I am a bit nervous for the assignment now that it is to be a collaboration with another classmate. I had a teacher selected that I personally knew and was excited to begin collaborating. Now the project has a new twist! I find that at times it can be difficult to complete assignments when it is done solely online and there are no face to face meetings. My hope is that my partner and I will both put forth the needed effort to complete this unit to the best of our ability.
One weakness I feel that I have going into this assignment is the fact that I have never worked in a school setting. I think it would be easier if I knew exactly what it was like to be in a teacher's shoes and how working with a media specialist should look like. That way I could see the situation from both angles and know what to expect.
I have never personally witnessed any collaborations between a teacher and library media specialist. I have only ever heard of negative experiences between the two. From my experience it seems as though both parties have to be willing to work together to have a successful experience.
I'm not sure what grade level or subject area my teammate and I will focus on for our unit. That will depend on which role each of us assume and if she has classroom experience or a subject area that she would like to focus on. I'm thinking that may be the most difficult part of the process - to decide what the grade/focus will be for the unit.
The one strength that I bring to the team is library experience. I have worked in a public library for 6 years, specifically with teens. Over the years I have assisted numerous students with school projects. I'm really looking forward to this collaboration and what it will bring. It will be exciting to see what the end project will look like. My hope is that my team will be fully committed to making this project successful and to gain experience in a teacher/SLMS collaboration.
