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Assessing School Library Learning Environments

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Global Perspectives on School Libraries
This chapter is in the book Global Perspectives on School Libraries
Assessing School Library Learning Environments Barbara Schultz-Jones University of North Texas, USA Abstract The project provides evidence of the contribution that school libraries make to student achievement by applying a learning environment paradigm to the school library setting. The learning environment instruments commonly ap-plied to the science classroom were used to evaluate the school library in two educational units. The results indicate that the instruments apply to the school library and match the results for classroom experiences, while also demon-strating a correlation to student achievement. The results were used to provide feedback to school librarians, teachers and administrators on the current stu-dent perceptions of the school library and science classroom learning envi-ronment. Strategies to address the gap between preferred and actual learning environment perceptions were devised by science teachers and school librari-ans. Keywords United States; Learning environment; Inquiry; Assessment; Evaluation; Sci-ence classroom. Background Classroom learning environment research can be charted internationally over the past several decades (Goh & Khine, 2002). While this research originated in the USA, it rapidly evolved in the Netherlands and Australia extending now to African and Asian researchers. The focus of this research is the learning environment as a “social, psychological and pedagogical context in which learning occurs and which affect student achievement and attitudes” (Fraser, 1998a, p. 3). Despite the breadth and depth of classroom learning environment research, the learning environment in a school library setting has not previ-ously been investigated.

Assessing School Library Learning Environments Barbara Schultz-Jones University of North Texas, USA Abstract The project provides evidence of the contribution that school libraries make to student achievement by applying a learning environment paradigm to the school library setting. The learning environment instruments commonly ap-plied to the science classroom were used to evaluate the school library in two educational units. The results indicate that the instruments apply to the school library and match the results for classroom experiences, while also demon-strating a correlation to student achievement. The results were used to provide feedback to school librarians, teachers and administrators on the current stu-dent perceptions of the school library and science classroom learning envi-ronment. Strategies to address the gap between preferred and actual learning environment perceptions were devised by science teachers and school librari-ans. Keywords United States; Learning environment; Inquiry; Assessment; Evaluation; Sci-ence classroom. Background Classroom learning environment research can be charted internationally over the past several decades (Goh & Khine, 2002). While this research originated in the USA, it rapidly evolved in the Netherlands and Australia extending now to African and Asian researchers. The focus of this research is the learning environment as a “social, psychological and pedagogical context in which learning occurs and which affect student achievement and attitudes” (Fraser, 1998a, p. 3). Despite the breadth and depth of classroom learning environment research, the learning environment in a school library setting has not previ-ously been investigated.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Foreword Messages from the Sponsoring Associations 1
  4. Introduction School Libraries: Joint Efforts for a Key Role 3
  5. Part 1 School Library Education and Implementation Models
  6. A Self-Evaluation Model for School Libraries in Portugal 11
  7. Building a Model School Library at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri Piyungan in Yogyakarta, Indonesia 22
  8. Developing Understanding of Information Literacy within the Croatian School Environment 33
  9. Personal Learning Networks and Participatory Culture: Getting Teacher-Librarians Connected in the 21st Century 44
  10. A New Operational Culture: The Case of the School Library in the Information Society Project in the City of Oulu, Finland 57
  11. Assessing School Library Learning Environments 71
  12. Part 2 Promoting Literacies through the School Library
  13. Reading Opens all Doors: An Integrated Reading Program at Genazzano FCJ College, Australia 85
  14. Fun with Readathon: Helping Namibian Children to Love Books 96
  15. Developing Information Literacy through Primary School Libraries in Nigeria 108
  16. GiggleIT and Global Citizenship: School Libraries, Literacy and Laughter 118
  17. ‘Body in the Library’: A Cross-Curriculum Transliteracy Project 130
  18. HIV/AIDS Corners in Botswana Schools and Libraries 140
  19. Part 3 School Libraries for All
  20. School Libraries and Human Rights 153
  21. Camels, Burros, Elephants, Boats and Trucks: Bringing Books and Literacy to Children in Remote Communities 159
  22. Botswana’s Book Box Service to Primary Schools 168
  23. Participation of Croatian School Librarians in Teaching Children with Intellectual Disabilities 177
  24. Lubuto Library Project: Bringing Knowledge to Zambian Children 188
  25. Part 4 Expanding the Reach of School Libraries through Technology
  26. Providing Web Based Online Reference Resources for Schools: An Alberta Success Story 201
  27. The Belgrano Day School Model Project: Using Mobile Technology in a School Library in Argentina 212
  28. Information Literacy on the Move: Mobile Learning with Netvibes, QR Codes and More 223
  29. Web 2.0 and our School Library at the Hamilton and Alexandra College in Victoria, Australia 232
  30. Part 5 Government Initiatives for School Library Development
  31. The School Library as a Tool to Empower Literacy and Improve Schools: A Swedish Government Initiative 245
  32. Focus on Reading Education and Information Literacy: The Norwegian School Library Program 254
  33. Seize the Day! Developing School Libraries in Finland 264
  34. A Long Walk to Significant School Libraries for All: Government Policies in Portugal, 1986-2010 278
  35. Part 6 Organizations for School Library Advocacy and Development
  36. ENSIL: Advocacy of School Libraries in the Educational Context 287
  37. SLA: Using Evidence to Move Forward in the UK 298
  38. RuSLA: Policymaker for School Library Development 307
  39. IFLA SLRC: Developing Policy and Guidelines 318
  40. IASL: Sustaining the Vision for 40 Years 324
  41. Afterword 333
  42. Index 334
Readers are also interested in:
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110232219.71

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Foreword Messages from the Sponsoring Associations 1
  4. Introduction School Libraries: Joint Efforts for a Key Role 3
  5. Part 1 School Library Education and Implementation Models
  6. A Self-Evaluation Model for School Libraries in Portugal 11
  7. Building a Model School Library at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri Piyungan in Yogyakarta, Indonesia 22
  8. Developing Understanding of Information Literacy within the Croatian School Environment 33
  9. Personal Learning Networks and Participatory Culture: Getting Teacher-Librarians Connected in the 21st Century 44
  10. A New Operational Culture: The Case of the School Library in the Information Society Project in the City of Oulu, Finland 57
  11. Assessing School Library Learning Environments 71
  12. Part 2 Promoting Literacies through the School Library
  13. Reading Opens all Doors: An Integrated Reading Program at Genazzano FCJ College, Australia 85
  14. Fun with Readathon: Helping Namibian Children to Love Books 96
  15. Developing Information Literacy through Primary School Libraries in Nigeria 108
  16. GiggleIT and Global Citizenship: School Libraries, Literacy and Laughter 118
  17. ‘Body in the Library’: A Cross-Curriculum Transliteracy Project 130
  18. HIV/AIDS Corners in Botswana Schools and Libraries 140
  19. Part 3 School Libraries for All
  20. School Libraries and Human Rights 153
  21. Camels, Burros, Elephants, Boats and Trucks: Bringing Books and Literacy to Children in Remote Communities 159
  22. Botswana’s Book Box Service to Primary Schools 168
  23. Participation of Croatian School Librarians in Teaching Children with Intellectual Disabilities 177
  24. Lubuto Library Project: Bringing Knowledge to Zambian Children 188
  25. Part 4 Expanding the Reach of School Libraries through Technology
  26. Providing Web Based Online Reference Resources for Schools: An Alberta Success Story 201
  27. The Belgrano Day School Model Project: Using Mobile Technology in a School Library in Argentina 212
  28. Information Literacy on the Move: Mobile Learning with Netvibes, QR Codes and More 223
  29. Web 2.0 and our School Library at the Hamilton and Alexandra College in Victoria, Australia 232
  30. Part 5 Government Initiatives for School Library Development
  31. The School Library as a Tool to Empower Literacy and Improve Schools: A Swedish Government Initiative 245
  32. Focus on Reading Education and Information Literacy: The Norwegian School Library Program 254
  33. Seize the Day! Developing School Libraries in Finland 264
  34. A Long Walk to Significant School Libraries for All: Government Policies in Portugal, 1986-2010 278
  35. Part 6 Organizations for School Library Advocacy and Development
  36. ENSIL: Advocacy of School Libraries in the Educational Context 287
  37. SLA: Using Evidence to Move Forward in the UK 298
  38. RuSLA: Policymaker for School Library Development 307
  39. IFLA SLRC: Developing Policy and Guidelines 318
  40. IASL: Sustaining the Vision for 40 Years 324
  41. Afterword 333
  42. Index 334
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