lack the understanding that Travis can help them. Ways to help with this is word of mouth. For example, the teacher who created the podcasts with her class with Travis's help can tell other teachers in the school about the assistance she received from the librarian while facilitating the lesson and project.

    Travis would like all future school librarians to know that is can sometimes take a long time to build that knowledge and trust with teachers that work with you. Once that trust is established, it can help to improve learner outcomes and student competencies. The example collaboration given was one that just got wrapped up. This was a class of tech prep students doing work at much higher levels. Administration came to see their finished podcasts which helped to improve student self esteem. 

    I hope to implement the resources in my own school library, in the elementary school setting, that Travis uses when collaborating with teachers in her high school library. Even though these are two different age groups, there is something for everyone to utilize in a different capacity. I will carry over the advice that I received into my own school library.