Mark Barnes (2)

In the same batch of review books comes Mark Barnes’ new book that has an exact opposite point of view from the Wiggins and McTigue The Understanding by Design Guide to Advanced Concepts in Creating and Reviewing Units (Professional Development) reviewed in this column. Mark is totally into the idea of self-directed learning and has his ROLE model meaning Results Oriented Learning Environment. In this ROLE, teachers are guides on the side; students are using many technologies; they are blogging regularly; they have year-long projects alongside other investigations; Mark gives comments, not grades; and, he does not worry bout “the test.” The best news is that he values the regular input of his teacher librarian! The book will lead you to his website: Learnitin5.com where lots of videos get kids started in various investigations and discussions. This is required reading by every teacher librarian, because as you recognize a teacher like Mark in your building who is doing something different, pounce on that person to help our and partner in the experimentation! Time after time one encounters these teachers who build great names for themselves in the web world and many lack any contact with a teacher librarian, or, if they do, they never acknowledge it. You will hear more from Mark in the pages of Teacher Librarian, but for now,read this one and consider the possibilities.… (mais)