During the winter months, I start reflecting on the current year and the needs for the upcoming school year for the library. I notice patterns in requests from students, analyze the subject areas in the library and the types of collaborative activities. I also note the teachers and students I do not see in the library.
How do I show this information?
Enter Google Forms and Google Sheets.
With Google Forms, create a form of your collaboration, lessons, and activities that will go into a Google Sheet, a spreadsheet. Create the form at any time during the year and start adding your activities. Once you are ready to reflect, take a look at the spreadsheet.
- What is the most common subject or grade level that utilizes the library?
- Are certain grade levels or subject areas missing?
- Are students utilizing technology tools to demonstrate learning?
- Are information literacy skills embedded into these lessons? Where are the gaps?
These findings can help enhance collaboration with classroom teachers. Draw from the list to show what students are doing in other classes and how to build on those information literacy skills.
Share findings with your administrator. Ask your administrator to help encourage other subject or grade-level areas to utilize your expertise. I had a former administrator share the reports each month with the department chairs. He was not fearful of asking questions about why a certain class wasn’t utilizing the library.
How do I begin?
Access Google Forms. Many districts have a Google Apps for Education account, so you may not need to set up an account.
Set up your form. *See resources listed below.
Things to possibly include in the form:
- Class/Subject
- Grade
- Teacher
- Collaboration (Yes or No) or Note the Level of Collaboration
- Information Literacy Skills Covered
- Content Skills
- Technology Tool
Once the form is complete, keep the form link accessible on your phone and other devices to easily add information. The form connects to a spreadsheet that you can view at any time.
Resources
Sample Form – Make a copy to edit and use
Getting Started with Google Forms
Google Forms Guide
How do you share information and reflect on library usage and student learning? Comment below.
Author: Becca Munson
Becca Munson, Librarian, is a National Board Certified Teacher with over 23 years of experience in education. She is currently a school librarian at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS. Becca continues to find ways to positively impact student learning with literacy initiatives, technology integration, and building rapport with students and staff. Follow her on Twitter to view the library in action @bvwlibrary and @beccamunson .
Categories: Blog Topics, Technology
What a great use of forms! I send the teachers I work with a short feedback survey that has some of the basic info (grade, subject area, topic) that you mentioned. I like how you include information literacy skills and technology use– those are very valuable pieces of data. Thanks for sharing this.
Great idea! A feedback form for teachers – I love this idea for increasing collaboration and reflection.