BC Teacher-Librarians' AssociationNote – The BCTLA Summer Institute was delayed due to COVID. Look for this program to return in 2023. Check back in Spring 2023 for more details.
Past BCTLA Summer Institutes
2018: TRANSFORMATIONAL STORYTELLING
Presented by Kamloops/Thompson Teacher-Librarian Association, the 2018 institute explored storytelling strategies, ethnobotany, Secwepemc culture and history at the site of the Kamloops Residential School. 2018 BCTLA Summer Institute Kamloops Flyer
2017: TRANSFORMATIONAL STORYTELLING (CANCELLED)
The 2017 summer institute was unfortunately cancelled due to a forest fire situation. It was intended to have been hosted by the Kamloops chapter of the BCTLA, and would have focused on the exploration of storytelling strategies, ethnobotany and Secwepemc culture and history at the site of the Kamloops Residential School.
2016: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY / BRAINCAMP
This year’s BCTLA Summer Institute was hosted by Nanaimo-Ladysmith SD#68 teacher-librarians. The goal for the day was to have fun, get excited about the new school year, play and learn using technology for education and, of course, network with peers and check out the latest resources! Check out the 2016 Summer Institute Flyer for a summary of the day.
2015: MAKERSPACES
Materials: Lisa’s slides (.key) | Monica’s slides (.pptx) | Joseph’s slides + coding lesson plans Jessica’s Minecraft Prezi + handout | Leanne and Michelle’s lesson ideas handout | Maria’s Maker Education Explorations slides (ppt) + text + handouts 1 2 3 | Art Gallery materials
In Prince George, Lisa Domeier De Suarez and Monica Berra led us through an exciting and varied sharing session about makerspaces. They were joined by five SD57 Prince George teacher-librarians, Jessica Bonin, Leanne Berry, Michelle Labonte, Maria Weisgarber and Joseph Jeffery, who presented on their makerspace learning. In the afternoon, we were introduced to the Two Rivers Gallery MakerLab space and tools, and had a demonstration and Q&A of their laser cutter/engraver and 3D printed. Next, we got “hands-on” and tried out a maker activity involving gears and simple mechanical assembly and explored the MaKey-Makey platform.
2014: PARTICIPATORY CULTURE AND THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Buffy Hamilton is best known in the school library community as the Unquiet Librarian. Her presentations from the 2014 summer institute included one on subject guides and one on participatory culture. View the session materials to explore how to create dynamic and strategic subject guides. Explore also the qualities that distinguish sites of participatory learning and how school libraries might contextualize their role as co-learners that can collaboratively construct the possibilities of print and digital information, and new literacies, through inquiry-driven work.
2013: THE POWER OF READING WITH DR. STEPHEN KRASHEN AND KIDSBOOKS
USC Professor Emeritus Dr. Stephen Krashen is a well-known, witty, engaging and frequently cited international expert on the importance of reading. Researcher, linguist, speaker, and social activist, Dr. Krashen is quick to advocate for school libraries as “the hottest tool in the literacy kit”. During his day with BC educators, Dr. Krashen shared insights into free voluntary reading and its importance for children’s literacy development, the profound impact of poverty on reading, what international tests of reading can tell educators about reading improvement, and the strong connection between second language learning and reading.
2012: LEARNING COMMONS IN BC
Wiki: https://sites.google.com/site/bctlalearningcommons/summer-institute-2012
Carol Koechlin presented that, “the ‘work’ of the Learning Commons is to facilitate and lead a new culture of learning that truly addresses the needs of 21st Century learners and teachers. The Learning Commons supports school wide inquiry and critical and creative thinking while fostering ‘habits of mind’ and ‘learning dispositions’ conducive to success”.
