Reflection on ETL503

It was somewhat ambitious, I now realise, to have enrolled in a Summer Semester at CSU in ETL503 and EER500.  To have to contend with all the end of year celebrations with my two children's schools, all my work break ups (three different workplaces), husband's work dos, family get togethers, friend gatherings, Christmas shopping and setting up the Christmas tree and lights was all too much to fit in together with having to research and write two 2,500 word assignments due within a week of each other.  The toughest thing was finding the discipline not to drink too much in order to maintain a clear head for reading and writing something coherent.

ETL503 has taught me a lot about the really hard work of a librarian.  It was also one of the most interesting tasks to source worthwhile resources.  I was lucky to teach at an institution where there is a very wise and experienced librarian who told me to "choose an area you are interested in and find resources for that.  Start at the Reference shelf".  So I did.  With a degree in Fine Art (Painting)  the choice was easy. Finding one 1970 edition Encyclopaedia of Art, I was on my way to the Art Department where they were talking about introducing a new subject for which new resources were imperative.  I loved looking through book catalogues, reading about DVDs CD-ROMs and discovering online databases and catalogues for schools with reviews of resources.  Studio Art for Year 10s is going to be a great subject.  I was lucky to go an excursion to the Ian Potter Gallery on one of my teaching jobs and have a tour by a very helpful guide who helped suggest a tool for resources I had never thought of : University Courses and Lecturers' booklists and catalogues and resources they had created themselves.

The thing that is most memorable is having to keep in mind relevance, suitablitity and outcomes.  It emphasised the importance of teacher librarians knowing the curriculum and so knowing what teachers and students need.

I learnt a lot from EER500 as well.  It was really interesting to look into educational research questions, and the discipline of framing questions within a framework of established methods.  The research out there is fascinating.  Again, choosing something I was interested in - reading and ESL students - really helped, so the focus for my reading and that of the other students' - study habits and social networking - was quite enjoyable to write on.

Waiting for results is almost as hard as writing the papers.  But at least I can have a drink now!  Well for a week anyway before staring the next two assignments.