Unsung Heroes
Lisa Chatman, MPS, Lynn Ochs, netTrekker
By Lynn Ochs, netTrekker Professional Learning Director
One week in early October it was my honor to be in the presence of an amazing group of dedicated library media specialists in Milwaukee Public Schools. Despite severe budget cuts and increased responsibilities, with some managing up to 4 and 5 school library programs at a time, they maintain a laser focus on providing high quality digital and print resources to their fellow educators and students. Daily, they model what it means to be a 21st Century learner – creating, communicating, collaborating and thinking critically about how to manage their time so as to lead and support their many patrons. At the helm is Lisa Chatman, District Library Media Specialist. Vivacious and passionate about the role of library media specialists in schools, Lisa works diligently to support and provide new learning opportunities to her dedicated staff.
I found my unsung heroes that beautiful, sunshine-filled day in Milwaukee, in an unexpected place.
Who are your unsung heroes? Have you thanked them lately for their dedication to providing a high quality education to our next generation leaders? Let’s do it today!
Kevin Clancy, Defined Learning and Lisa Chatman, MPS
Spotlight User: Joe Malvar Discusses How netTrekker Search Fits Different Learning Styles
netTrekker is proud to announce this week’s spotlight user, Joe Malvar. Joe is a teacher at Presentation School in Stockton, California. He explains some of the ways that he and his students use netTrekker Search to fit their learning styles.
“I just wanted to affirm nettrekker for putting up great tools to help engage students. I have several students who are more visual learners, and with the refinement menus offering tools such as videos, illustrations, pictures, and even hands on extended learning activities, I can surely be more confident in offering and teaching these students different kinds of tools to make learning fun. I always believe that the more students understand the more they are engaged, and with this refinement drop down breakdowns of resources offered, they will surely be engaged and have fun with it along the way.
I believe my strength as a learner has always been visual but in some ways a balanced kinesthetic learner and an auditory as well. I learn things on the go go go. With that said I can enhance the strengths and improve on my weaknesses as an auditory and kinesthetic learner. With that challenge, I can use the refinement menus to help myself and students.
For those students who need a meaning or a synonym for a word they don’t know, they can easily use the dictionary feature of the program and set it according to what they prefer, either the meaning of the word or a synonym of it to help them understand. For those students who have a hard time reading and staying focused, they can use the highlight feature and have someone read a passage while they are following along. With that said, I am amazed at the voices offered, either a female or a male voice, so that the student can discern what voice they can relate to, or even which voice they are more engaged by.”