Library Goals
Long Term Goal:
I will improve my students’ online research skills by 20% by the end of the school year, as measured through pre- and post-assessments, by offering bi-monthly digital workshops that focus on research strategies, effective use of online databases, and critical evaluation of digital resources.
These workshops will also include hands-on practice with technology, ensuring students become more confident and capable in navigating online information. Additionally, I will provide ongoing support and resources in the library to reinforce these skills throughout the year.
This goal is important because many students at Blossom County High School might not have easy access to technology or research tools outside of school, so it’s essential to help them become comfortable using online resources. Teaching them how to navigate online databases and evaluate digital information will give them the skills they need not only for class assignments but also for future opportunities, whether it’s for college or the workforce. These workshops will provide hands-on experience, so students can practice what they learn and feel more confident using technology. By offering continuous support and access to resources in the library, I can make sure they don’t just learn these skills but also have the chance to keep building on them throughout the year.
Short Term Goals
Subgoal 1: I will create/find a lesson plan for my twice-monthly digital workshops that will teach my students how to find and evaluate online information by the end of 2024 to implement in the Fall 2025 school session. These workshops will be held in the library twice a month during a class session. I will walk through the lesson while they are going through it on the computers in the library.
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The website Civic Online Reasoning provides free lessons and assessments that help teach students to evaluate online information that affects them, their communities, and the world.
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iMocha is a website that provides teachers with over 2,000 automated assessments for technical skills and aptitude. This website can be used for creating my pre- and post-assessments to track their growth.
Subgoal 2: I will incorporate the use of computers and online databases into weekly classroom lesson plans, helping students become proficient with these tools by the end of the semester.
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I will take time during the class session to teach them how to log into databases, understand how to navigate them, and find articles. This can be completed with a short activity at the beginning of the class as a warm-up.
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I will assign a research assignment in class weekly where they have to use a database independently to find their source. This will help them learn how to evaluate a large batch of different articles to find the best fit for their assignment.
Rationale:
My main goal is to improve the online research skills of my students by 20% by the end of the school year, implementing digital workshops twice a month. This is important in the context of my school library program because one of the missions of the school as a whole is to improve the digital literacy of students for future success, and I feel that the library is where they should develop these skills. Librarians have the key knowledge and skills needed to discover credible research and information online that can be taught to students to help them long-term. Online research skills are vital for in-school learning and future jobs. Teachers also have students researching online for sources for papers and interactive activities so this could be a great way to collaborate with teachers in furthering the growth of our students.
Subgoal 1 contributes to the main goal by allowing the students to learn the fundamental skills that they need twice a month for improvement. In a space that is only about online research skills, students will feel more comfortable with asking questions to further their growth, while being able to participate. Doing these skills in real-time with the help of a librarian will allow them to be able to remember long-term, while also mixing in the different learning styles of visual, auditorial, and physical.
Subgoal 2 contributes to the main goal by making online research skills a repeated practice which leads to retention. Participating in using computers, finding credible research online, digital etiquette, and evaluating an authoritative source weekly will help students become familiar with these activities gradually. Engaging with the digital world every week is vital for students to be able to grasp these concepts to notice an improvement by the end of the school year.
My Goal for the Next 3 Years:
Reducing the dropout rate is a major goal for me in the next three years, especially since it’s higher than the state average at Blossom County High School. I know that students who struggle academically or feel disconnected from school are more likely to drop out, so I want to make the library a place where they feel supported and motivated. By offering one-on-one help with research, assignments, and even career planning, I hope to give students the tools they need to stay on track. Additionally, I want to make the library a more engaging space where students can explore their interests and connect with others, so they feel like they belong and have a reason to stay engaged in their education.