I just wanted to say thank you for putting this on. I am Head of Library Services at Merchant Taylors’ School in Crosby and have been in post since November 2019.
I am trying to get my head around FOSIL, but it’s not an easy thing. I previously worked as a solo librarian in a small theological college and working as a school librarian is pretty different, especially as I only got to experience about 6 months of ‘normal’. I like what Jenny said about ‘working to become inquiry specialists’ as it made me feel a little less intimidated. Right now, I am at the beginning of the journey, but I am laying important foundations in doing thing such as being involved in this discussion. We’re also moving to a new LMS, which will also aid in supporting inquiry learning.
As I read the chapter, I was thinking about whether or not the current educational system supports or hinders inquiry learning (especially at GCSE and A-Level). Even when I was at school, there was so much focus on exam technique and the specific way you needed to follow, in order to get the grade you wanted. With the move away from coursework in favour of exams in many subjects, I can’t imagine that has changed. What is encouraging is the provision of the HPQ and EPQ, which would do offer the perfect opportunity for inquiry learning. Do we need a paradigm shift in our educational system to facilitate inquiry learning? How can school librarians work within the existing system? I am not sure of the answer to this.
I am one of those librarians who doesn’t come from a teaching background and I’ll certainly need support in order to make the transition. I am very grateful for CPD opportunities such as this, which support me on my way.
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