Tag: internships

Librarians and Tech Integrators are great at collecting data: circulation checkouts, database use, Chromebooks per student, number of patrons walking into the library, etc. But how valuable is this information? This kind of data has little to do with our students learning to evaluate sources, understand content, gather evidence to support a claim, and ask good questions.

I ask you to reconsider how to collect data about your program. We all need to ask ourselves:

• How does my work make a difference in improving teaching and learning?
• What is my value to the learning culture?
• How might I use evidence to improve my practice and enhance learning?

When you develop your Student Learning Project during your field experience, you will be coming up with inventive ways to measure those questions.

Start with a Lesson Plan Template Tool
There is a value in different lesson plan template tools. The one you pick will help you stay focused and on task as your plan your Student Learning Project. Try out the STEM Inquiry Lesson Template from the OER Commons.

Choose Your Standards
Focus on 3 standards. It’s overwhelming when faced with the Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, C3 Social Studies Framework, ISTE Standards for Students, and National School Library Standards.

Nail Down Student Learning Objectives
What is it that you want students to know and be able to do when they complete the unit? Be specific and make sure these are measurable. Consider the diverse student populations in your classes and how you will meet their needs, too.

Develop Pre-Assessments
How will you know if your students actually learned what you are trying to teach if you don’t start off with some data? Think of creative ways to gather this data about your students. It doesn’t have to be a test or a quiz. Read this excellent blog post called 10 Creative Pre-Assessment Ideas You May Not Know by Angela Stockman. Once you have a pre-assessment, you can deliver it at any time and analyze that data. Do you notice any trends?

Plan
Prepare your actual lessons. Test your technology tools. Do you need any assistive technologies for your students? Talk to your collaborative partner about who is going to do what. I’m not recommending a rehearsal, but it’s great to know which content you were planning on delivering before you stumble over each other in front of students.

Co-Teach
While you are teaching, ask your teaching partner to video a presentation. You can use this to submit as your video demonstration of teaching.

Post-Assessment
This is your final project for your students. They will complete their projects, create their masterpieces, or share their knowledge in an inventive way. How will you measure whether they met the goals you set for them? Did they learn what you thought they would? Gather your rubrics, review your data, and analyze. How does it compare to the pre-assessment?

Reflect
“We don’t learn from experience… we learn by reflecting on experience” John Dewey. I know! Another John Dewey quote, but this is so important. Sit down and write a reflection on your student learning project. What went well? What needs improvement for next time? How can you use the data you found to improve your teaching practice? Be honest. Be thoughtful. Look at student work and think about how you could have done something differently.

Let me know if you have questions about your student learning project. The detailed description and rubric is in your Moodle. Now go forth and teach!

Whether you’re completing an internship or a practicum, this is your chance to pull it all together. Your field experience should serve as the culminating project in your program—where all your learning comes to life!

In the Digital Learning Specialist (DLS) track, you’ll likely be teaching, planning, and collaborating, with a strong focus on technology integration. If you’re in the School Library Media Specialist (LMS) program, your practicum will involve observing and participating in the day-to-day world of school libraries across grade levels.

No matter your path, a rich field experience includes a variety of learning opportunities—and the more well-rounded your experience, the more rewarding (and fun) it will be.

Here are some ideas to deepen your experience and log meaningful hours:

Attend PD at Different Grade Levels

Sit in on PD sessions at elementary, middle, and high school levels to see how strategies shift across age groups. Compare classroom management, grading practices, or digital tool use. Conferences, district trainings, or webinars geared toward unfamiliar levels = great insights + alternate hours!

Read (A Lot)

Read picture books, YA novels, academic articles, and everything in between. Read across content areas and grade levels. Interested in a specific topic? Do a mini literature review and add it to your ePortfolio as a showcase of your scholarly skills.

Build Your ePortfolio

Start building your professional identity now. Choose a platform (Google Site, VisualCV, Padlet, etc.) and begin organizing your work. Link your portfolio to your resume and bring it to interviews—it will speak volumes.

Shadow Across the School

Spend time with tech integrators, special educators, interventionists, administrators, counselors, or even the IT team. Notice how tech, data, and instructional support flow between roles. Ask how they collaborate—or wish they did. Log the overlaps and insights.

Co-Design a Learning Experience

Partner with a teacher to design a mini-unit, station rotation, or student choice board. Integrate media literacy, inquiry, or design thinking. Even better? Test it with a small group and reflect on what worked.

Run a Micro-Workshop

Offer a short PD session for teachers or students: 15 minutes on Canva, podcasting, digital citation tools, or AI. Keep it low-key and conversational. It’s all about building confidence and community.

Explore the Learning World

Binge a podcast series on equity in edtech, school library trends, or AI in K-12. Host a “listening club” chat with a peer or your mentor. Take notes on what inspired you and how it could show up in your future practice.

Facilitate a Student Voice Session

Ask students what they want in a library, what tech tools they actually use, or how they search online. Use Flip, Padlet, or old-fashioned sticky notes. What you learn can help shape a future collection, lesson, or space design.

Try Emerging Tools Thoughtfully

Experiment with AI tools, digital portfolios, or mixed reality apps—and document not just how they work, but how you might teach legally, ethically, and creatively with them. Consider writing short tool reviews to share with your mentor or colleagues.

Conduct a Mini Needs Assessment

Survey students or staff: What tools do they use? What books do they want? What would make the library or tech support more helpful? Analyze the data and share a quick summary with your mentor.

Your practicum or internship is more than just a checklist of hours. It’s your launchpad. Fill it with creativity, risk-taking, and curiosity—and make it your own.