In the Library Learning Commons with Ms. Gatzke

Safir and Dugan’s Agency Framework was presented at a District Teacher-Librarian Pro-D this September . Their infographic (shared here ) stuck with me , as it speaks to a need I can see in our kids . We are proud of their success when they can sit a certain way, quietly following instructions. How can we also give them space to be themselves, and to celebrate that? In a Library Learning Commons that stands for equity, how can we create a space for every kid to own their authentic voice: to write their own story? As this is the big idea driving my year planning and professional inquiry, it is a natural place to start as I examine digital formats here in LIBE 477. How can we use digital storytelling in a way that best helps kids achieve agency as learners? Crampton’s article highlights the “ pride and purpose ” (573) that come from kids working on topics important to them while mastering new tools . It’s this kind of experience I am seeking to facilitate. B ut, these are Grade ...

We aim to help students share their stories in a powerful way. W hen they do this, they experience agency as lea rners.   The powerful sharing of stories goes beyond handing them in to a teacher. It involves the teller and listener experiencing connection . In her presentation “Stories are Good Medicine,” Sayantani Dasgupta unpacks “the magical space of storytelling” (5:15). She shares the fable of the minstrel and the storyteller, who only together are able to discover their true selves, proving that “ a story isn’t an object; it’s a relationship be tween two human beings” (8:30). This coming together, enjoying stories together, is what we aim to accomplish when kids use technology tools to share stories.   Video:  Sayantani Dasgupta - Stories are Good Medicine Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan present an "Agency Framework" in their book Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation : They place representation on a spectrum along w...