SWITCH 2016
SWITCH 2016 – 22 – 24
November 2016
Amy, Steph B and I were very lucky to attend this conference
and we will be reporting on some of the wonderful presentations.
LEARNING STEM FROM
FUN –Jenny Campbell Narrabri Library
Jenny informed us that being a small library there was a
need to partner and collaborate with schools and organisations in the area.
They have a very good partnership with Randwick Library, their sister city
library, local scientists, Sydney Children’s Museum, schools, OOsh and Rotary. Randwick
Library helped with the programming and the Toddler Science program. The
library also used local people’s talent and staff talent to run the programs.
The school holiday programming included Engineering and Technology based programs
with Robotics and Coding Clubs planned for future holidays.
AUSTRALIA’S FIRST 3D
TACTILE STORYBOOK – Joanne Smith Lake Macquarie Library
Joanne spoke about how they used digital technology to make a
3D tactile story book. This storybook is very useful for the visually impaired helping
with literacy and to connect to technology.
An UpBox printer and Tinkercad was used. The 3D printer was introduced to the community.
BRAIN TRAINING –
Christine Birkett Gunnedah Shire Library
Christine talked about this program which was in partnership
with Community Care. This program helps to stimulate brain health which assists
older people to participate in society. This program has a maximum of 10 people for one
hour sessions and includes memory games
like Concentration, word association, logic, creativity, quizzes and origami.
The social aspect and social inclusion is of enormous benefit to participants. Friendships
are formed and the participants mentor and encourage one another. The
challenges are – staffing, sourcing activities, finding presenting time, making it
visually interesting, photocopying costs. Off-shoot programs from it have been
Zen Tangles and Junior Brain games.
STEM and our role in
the development of scientific literacy – Gabrielle Wyllie Ryde Library
The Project – to create a creative interactive space for the
community in the discovery of science. Based on the Curiosity Shop it features
a cabinet with drawers, light boxes, inter-active ipads and interesting
seating. Resources are rotated monthly and examples include dinosaur fossils,
volcanoes, sea life, rocks and crystals. The library installed Digital
Microscopes, touchscreens and incorporated science kits with magnets, simple
machines and insects. New programs include Kids Club, Science Blast, Little
Bang, Scratch, Coding and simple machines workshops.
DEAR ZOO PROGRAM –
Michelle Stuart Goulburn Mulwaree Library
Aim - to sponsor an animal from Taronga Zoo and run programs
throughout the year based on the selected animal. The children voted to select
the animal and the winner was a Sumatran Tiger. The library used promotional
kits, book displays and decorated the library with anything relating to the
tiger. They had an Animal Party and there was a Taronga
Zoo Family pass to win.
LEIGH HOBBS – Author
and Illustrator of Horrible Harriet and Mr Chicken books
Leigh was very funny saying that he doesn’t even like making
children’s books. His passion is architecture and he incorporates this in most
of his books. Leigh feels “Children have a right to create free from the
pressure of assessment” He was very entertaining.
READING AMBASSADORS
– Gail Dunn Wollondilly Library
This program is in partnership with the library and local
schools. One boy and one girl from year 5 or year 6 are chosen to be a Reading
Ambassador and represent the school and to be an advocate for the local library.
Details are on the library website with a photo of each ambassador and
information about the program. The children have special T-Shirts to wear at
school assembly where they talk about the roles and responsibilities of being
a reading ambassador as well as promoting the library.
There is an end of year presentation for the children with the mayor
presenting them with a certificate. It is a very successful program.
Chris
Chris
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