Monday, February 6, 2017

OLA SuperConference 2017 - Reflections from #OLASC

Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2017 

All In / Le Tout Pour Le Tout
Conference Reflections by Diana Maliszewski

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MTCC 203CD
Coaching Conversations 3: Just Coach!


Summary (taken from the program description)


Every successful library leader understands that the ability to communicate effectively is a critical tool in their leadership toolbox. Conversations that begin from a place of inquiry empower your team to achieve success with strategies and solutions that they create individually or collectively.
These “coaching conversations” are only possible when leaders surrender ownership of the conversation, hold back on advice, and ask questions that empower their staff to reflect and determine next steps.
This practical, interactive and hands-on workshop will provide participants with an overview of the value and power of taking a “coach approach”. It will explain the rhythm of a coaching conversation, elements of engagement and how to create a suite of powerful questions that will achieve results. Participants will have an opportunity to test these skills through real coaching conversations with their peers, elevating this learning experience and ensuring that these concepts can be applied immediately.


So What? Now What?

The TTC was not my friend on Wednesday. I was already limited in the amount of time I could stay at this session, because I had to set up for my own session at 10:30 but my time was cut short even further because the north-south subway (Line 1) had significant delays. Instead of entering late and leaving early, I met with my convenor for my session (Melanie Mulcaster) and we went over the plan in the Speakers Lounge and took our time to set up. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MTCC 206D
See How To Help


Summary (taken from the program description)


Helping students with visual impairments involves more than just providing large print books or books in braille. Creating a culture of respect that acknowledges differences but also encourages independence takes thought and effort. An Orientation and Mobility instructor with the Vision Department with the Toronto District School Board will provide tips and techniques she uses and a Teacher-Librarian will share her learning she gained from the Vision Team that applies to all communities that wish to be inclusive.

3 Key Points

  1. Many accommodations that are helpful for students with vision impairments can also be helpful for other students (e.g. ELL students, pre-readers, etc.)
  2. There are different kinds of vision impairments so one solution does not meet the needs of all students.
  3. Attitudes make a big difference. Be willing to change the way you do things and the way you think so that students with vision impairments can become more independent and successful.

So What? Now What?

I have to admit, I was extremely intimidated when I realized that everyone in the audience for this talk had extensive experience in the field. People from CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access), CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), and other organizations were in the room. Thankfully, we were able to draw on the knowledge present for some useful dialogue. Participants really liked the hands-on activities (drinking juice boxes while blindfolded, finding their specific lemons, and playing goal ball) and there were some great insights shared. Lisa has students at her high school with vision impairments; some are very open about what actions help and hinder them whereas others don't want to talk about it. Karen shared how she sensitively dealt with missteps made my place unintentionally so they could improve their level of service without making them discouraged (e.g. putting their blind support materials in a glass case where they couldn't be touched). The participants even helped me with suggestions on how to allow my student to locate braille books in the library independently and without creating a braille book section that might single her out - I can place a raised dot or a felt strip on the spine label and she can feel along the shelf for those books! I'm really looking forward to calling CELA and using their resources much more.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. ICTC Ballroom A
OLITA Spotlight Technology Session

Summary (taken from program description)

We are honoured this year to have Jessamyn West join us as the OLITA Spotlight Speaker.
Jessamyn West is a librarian and technologist living in rural Vermont. She studies and writes about the digital divide and solves technology problems for schools and libraries. Jessamyn has been speaking on the intersection of libraries, technology and politics since 2003. Check out her long running professional blog Librarian.net.
Jessamyn has given presentations, workshops, keynotes and all-day sessions on technology and library topics across North America and Australia. She has been speaking and writing on the intersection of libraries and technology for over a decade. She is the author of Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide, and has written the Practical Technology column for Computers in Libraries magazine since 2008. She is a Fellow at Harvard’s Library Innovation Lab for 2016-2017 (which you must admit, is pretty fancy!).
See more information about Jessamyn at: http://jessamyn.info

3 key points

  1. The digital divide still exists. The reasons vary. 
  2. We need to get better at getting offline people HAPPILY online.
  3. Be careful about how you talk - you don't want people to feel stupid so feel united and you as a person need to help others

So What? Now What?

You can see Jessamyn's presentation here: http://www.librarian.net/talks/ola17/
My big takeaway from her talk was about changing the narrative away from a "computers hate me" slant to "computers are just dumb calculators that we can defeat". I've been avoiding our main computer lab at school because only 1/4 of the machines work and it usually takes an entire period to get them logged on. I will think about other options, including my current solutions with the library lab (and having them already logged on, to avoid aggravation).


Wednesday, February 1, 2017

2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. MTCC 103
Social Justice in the Library Learning Commons

Summary (taken from program description)


Libraries need to be culturally safe places for learners that provide equitable access to resources and learning. Cultural relevance, responsiveness and social justice are dynamic concepts that incorporate many elements of the Library Learning Commons. Moving beyond relevance, we will explore the importance of being culturally responsive and justice-oriented in our practice.

So What? Now What?

I was disappointed to hear that Deborah McCallum from Simcoe County DSB, who was supposed to lead this session, was sick. She withdrew her session. I hope I can hook up with Deb at a later date so she can give me an overview of what she had planned to discuss. Instead, I spent time in the Speakers Lounge having informal but informative conversations with people like Kate Johnson-McGregor, Joel Krentz, and Ruth Hall.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. MTCC 105/106
Conference Opening Keynote by Sunni Brown 

Summary (taken from program description)


Sunni founded and leads SB Ink and is an author, speaker, trainer, coach and expert meeting facilitator. She was named one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” and one of the “10 Most Creative People on Twitter” by Fast Company. Her team has designed and led hundreds of group experiences in diverse industries and environments around the world. She is the best-selling author of Gamestorming and The Doodle Revolution and she leads a global campaign advocating for visual, game, design and improvisational thinking and hosts a podcast exploring wisdom for modern life called Sunni and Wise. Her TED Talk on doodling has drawn more than a million views on TED.com and her work has been featured in every major U.S. publication including The New York Times, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, WIRED, and Entrepreneur, as well as being featured twice on the beloved CBS Sunday Morning.

3 Key Points

  1. Librarians are knowledge sherpas.
  2. Acknowledge the "learning junk" you bring with you.
  3. Instead of fighting the constant "voice over" in your head, befriend it. It serves a purpose. 

So What? Now What?

Sunni's slides can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24462152@N03/sets/72157677803259302/
The games she had us play were challenging to some - I actually rather liked them - and I think that the self-talk exercise was one that I'd like to practice and use more often. I'm so used to ignoring the negativity, or arguing against it; listening to the protective influences behind the thoughts are insightful. It was easy to come up with an example because I was so scared after discovering how knowledgeable my audience at 10:30 that morning was. 



Wednesday, February 1, 2017

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. MTCC 105/106
All Conference Welcome Party

Summary (taken from program description)

Kick off your Super Conference at this grand event!
Mix and mingle with your colleagues, make new friends and enjoy an evening that will set the stage for your full conference experience.
This party is something you don’t want to miss.
Thank you to ProQuest for their ongoing support! 

So What? Now What?

It is delightful to be in a room filled with all sorts of people you know from various events and locations. I saw Elinor from the Maritimes right next to Joanne from Manitoba. I spoke with Rose, who is now in the library board sector but used to be a heavy hitter for school libraries; she introduced me to a couple of her public library colleagues that I'll have to reconnect with in the future. I saw Carm and Lori from Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB, who were getting ready for the next day's Awards ceremony. I touched base with Peggy and Maria. I even had a chance to sit down with Kevin Brennan, who is a main player in the transition team for the new CFLA (Canadian Federation of Library Associations) - I never remember what his actual title is, although I should. I know Kevin because he was the best man at my wedding. I followed up the party with a late dinner with two very good friends of mine, Martha Martin and Jennifer Brown.




Thursday, February 2, 2017

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. MTCC 105/106
Keynote Lindy West

Summary (taken from program description)

Lindy West is a Seattle-based writer, editor, and performer whose work focuses on pop culture, social justice, humor, and body image. She’s currently a culture writer for GQ magazine and a weekly columnist at The Guardian, as well as the founder and editor of I Believe You | It’s Not your Fault, an advice blog for teens. In 2015 she wrote and recorded a story for “This American Life” about confronting an Internet troll who impersonated her dead father and was half of the duo who initiated #shoutyourabortion, which landed her on the cover of The New York Times. She was named “Internet’s Most Fascinating 2015” by Cosmopolitan.com.
In SHRILL, Lindy explores how to survive in a cold, judgmental world and shares how to weather hatred, loneliness, harassment, and loss and still walk away laughing. Ferociously witty and candid, Lindy is a rare and bewitching talent whose body of work has garnered a coast-to-coast audience of prominent writers, press, booksellers, and men and women alike who are not afraid to hold an honest (and mostly unflattering) mirror up to our own culture. She has a special way of discussing tough subjects that both makes you laugh and cuts right to your core.

So What? Now What?

I missed this keynote but for a good reason - I had to prioritize. My daughter was presenting with me and she was very anxious about it. Rather than rush to Lindy's keynote and then hustle to our room to prepare in a hurry, I decided to keep it relaxed and low-key. We checked out the Expo Hall, placed our names on the waiting list for the Styling Lounge, and saw Leslie and Brenda browsing.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MTCC 206D
Cosplay MakerSpaces

Summary (taken from program description)


You’ve heard the term “makerspace.” Have you heard of “cosplay”? Often seen and admired at comic and anime conventions, cosplay is the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game. Cosplayers often make their own outfits, so why not combine cosplay and makerspaces at school? This mother-daughter team of amateur cosplayers will tell their tales of creating costumes and potential ways to incorporate it into your established or emerging makerspace.

3 Key Points

  1. Cosplay and makerspaces have a lot in common.
  2. There are many ways to integrate costume / clothing construction into the curriculum.
  3. Issues and challenges exist with cosplaying (e.g. expense, gender conformity, harassment, etc.) but these all have potential solutions.

So What? Now What?

I know exactly what my next steps are after this presentation. I'll be presenting it again with my daughter in Montreal at the QSLIN conference and I'll be happy to touch base with Julian from that organization to ensure that my content matches the educational situation in that province. At my own school, I'll continue to teach this unit and document all the learning as we go. We'll plan our trip to Value Village so we can see reusing in action. Mary will work on her Squirrel Girl costume and consider how to pull off her version of The Question. We had a few minor technical issues during our talk (i.e. the slides wouldn't move forward past the title screen) but we were flexible and everything worked out well. Big thanks to Melanie, Jenn, Alanna, and Jessie who took photos, handed out supplies, helped people finger knit, and helped clean up at the end.




Thursday, February 2, 2017

2:00 p.m. - 2:40 p.m. ICTC Haliburton
Making Gone Virtual with GAFE

Summary (taken from program description)


Makerspaces encourage hands-on innovation and creation in shared environments using a mix of digital and non-digital tools. These spaces offer students opportunities to actively learn, experiment, collaborate, share, and most of all, dream of possibilities. When layered with a virtual space provided through GAFE (Google Apps for Education), the learning and exploration of a makerspace are maximized. Discover how you can continue to provide differentiated content and resources to drive student passions and inquiry.

3 Key Points

  1. Time and the ability to collaborate effectively are makerspace challenges that can be surmounted by a virtual presence.
  2. GAFE tools can be used to discover student passions/interests, organize schedules, and share/collect feedback.
  3. Melanie hopes everyone might be interested in helping with The Forest of Making, combining the OLA Forest of Reading books with makerspace-like tasks.

So What? Now What?

Another no-brainer - my next step is to continue to help Melanie create this Forest of Making Google site. Her presentation can be seen here: 
It was a huge crowd in attendance - people were lined along the walls and sitting on the floor to hear Melanie talk. I'm honoured to know her and get to work with her.



 



Thursday, February 2, 2017

3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ICTC Oakville
Grow Your Professional Learning Network: Inside the Teach Ontario Community

Summary (taken from program description)


 http://www.olasuperconference.ca/event/grow-your-professional-learning-network-inside-the-teachontario-community/

 TeachOntario is the space to be for professional learning across the province. Leadership in education is taking on new formats and one of those is online professional development that is self-directed. Come and hear from your colleagues how this online space, along with other free TVO educational resources, supports the communication, collaboration and knowledge exchange between Ontario educators. How might an online platform of educators promote learning and improve your professional practice? Hear about one Teacher-Librarian’s experiments with participatory culture and the OSLA’s partnership with TVO’s TeachOntario and the #BIT16Reads online book club. TeachOntario, powered by TVO, is the where the learning happens!

3 Key Points

  1. Teach Ontario supports partnerships from all sectors - unions and government agencies even work together!
  2. Book clubs are constantly striving for improvement in participation and engagement; through new strategies like #pubPD F2F encounters, they are seeing even better results.
  3. Professional learning can be on your time, completely self-directed (i.e. even though courses are "over", you can still go through them and get support).

So What? Now What?

I just finished running the Secret Path book club for Teach Ontario. I think I want to join one of Alanna's new clubs. I will also revisit the MakerSpace course after I'm finished my weaving project. My highlight from this session was meeting Albert, the famous face behind "Ask Albert". 





Thursday, February 2, 2017

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
OSLA AGM and Awards

Summary


So What? Now What?

Congratulations go to Colin Anderson from Ottawa Carlton DSB, Carmen Condotta from the Dufferin Peel Catholic DSB, and to Teach Ontario (TVO) for their awards. Our outgoing OSLA president, Kate Johnson-McGregor, also deserves congratulations for all the work she's done with the organization. I'll continue to work for OSLA as the magazine editor, although my days are numbered because I finally have a successor lined up. (No spoilers yet for the general public!) I lost my purse and took an hour (and a devoted team of TLs) to find it. Thank you Kelly for locating it at the Intercontinental Hotel concierge! I ended my time at the conference by having dinner with my friend Joanne Gibson, who was in from Winnipeg.



Johanna Lawler explains ETFO resolutions with Kate nearby

OSLA 2017 president Melissa presents Lauren with a parting gift

(L-R Carm Condotta, James Saunders, Kate Johnson-McGregor)

(L-R Colin Anderson, James Saunders, Kate Johnson-McGregor)

(L-R Leah, Akhina, Albert, Katina accepting the award)

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