By Joseph Jeffery
How do you solve a problem with users finding what they’re looking for in the digital space?
Abstract
“When I took over in 2020, the pandemic was in full swing. Our physical space was sound, but not being used due to curtailments on gathering. We had thousands of beautiful kits filled with learning materials that weren’t able to move because there was uncertainty over whether COVID-19 transmitted on surfaces. The virtual space was suddenly a much more important part. All that groundwork that had been done paid off, yet it wasn’t set up for so much of our work to move online.” ( Joseph Jeffrey).This paper outlines the transformational journey for a District Learning Commons leader in Prince George B.C. when pandemic realities hit.
Joseph Jeffery is the District Learning Commons Teacher-Librarian in School District 57 – Prince George, BC where he supports teacher-librarians in creating and maintaining information literacy rich library learning commons programming, designing participatory and flexible learning spaces, and developing culturally responsive library learning commons. Beyond teacher-librarians, he is in charge of digital resource acquisition and training for all teachers, as well as building and advertising the many physical kits and novel sets housed in the District Learning Commons. Outside of school, Joseph is an avid gamer of all types from card to tabletop to video games and enjoys being transported to imaginative worlds of science fiction and fantasy as a reader.