OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLE OF IDENTIFYING AN OBSTACLE

Another requirement for ETL401 Assignment 2 has been to identify an obstacle and then discuss how this obstacle may be addressed. Doesn’t sound too hard, but unfortunately this future Teacher Librarian found simply IDENTIFYING an obstacle to BE an obstacle!! I just couldn’t grasp how I was to tackle this task when I am not actually a permanent Teacher Librarian. Yet.

Well, it seems I was interpreting the task too personally. So, after a lot more reading and THANKFULLY some helpful words of wisdom (from my lecturer Lyn and some really encouraging people also undertaking the subject ) I got there in the end !!

How MY obstacle (of identifying an obstacle) was overcome , is evident in the following posts that have been copied and pasted from the ETL401 ASSIGNMENT 2 FORUM:

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From:	Emma Kate Conroy	Date:	Wed 14-Sep-11 01:56 pm
To:	Assignment 2
Subject:	Obstacle...help please: Lyn, Arthur, TL's !!

Task B asks us to:
Identify an obstacle which a teacher librarian might face in developing information literacy across the curriculum in a school, and how that obstacle might be addressed. Reference should be made to relevant literature (about 750 words).

Really, I have no idea what obstacles TL's (who are WORKING permanently (or at least regularly in one school, as a TL) face in developing information literacy across the curriculum in a school. And I do not know how such issues would be addressed. I have never been in that position, and I have nobody I can ask.

What does someone in my position do about this part of the assignment ?
Some assistance would be GREATLY appreciated.
Emma Kate :-)

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I received some replies that briefly touched on lack of principal support and the unwillingness of some Teachers to collaborate with the Teacher Librarian. Because I was 'still stuck' (just in case you don't get that idea after reading the forum posts LOL ! :-), the conversation continued.....

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From:	Emma Kate Conroy	Date:	Fri 16-Sep-11 01:32 pm
To:	Assignment 2
Subject:	Thanks...but still stuck !!

Hi again..

Thanks so much for all your replies to my question :-)
I am with you that the major obstacles would be along the lines of:
-Minimal Principal support
-Lack of collaboration

However, my issue is...how do I write about either one being an obstacle when I don't know the difference between principal support vs no support & collaboration vs no collaboration.

Emma Kate :-(

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From: Lyn Hay Date: Mon 19-Sep-11 03:34 pm To: Assignment 2 Subject: Re: Thanks...but still stuck !!

Hi folks,

Lack of principal support and lack of interest of teaching staff to collaborate with the TL are both obstacles that have been well-documented in the professional and research literature, so there is a lot to draw upon from the readings in this subject and seeking further reading in these areas.

A teacher who has not experienced a number of obstacles as a TL themselves is still able to answer this Ass2 task based on your reading.

Kind regards, Lyn
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Lyn Hay
Subject Coordinator
Email: lhay@csu.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 62726221
Skype: lyn_hay

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After a lot of reading, and putting that together with my own personal experiences… still not 100 % sure.....

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From:	Emma Kate Conroy	Date:	Tue 20-Sep-11 04:21 pm
To:	Assignment 2
Subject:	Re: Thanks...but still stuck !!

Hi Lyn,
Thank you for your response. May I please clarify something:


Lack of interest of teaching staff to collaborate is often due to Lack of principal support...these two obstacles therefore interrelate.

So are we to separate them and choose just 1 of the 2 you have given as examples above ?
OR
Are we to write about the two as 1 major obstacle ?

Thank you Lyn !! :-)

Emma Kate

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From:	Lyn Hay	Date:	Thu 22-Sep-11 02:32 pm
To:	Assignment 2
Subject:	Re: Thanks...but still stuck !!

Hi Emma,

You only write about one of these obstacles.

Kind regards, Lyn

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Lyn Hay
Subject Coordinator
Email: lhay@csu.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 62726221
Skype: lyn_hay
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From: Emma Kate Conroy Date: Mon 26-Sep-11 11:27 am To: Assignment 2 Subject: Re: Thanks...but still stuck !! Great, thanks Lyn :-) Emma Kate _________________________________________________________________________________________________ FINALLY on track. Yay. :-) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ From: Jennifer Baccon Wed 14-Sep-11 11:03 am
To: Assignment 2
Subject: Obstacle

I was thinking of writing about a real obstacle I have with teacher motivation in fully collaboratively planning and teaching in a true partnership sense.

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From:	Deanne McGann	Date:	Wed 14-Sep-11 04:11 pm
To:	Assignment 2
Subject:	Response to Emma

Deanne McGann
Dear Emma
My first thoughts included the idea of collaboration or lack of/ barriers to could be one obstacles that you could address.

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These two last forum responses from other ETL401 students, have been really helpful to me in choosing which obstacle to tackle. THANK YOU Jennifer and Deanne! Now for the next obstacle.... completing ETL401 Assignment 2 :-)