Netlibris
Finland , 1996 to 2007
Compendium: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Background
Netlibris is a pedagogic method of teaching literature. Netlibris schools collaborate in offering an enriched literature programme to selected groups of students. The process consist of asynchronous literature discussions, virtual and face-to-face reader group meetings, teachers working in virtual teams as tutors, collaboration between teachers, librarians, teacher educators and schools. Netlibris has provided professional development courses for teachers locally and nationally. There are more than 200 teachers involved in developing the programme.
The motivation of the initiative
The original project is designed for students who were like Dahl’s Matilda: boys and girls who loved reading and did not have many academic challenges at school. Now the programme caters for all kinds of readers: those with special educational needs and challenges, pupils with Finnish as their second language and whole classes as readers, etc. The aim is also to make pupils more responsible and empowered owners of their own studies of literature by making it possible for them to choose the literature, setting goals, designing activities and evaluating the process.
Participants
Schools, pupils, teachers, librarians and teacher educators.
Aims and targets
Objectives of the initiative
To promote:
- ICT skills for boys and girls;
- enrich reading experiences;
- collaborative learning methods and individual curriculum implementation;
- building communities of readers.
Initially the objectives were to:
- encourage and challenge good readers;
- make pupils read more and different books;
- make pupils share their reading experiences with other book lovers;
- increase reading among other pupils by using the pupils’ resources in the classroom and at the school.
Target group
Pupils of all levels and teachers.
Methods applied to reach the objective (technological and/or pedagogical)
The core of the Netlibris method is asynchronous threaded discussion of literature among the members of the group, and the use of ICT forms an active part of this process. Every group has members from 2 to 4 schools and the discussion is centred on the pupils. Netlibris is also a vivid network of teachers, librarians and teacher educators. The pedagogic discussion forum is very active in developing the method.
Strategy and actions
Level of implementation
Local, regional, national and international.
Implementation
The Netlibris website contains a database of books, information about the reading programme and a collaboratively published online magazine. In-service training and peer support is provided in collaborative networks of Netlibris schools. The new “Reader Diploma Programme” provides individual readers with the challenge and opportunity to receive an award for high-quality achievement as readers.
Monitoring and evaluation
Funding/Cost effectiveness
Budget
Currently €8 000 a year.
Sustainability/Transferability
Outcomes/impacts
Achievements
Specific results(number of users, new learning methods, improved digital skills)
There are more than 200 teachers and over 2 000 students/year using Netlibris, including also groups for struggling readers. Annually more than 70 000 messages are posted in Netlibris discussion forums. The spread to new kinds of users has, for instance, included a group of Swedish-speaking Finns who now have their own Netlibris programme involving most of the Swedish-speaking minority schools.
Success factors
Lessons learnt
The concept of Netlibris is a low-cost easily transportable method used across various user groups, subjects and cultures. The technology required is available in many countries. The most important ingredients are the network of dedicated teachers and the opportunity for collaboration and in-service training.
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