TY - JOUR
T1 - Reimagining the role of school libraries in STEM education
T2 - Creating hybrid spaces for exploration
AU - Subramaniam, Mega M.
AU - Ahn, June
AU - Fleischmann, Kenneth R.
AU - Druin, Allison
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - In recent years, many technological interventions have surfaced, such as virtual worlds, games, and digital labs, that aspire to link young people's interest in media technology and social networks to learning about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas. Despite the tremendous interest surrounding young people and STEM education, the role of school libraries in these initiatives is rarely examined. In this article, we outline a sociocultural approach to explore how school library programs can play a critical role in STEM education and articulate the need for research that examines the contributions of school libraries as potential hybrid spaces for STEM learning. We propose that school library programs become active participants in STEM learning through the specific roles that school librarians currently play in schools, such as information specialist, instructional partner, and technology ally. We also highlight how these roles can be tailored toward helping young people develop STEM identities.
AB - In recent years, many technological interventions have surfaced, such as virtual worlds, games, and digital labs, that aspire to link young people's interest in media technology and social networks to learning about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas. Despite the tremendous interest surrounding young people and STEM education, the role of school libraries in these initiatives is rarely examined. In this article, we outline a sociocultural approach to explore how school library programs can play a critical role in STEM education and articulate the need for research that examines the contributions of school libraries as potential hybrid spaces for STEM learning. We propose that school library programs become active participants in STEM learning through the specific roles that school librarians currently play in schools, such as information specialist, instructional partner, and technology ally. We also highlight how these roles can be tailored toward helping young people develop STEM identities.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858717019&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858717019&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/664578
DO - 10.1086/664578
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84858717019
SN - 0024-2519
VL - 82
SP - 161
EP - 182
JO - Library Quarterly
JF - Library Quarterly
IS - 2
ER -