AASL Experiences #1: Kay

My first interview about the implementation of the AASL Shared Foundations was with a high school librarian named Kay. After observing for a day in Kay’s school library, I decided to talk to her about how she implements the competencies outlined in the Explore domain. Kay has worked hard to make sure that her high school library space is welcoming, engaging, and provides students with ample opportunities to explore their interests. There are several activities that take place in the high school library at any given time. Students are able to participate in a community coloring page, where each individual is coloring their own section of a large picture. They can also play games that Kay has made available, work on homework or read, and socialize with peers. Kay has noticed that since fostering such an open environment in the high school library, students are more likely to explore various activities and interests, as well as interact with students that they may not otherwise associate with.

Not only does Kay create this environment in her library, but she also collaborates with teachers regularly to provide students with resources that help them achieve the competencies in the Explore domain. She discussed a recent collaboration with a teacher where she was helping students identify multiple print and online resources to complete a project. She said that opening students’ minds up to multiple sources of information and giving them a say in how they present that information helps to encourage exploration and further learning.

I really appreciated the opportunity to see Kay’s library in action, and to hear more about how she has worked so hard to create such an engaging and open environment. Based on my observations and my conversations with her, it is clear that providing a media-rich space for students to engage in play, creating, and tinkering causes a natural curiosity in students. My conversation with Kay also made me realize that providing students with opportunities to explore games and activities that aren’t necessarily academic-based may also lead students to be more open to exploring topics related to their academic classes, and equip them with the skills needed to do so. I will be transitioning into a role as a middle school media specialist, and I look forward to implementing opportunities that foster exploration in my students.