ERIC Number: EJ965630
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 34
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1523-4320
EISSN: N/A
Flexible Scheduling: Implementing an Innovation
McGregor, Joy
School Library Media Research, v9 2006
Teachers, school library media specialists (SLMSs), and principals in six elementary schools were interviewed to explore the ways in which schools have successfully implemented flexible scheduling in their libraries. Overall findings and conclusions of the study are linked with Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory and compared with Shannon's 1996 study of flexible scheduling implementation in two Library Power schools. The voices of the principals, teachers, and SLMSs are heard. Patterns and themes are discussed in terms of assertions that can be made about commonalities among the approaches taken by the six schools. The individual schools' stories are provided in the appendix, "Stories of Successful Implementation of Flexible Scheduling," demonstrating what worked in each of the different situations. While generalization is not appropriate with a qualitative study such as this, it is important to consider what the conclusions might mean in other situations. Flexible scheduling was found to merely be a tool that facilitated curriculum-related programmatic features in these schools. Implementation and continuation required education and vigilance to ensure that everyone involved understood the potential and took advantage of the possibilities. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Flexible Scheduling, School Libraries, Librarians, Elementary School Teachers, Principals, Elementary Schools, Interviews, Educational Innovation, Administrator Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Librarian Attitudes
American Association of School Librarians. Available from: American Library Association. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 800-545-2433; Web site: http://www.ala.org/aasl/slmr
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Media Staff
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A