Facilitation Pathway
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The Facilitation Pathway is intended to connect computational thinking (CT) to the practice of librarianship and our professional values. It is intended as a guide for library staff to develop skills and knowledge so they can effectively facilitate high-quality CT learning opportunities through the library.
The Pathway lays out key themes we've found are critical to facilitating learning for youth. The five themes, represented across rows, directly reflect core library values such as diversity and engaging families. The column headers walk you through a progression of skill and knowledge building: from initial recognition of the value of each theme, through learning, implementing, and advocating. While these levels are progressive, they can also be cyclical (e.g. upon reaching the level of advocate in a certain area, you might recognize new ways the work relates to your community, and be inspired to learn more and adopt implementation).
How can I use the Ready to Code facilitation pathway?
You might begin by finding the level you and your library fit into for each of the Ready to Code themes. Where are your strengths? What do you want to work on? From there you may select a specific area to focus on and look for ways to move to the next level or improve skills and practices in that area. Importantly, it is possible for library staff to facilitate effective CT activities at a range of different levels and resources in the Collection are tailored for all!
1
RecognizeRecognize how CT relates to youth services library work and to community |
2
LearnLearn techniques to integrate CT into library activities |
3
ImplementImplement effective CT programs |
4
AdvocateAdvocate for the value of library CT programs to stakeholders |
|
Broadening participation | Recognizes that equitable and inclusive learning environments are required to reach diverse youth through library CT activities. | Learns how to design equitable and inclusive learning environments to support CT and plans potential strategies for their unique environment. | Implements equitable and inclusive CT learning environments, including focused recruitment and retention efforts. | Communicates the value of CT learning environments that are equitable and inclusive, especially in ways that show evidence of effectiveness. |
Connecting youth interests and emphasizing youth voice | Recognizes that connecting to youth interests and emphasizing their voice can strengthen engagement and learning in CT. | Learns about local youth’s interests and how to give these youth opportunities to design and implement CT activities. | Implements CT activities that embed youth interests and youth leadership. | Communicates the value of embedding youth voice and interests in CT activities. |
Engaging with communities | Recognizes the value of working with community members, organizations, and a variety of stakeholders in planning and implementing CT activities. | Learns about expertise available in the community to support CT activities and explores ways to make connections with individuals and organizations. | Implements partnerships with community members, organizations, and stakeholders in the design and implementation of CT activities. | Communicates the value of connecting with community members, organizations, and stakeholders in supporting the CT learning needs of youth. |
Engaging with families | Recognizes that family can play a key role in supporting CT learning, by connecting CT to learning that happens in other places. | Learns about the needs and interests of local families in order to design and implement community and family-based CT activities. | Implements CT activities in which families are actively engaged through participation and/or communication. | Communicates the value of family engagement as a part of CT library activities. |
Demonstrating impact through outcomes | Recognizes that CT activities can be strengthened and of more value when there is measured impact on youth, families, the library, and community stakeholders | Learns how to measure the impact of the library’s CT activities to address community CT needs and develops a plan for evaluation and/or measurement. | Implements short- and long-term data gathering that can be used for program improvement and that can demonstrate the effect of CT activities on youth, families, libraries and the community. | Communicates the value that using evidence of effectiveness for CT activities can bring to program design, advocacy, funding, and expansion. |