confession 6 - assuming too much

You know what they say about ASSUME .... its makes an ass out of u and me!
Well this week i'm feeling like an ass! (as well as feeling like i'm not quite up to scratch with DE yet).
Why you ask?

1. I assumed that any important messages such as the opportunity to talk about assignments would be e-mailed. Didn't you know to look at the announcements section on interact I hear you ask - well actually I did not. Perhaps I missed or glazed over some important thing like an interact tutorial cause i didn't even look at announcements til someone else mentioned it (but of course it was too late for the assignment chat).

2. This is probably because i assumed that having done DE before, a level of knowledge and intuition would help me (wrong again! it's very different - different locations and names for things and an increased reliance on all things electronic - not even a module in print format!!)

3. I assumed that the things in the library reserve would be the same as those listed in the module as essential readings and further readings (little did I know!) And no I didn't think to look in the library reserve till another student posted about it.

4. Lyn's message suggesting that she hoped she didn't need to tell us this left me feeling somewhat further chagrined ....

5. Then, as I wouldn't have been able to locate all this stuff without the useful posts of fellow students, I was left wondering if this indicates that i'm failing in an essential skill of information literacy - namely to be able to locate information.... and does this throw into question my potential as a TL? (eek, i hope not)

6. Generally speaking, i know i'm a little behind - but some of you have already finished assignment 1 !!!!! what??? Arghhhhh, i'm in no way close - as you can tell i'm still locating,selecting and organising information - the synthesising, presenting, assessing stuff is a way off yet.

7. Last silly assumption ..... that there were more hours in the day - and i forgot that family, work and uni stuff always seem to get busy simultaneously.

Here's hoping the rest of the week won't find me quite so much of an ass.

Edition 5 - TLs and achievement

Not sure if i've gained any inspiration yet but definitely a bit of organisation.
My aim this week is to only allow myself reading for enjoyment once I have completed some university work (so far have achieved this 2 out of 3 days).

This morning I have Girl 1 at school and Girl 2 set up with play doh and here I am with at least 10 mins uninterrupted study time!! (well at least interruptions only every 5 mins)

This week I decided I must get some focus.... so I really looked at the assignment and what we need to do for it and put together an outline for the essay. Of course, this then meant I had to go back over the readings with this in mind. Yes I know!! It would have been far more sensible to have studied the assignments and their requirements before beginning reading

On re-reading some of the materials I was really struck with the research that correlates TL qualifications with results (see Haycock, Lonsdale, Hay). It's slightly worrisome, as this suggests that in being under qualified or not qualified, our lack of training can impact on student achievement regardless of how well meaning a TL is.

The other question that keeps playing on my mind is how many TLs are under utilised in their school because of outdated notions of the role of the library in teaching. Is this what those of you working as TLs are experiencing?

Back to the real work now as i'm hoping to get a bit of pleasure reading done in Girl 2's sleep time!!

Haycock, K. (2003) The crisis in Canada's school libraries: The case for reform and re-investment.

Lonsdale, M. (2003). Impact of school libraries on student achievement: A review of the research. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Hay, L. (2005) Student learning through Australian school libraries. synergy 4 (2)