Gee, I'm really not very good at the blogging part of things. I do spend a lot of time doing professional reading, thinking and talking about things, but am not in the habit of writing my thoughts down unless I'm sharing my ideas and learning with others - obviously something I need do start doing more.
Firstly, in reponse to Alice - (sorry this blog is connected to my work address and I hadn't checked it as I'm on holidays) - I have wanted to be a teacher librarian for a while - ever since I did an external leadership position that had me running PD and working with individual and groups of teachers in how to use SACSA in programming and planning. I loved the collaboration of this job but was frustrated that I only got to plan and never implement the learning units - they were generally based on inquiry learning. This was the impetus for me to start studying at UniSA so I would have a TL qualification and be able to apply for positions in the future. Then I was lucky enough to be offered to fill in the position at school. I had been frustrated as a classroom teacher as the previous TL seemed to have lost her passion and the library was no longer a vibrant place, and having worked with an excellent TL previously, and from my own ideas, I already had images in my mind of what it could be like. So in a long winded way of answering, I was aware of the role and what it could entail, but also what I wanted to bring to it and my school. In the time since I have had the role, I must admit there have been a lot of changes, but this has been based on negotiation, collaboration, chatting to other TLs and my own research. It is certainly a much busier and I would like to think a more exciting and vibrant place to learn, my staff tell me it is.
Thanks very much Sue for taking time to respond to my question. Wow what a journey you have travelled! Just out of interest, is UniSA TL course linked to to the CSU one? As you mentioned you are doing the TL course with UniSA, but I thought ETL401 is a CSU course. I am a bit confused.
ReplyDeleteAlice
Hi there Alice,
DeleteSorry - obviously didn't explain myself clearly. I studied externally through UniSA in 2009, 2010 and completed 4 subjects. I then deferred in 2011 (husband had a work midlife crisis, began studying and since a change of career so I didn't want to stress myself too much with 2 kids, working 4 days and studying etc.)
I was supposed to return to UniSA this year but have withdrawn as I found the course didn't have enough teacher in it as it isn't a specific TL course - there isn't one that I know of in SA. So, I enrolled in CSU instead and am now doing this course - though unfortunately I didn't get status for all subjects from UniSA. So no, the courses aren't linked.
PS (I've been really lucky and have had a very varied teaching career. Is now the time to tell you I began as a German, then music NIT teacher? I then spent time teaching UP, had a baby, then MP, had another baby, then JP before ending up in the TL role. Life would be boring without change! - though in saying that, I love the TL position - best of all worlds for me!)