My Journey with LearnPath

My School Library Journey

I’ve been in the library space for over 25 years now, and it’s safe to say things have changed dramatically. When I first started, everything was book-based, and students did their research from library books or maybe the local public library. Fast forward to today, and with the internet and online databases, the way we help students with research has completely transformed. Our library is now a one-stop shop for both physical and digital resources, and it's all about giving students the right tools to navigate this sea of information effectively.

Challenges and Goals

One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is the students’ over-reliance on Google and social media. There’s this belief that if something’s online, it must be true, and as a Teacher-Librarian, it’s my job to steer them away from that mindset. The other challenge has been ensuring that our staff and students actually use the high-quality resources we’ve invested in, like online databases.

My goal has always been to improve the students’ research skills and to make the most of the resources available to them. I wanted to create a way for students to easily access curated, subject-specific guides that would provide them with the information they need, when they need it, and help them develop the digital literacy skills they’ll need for university and beyond.

In 2022, we subscribed to LearnPath, a platform which integrates with Oliver that is designed to created curated research guides. However, I found myself in a difficult position. Although I could see the potential in LearnPath, I lacked the time to learn and implement it. As time passed, I considered cancelling the subscription due to inactivity. However, in October 2023, I attended an online LearnPath presentation by Ms. Kerianne Williams from Softlink. Her session inspired me to rethink my approach, and after reaching out to Kerianne, we devised a collaborative plan.

Solution

After attending a LearnPath presentation by Kerianne Williams from Softlink, I reached out with a proposal. I’d create the basic research guides, and Kerianne would polish them up and add any additional resources, like videos, that might help. This partnership has been fantastic. The first guide she produced blew me away, and from there, we began creating more.

In early 2024, after preparing several research guides, I launched a campaign to offer this service to all faculties across the school. The benefit was clear: the library could now meet the needs of students and staff better than ever before, offering easy access to curated, subject-specific guides that could be accessed from anywhere through LearnPath. Students and staff would only need their usual Oliver login details, simplifying the process.

This shift also allowed us to make the guides available to all students, rather than limiting them to specific Google Classrooms. Collaborating with the Head Teacher of English, I developed guides for every English essay assignment for Years 9 to 12. I’ve since expanded this process across other KLAs (Key Learning Areas), and as of mid-2024, we have around 30 subject-specific guides available in Oliver. These guides support students by helping them conduct quality research—a skill often overlooked, yet one that teacher-librarians are trained to foster.

Once the guides are complete and uploaded to LearnPath, I teach lessons on their use, showing students how to access and benefit from them. The lessons include unpacking assignment questions, navigating relevant articles, and finding further information via the school’s databases.

Results

The introduction of LearnPath and these tailored research guides has yielded some impressive results:

Improved Student Engagement and Research Skills:

Students who once viewed me simply as a librarian now appreciate my role as an educator. Their approach to research has improved, and they understand the value of credible sources beyond Google or social media. This has led to better behaviour and focus in the library, as well as reduced stress around assignments.

Many students have started asking for similar research guides in other subjects, demonstrating the practical utility and demand for this resource. This level of student engagement is a clear indicator that the guides are helping students take ownership of their learning.

Empowering Teachers with High-Quality Resources:

Teachers have also benefited. During faculty meetings, I’ve introduced the guides to staff, with several head teachers praising their quality. 

One of the standout moments was when a couple of Head Teachers told their staff that the research guides I’d created were so good, they were using them for their own professional learning. And let me tell you, when students start asking if I can create guides for other subjects because they’ve found them so helpful, you know you’re on the right track.

Creating Faculty Competition and Engagement:

A friendly competition has emerged between some head teachers, with each trying to ensure their students make the most use of the guides. This rivalry is encouraging greater faculty involvement and interest in expanding the use of LearnPath across the school.

Increased Usage: 

LearnPath’s success is also measurable through Oliver’s reporting function, which tracks guide usage. Since November 2023, we’ve seen a steady rise in activity, particularly between April and August 2024, when we created and taught 30 guides. This data will be invaluable when reviewing future budgets, ensuring we can justify the investment in both online databases and LearnPath.
 

Final Thoughts

When I first subscribed to LearnPath, I didn’t have the time to use it properly and was considering dropping it. But after seeing the potential through Kerianne’s presentation, I knew it could be something special. Together, we’ve created research guides that have made a real difference to both students and staff.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to see how we can expand the use of LearnPath even further. I hope to make these research guides a standard part of every assignment, helping students develop the skills they need to succeed academically. It’s been a rewarding journey, and with the help of Softlink and LearnPath, the library is in a stronger position than ever to meet the needs of our school community.

Not a LearnPath user? Visit the following resources to find out more:

• Hear from LearnPath user, Elizabeth Lansdown, in this video case study (2:15min). Elizabeth shares how she is collaborating with teaching staff to produce guides and using LearnPath to provide a one-stop-shop for library resources.
• In this video case study (5:40min), Jim Gallagher discusses his success using LearnPath guides as a teaching tool, and a number of other benefits of introducing LearnPath at his school.
• Download the LearnPath brochure to see how LearnPath guides align with the Australian Curriculum V9
• Read this blog to learn more about how LearnPath can support digital learning