General Tips

Many professional development budgets have been slashed, and out-of-state training is not approved. This means that regardless of the merits of the institute, you’ll probably need to justify the expense. Here are some things you might want to consider as you make your case:

  • Are the AASL Fall Forum Satellite Sites in California, Pennsylvania, or Texas closer to home? Consider less expense by travelling to one of these sites, instead.
  • Focus on what you will specifically bring back to the school library program as return on the investment.
  • Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation and Q&A to your teacher collaborators to share what you learned. That way, the entire school will receive the benefit of your attendance.
  • Share the institute materials and handouts with your colleagues. As an attendee, you have unlimited access to materials posted by speakers.
  • Remind your supervisor that this is a great way to earn CEUs, and is less expensive than registering for separate conferences. It also requires less time away from the office.
  • Be ready with a plan that shows who will cover for you while you are attending the institute.
  • Offer to share a room to reduce hotel expenses by finding a roommate. AASL will be launching a virtual community to make this process much easier.
  • Help your supervisor understand the importance and the impact of transliteracy with short articles and videos on the subject. Here are a few to get you started.
    • The definition of transliteracy: Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.
    • The New Media Literacies (this video features the keynote and lead facilitator of the Fall Forum, Henry Jenkins.
    • Transliteracy: Crossing Divides, article by Sue Thomas, Chris Joseph, Jess Laccetti, Bruce Mason, Simon Mills, Simon Perril, and Kate Pullinger.
  • Use the Expense Worksheet and the Benefits Worksheet to make your case.