Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling Inservice

K-W-L This warm-up exercise will activate prior knowledge about how familiar you are with fixed and flexible scheduling. Using you K-W-L handout, please fill in what you already know about fixed and flexible scheduling, what you want to know, and leave last column blank for now.

Flexible Scheduling Flexible scheduling is the most effective way of providing library services when they are most needed. Classes and students do not visit the library media center at arbitrary times. Instead they visit the library media center when they need information or the services the library media program provides.

Fixed Scheduling With fixed scheduling students attend a regularly scheduled class in the library media center usually on a weekly basis. The advantage of this model is that it ensures that every class has regular access and instruction.

Modified Scheduling A modified flexible schedule is usually adopted because the Library Media Specialist recognizes the benefits of a flexible schedule but is faced by imposed limitations. These limitations could be from having to provide for some teacher planning time, being in the building part-time, or teaching another subject.

Advantages of Flexible Scheduling The media specialist has more time to spend toward other management duties and responsibilities. For instance cataloging, inventory, and repairs. Students and teachers can visit the media center anytime throughout the day to use resources, read for pleasure, and/or to meet and work with other students and teachers.

Disadvantages of Flexible Scheduling There is no set schedule. The media specialist must be very flexible and accommodating at all times. He/She must always expect the unexpected. Sometimes the students might not visit the media center for many days at a time.

Advantages of Fixed Scheduling There is a weekly and daily routine, the media specialist has more of an idea of what to expect. With a fixed schedule it allows the media specialist to perform smaller, but continuous activities for practicing information literacy skills through scheduled class times.

Disadvantages of Fixed Scheduling The media center is available for classes only. The media center is closed to everyone else while the scheduled class visits. Students check out books only on assigned days. Some resources are not used as frequent like periodicals due to time restraints.

Which schedule would you prefer? Flexible Scheduling Options for School Library Media Programs Fully Flexible Teachers sign up for circulation times. Teachers sign up for instructional units. Flexible/Fixed Classes visit weekly or biweekly at a set time for circulation. Teachers sign up for instructional units. Flexible/Fixed Classes visit weekly or biweekly at a set time for circulation. Teachers sign up for specific skills or number of instructional units. Flexible/Fixed Younger grades are on a set schedule. Older grades have circulation as needed Younger grades are on a set schedule> Older grades sign up for instructional units Flexible/Fixed All classes visit at set times for weekly or biweekly circulation. Skills at set times, with open blocks for sign up sessions Fully Fixed Regularly scheduled times for circulation. Regularly scheduled times for instruction.

Now It’s Your Turn! You have already been placed in groups. Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of fixed vs. flexible scheduling with your peers. (10 min.) Fill in the last column of your K-W-L chart. Using your handout, vote on which schedule you prefer best for our school media center. You may remain anonymous in this activity!

Purpose of Activity Objective: To include the faculty and staff in selecting the best scheduling option for our library media center. To meet the diverse needs of all students to prepare them to become information literate and life-long learners for the 21 st Century. Methodology: Handouts Pens/Pencils Power-Point Presentation

Inservice Assessment Quiz 1.Which schedule provides library services when most needed? 2.Which schedule allows the media specialist to perform smaller, but continuous activities for practicing information literacy skills through scheduled class times? 3.Which schedule is available for classes only? 4.Which schedule allows the media specialist more time to spend toward other management duties and responsibilities. For instance cataloging, inventory, and repairs? 5.Which schedule allows a weekly and daily routine, the media specialist has more of an idea of what to expect?

Traditional Grading Scale 20 points for each correct answer = A = B = C = D 69-Below=F

Resources Ohlrich, Karen Browne. “What’s Good? A Fixed or a Flexible Schedule?” October 13, l l American Library Association/American Association Of School Librarians. “Position Statement on Flexible Scheduling.” Professional_Tools10/Position_Statements/AASL_Pos ition_Statement_on_Flexible_Scheduling.htm Professional_Tools10/Position_Statements/AASL_Pos ition_Statement_on_Flexible_Scheduling.htm