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Inside the Creative Vault: Top Secrets from Innovative Media Specialists

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Session description

Ever feel like creativity tips are locked away? No gatekeeping here! Join five veteran media specialists as they unlock their top secrets for transforming school libraries into creative hubs. From hands-on projects to digital tools, you’ll walk away with fresh, actionable ideas for every grade level.

Outline

1. . Introduction & Setting the Stage (5 minutes)
Content: Brief overview of the session, introduction of media specialists, and setting the theme of “Unlocking the Vault” of creativity.
Engagement: Open with a playful vault animation (using Adobe Express) to introduce the media specialists. Briefly poll the audience using Mentimeter on what they hope to gain from the session.
Process: Quick audience poll to warm them up, giving them a chance to interact early.

2. Creative Vault Showcase – Media Specialist Presentations (25 minutes)
Content: Each of the five media specialists presents a “best-kept secret” project or strategy, focusing on real-world applications of creativity in their libraries (e.g., hands-on maker activities, digital storytelling, student-led projects).
Engagement: After each 5-minute presentation, attendees will complete a quick interactive activity. For example, after hearing about a digital storytelling project, attendees use their mobile devices to brainstorm how they would adapt it for their own libraries.
Time: Each media specialist has 5 minutes to present.
Process:
Device-based brainstorming with Padlet
Short reflective questions or prompts for the audience after each presentation to encourage engagement.

3. Breakout Vaults – Small Group Collaboration (15 minutes)
Content: Attendees will break into small groups (by grade level) to discuss how they can adapt the projects presented to their own settings.
Engagement: Each group will have a designated recorder to capture ideas on a shared digital whiteboard. They will focus on creating quick, practical plans for implementing these creative strategies in their own libraries.
Time: 15 minutes.
Process: Peer-to-peer collaboration in small groups. The facilitator circulates to prompt discussion and answer questions.

4. Gallery Walk – Sharing and Voting (10 minutes)
Content: Groups share their ideas by uploading their plans or visuals by creating a quick digital poster using Adobe Express.
Engagement: Attendees review and vote on the most creative and actionable ideas
Time: 10 minutes.
Process: Active participation in reviewing and providing feedback on other groups' ideas.

5. Q&A Vault – Rapid-Fire Questions (5 minutes)
Content: Audience-driven Q&A session where attendees can ask the media specialists specific questions about their projects or share challenges they face in implementing creative projects.
Engagement: Use a rapid-fire question format where audience members can submit questions via a chat tool or ask live, and media specialists provide short, practical answers.
Time: 5 minutes.
Process: Encourage fast-paced, concise exchanges to maximize engagement and efficiency.
6. Wrap-up & Action Plan (5 minutes)
Content: Summarize the key takeaways from the session and challenge attendees to create an action plan for incorporating creativity in their libraries over the next year.
Engagement: Ask participants to fill out a short reflection on their next steps and invite them to share these on social media using a session-specific hashtag (e.g., #CreativeLibrarian).
Time: 5 minutes.
Process: Reflective activity and call to action for ongoing engagement

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Supporting research

https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/reinvented-school-libraries-unleash-student-creativity

https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2021/04/creativity-and-process-in-the-childrens-library/

https://dpi.wi.gov/news/dpi-connected/school-libraries-foster-creativity-and-boundless-learning

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Presenters

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Creative Learning Strategist
Adobe for Education
ISTE Certified Educator
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Coordinator of Library Media Services
Gwinnett County Schools
ISTE Certified Educator
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Librarian
Oak Run Middle School
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librarian
Victor Fields Elementary

Session specifications

Topic:

Library/Media

TLP:

Yes

Grade level:

6-12

Audience:

Librarian, Teacher Development, Teacher

Attendee devices:

Devices useful

Attendee device specification:

Smartphone: Android, iOS, Windows
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Windows, Android, iOS

Subject area:

Technology Education, Other: Please specify

ISTE Standards:

For Educators:
Designer
  • Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.
Facilitator
  • Create learning opportunities that challenge students to use a design process and/or computational thinking to innovate and solve problems.

TLPs:

Spark Curiosity, Prioritize authentic experiences