The TL and the curriculum (401)

Thinking more about resource based learning I can see that it relys on an inquiry learning approach (still to read about the different models so won't comment on them just yet). I like the idea of rbl but does it fit in with everything? Where do the fundamentals fit in. Can you use rbl at some stages and have teacher directed learning at others? Teaching a spelling rule or maths equation does not really lend itself to rbl.

Having said that, where does rbl and inquiry learning fit into the NSW quality teacher framework? I think that it fits very well. The framework encourages an open and supportive classroom. It promotes quality learning, as does inquiry learning and rbl. The terminology used is just different. Both promote deep understanding and knowledge as well as higher order thinking skills. It is the processes of how to learn and how to find information rather than just the content itself. Both rbl / inquiry learning and the quality teaching framework show that students prior knowledge is important and that they need to build on this.

The teacher librarian needs to be aware of all curriculum areas (as do primary school teachers) and is thus a very valuable source for planning and curriculum development. In the readings it is suggested that 'resource based learning' is a term mostly found in library literature and as such the tl is in an excellent position to promote it and collaborate on its development (will clarify that with 'trained teacher librarians').

Principals should expect the tl and the classroom teacher to plan units of work together, but they can make or break this. They cannot expect this collaboration if they do not supply the support, the expectation and the budget for it to happen.