Professional Learning Opportunities March 2021
If you followed my blog or know me at all, you’ve probably noticed that I enjoy professional development. I enjoy learning and I enjoy my work. Putting the two together is just the most addictive combination for me.
You might have seen my Professional Learning Series, where I shared my favourite resources for finding a variety of professional learning opportunities. However, these past few months I have been struggling to keep track of all the professional learning opportunities that I have seen, had emailed to me, been offered or want to investigate. I’ve been writing them down as I came across them, so I thought I would share them here each month, adding links and resources as I come across them.
Here are my picks for March 2021. Most of them are free and easily accessibly by following the links. Most are online, with just a few being paid face-face events. If you know of any more, I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or contact me here.
Publications
Article from Dr M.K. Merga – Why are teacher librarians an excellent investment in contemporary schools? in Scan Vol 40, issue 2.
ALIA INCITE March/April edition on Education. This is one of the freely accessible digital only editions.
New article from Dr M.K. Merga: Revisiting Collaboration Within and Beyond the School Library: New ways of measuring effectiveness.
Future Ready Librarians Summit – Imagining a new Future. Online via Zoom 6th March and again 13th March 2021. Free. US times so if you are in Australia be prepared for a very early morning.
A fantastic blog from Great School Libraries with links to blogs, wakelets and lists on sources for professional learning and development.
Conferences, Webinars, Podcasts and Meet Ups
School Libraries: Learning Power. Hosted online by SLAV, March 12th 2021 8:30am-3:30pm
The Laureate and the Literacy Leader: Professional Learning Summit hosted both face to face and online by SLANSW, 13 March 2021, 8:30am -1pm.
Australian Media Literacy Research Symposium – Face to face in Canberra, 13 April 2021
Romancing the Stars – Thursday 11 March 2021 6:45 – 8:30 pm AEST – Online
NJASL Spring 2021 Mini Conference – 13 March 2021 US times but sessions recorded. – Online. Free.
Courses
CSER Digital Technologies Education MOOC, PD and lending scheme
Build a Book Club from Children’s Books Daley – 6 week course. I started this during the holiday break and it’s time for me to jump back into it again.
National Copyright Webinar Series from March until November 2021. Free for the full day online sessions.
Two social media channels to follow
Top New books of March
App/Tech of the month
Merge Cube – I’ve just discovered this and am loving it. Info here, with free printables. There are a range of freemium apps (Merge Explorer, Merge Object Viewer, Merge Dig) and PD from CSER Digital Technologies Education so you can learn more here.
Code Club AU – free coding clubs for Aussie kids aged 9-15.
Community Notices and Awards
CBCA Book of the Year Notables were announced and artwork released.
Australian Teacher Librarian Award 2021 – nominations close Friday 12 March 2021.
Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English and Literacy – A grant for $15000. Applications close 12 April 2021.
Upcoming Twitter chats for the month
#PrimarySTEMchat – 6th March 2021 8pm AEDT from @stemedmagazine
#GreatSchoolLibraries -10th March 2021 6am to 7am AEST from @bcb567
Super helpful and informative. Thank you.