INTERVIEW OF RONDA RUCKER, SCHOOL LIBRARIAN

  1. What are the different types of technology you use in your classroom? Ronda has three main focuses of technology in her library/classroom. First she has to use her library management software, Winnebago, for checking in/out books and keeping track of them. Second, she has a Reading Counts program that she manages for students to come in and take quizzes on the books they have read. Ronda’s third focus is the use of computers in her elementary computers classes. Ronda also has a digital camera that she sometimes uses in her classroom for different projects.
  2. Why do you use those items? She uses all of these items because they are essential in running a library. The automated checkout system saves a great deal of time in managing the library properly. The Reading Counts program is great for testing whether or not the students actually read the book. The elementary computer classes help the younger students get a feel for the computers so they have a good foundation set for their high school courses.
  3. What are other pieces of technology you would like to use? Ronda would like to have a scanner, a LCD projector and a SmartBoard for the library/computer lab. She feels that these products would be very beneficial to her students. These items would allow her and others to demonstrate assignments or give presentations. She feels that any added use of technology would be great for the students.
  4. What types of training did you receive on using these technologies? She mainly taught herself. She was a math teacher before she became the school librarian, so she pretty well taught herself with a little help from the previous librarian.
  5. How do you feel this impacts the student’s learning? Ronda thinks that getting the students familiar with any type of technology is advantageous to them. Students experience technology in almost every aspect of their life. She feels that it is great that she help teach students the proper and most beneficial way to use the technology we have in our school.

From Susan Rucker