conceptual map
Summative reflection
Throughout my graduate coursework I have been told that a school library media specialist has four main roles: teacher, program administrator, information specialist, and instructional partner. Now, after writing my reflections and creating my conceptual map, I have realized more than ever, how true that fact is. Each of these roles, and the tasks associated with them, are interconnected, and fulfilling them effectively, is vitally important to any school community’s success.
The role of the teacher, in my opinion, is the most important role of a media specialist. Media specialists need to be able to provide students and teachers with effective instruction in areas like research, information literacy, digital citizenship, technology, literature, and more. In the beginning of my coursework, in classes like ISTC 541 and ISTC 667, I designed lessons that met the needs of all learners, incorporated emerging technologies, and created formative and summative assessments , while meeting and linking curriculum standards. Then, when I was able to apply all that I learned in my coursework, into my internship experiences in ISTC 789, I realized the importance of teaching these critical skills to students. From Kindergarten to 12th grade, I was able to teach students about making inferences in texts, evaluating websites, navigating through online databases, developing their own unique love of literature, and more. Not only did I have the opportunity to teach students these important skills, but I was able to teach teachers about emerging technologies, through professional development opportunities. Being in the middle of the action in schools, and teaching the school community about 21st century skills, has prepared me for any school that I have the opportunity to be a part of, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Another important role of a media specialist is being a program administrator. It is important to be able to evaluate and assess the library collection, as well as managing the budget, staff, facilities, and equipment in a library. In ISTC 601 I learned about how to create an appropriate physical space for the library, by meeting the needs of all students and providing them with the resources and tools they need to be successful. I also learned how to evaluate and develop a library collection in my ISTC 615 and ISTC 651, through assessing collection development policies and reviewing resources. In my ISTC 789 practicum experiences, I had the opportunity to practice these skills by, weeding portions of the library collections at my placements and making purchasing suggestions. Additionally, I was able to implement a reading promotion program, and promote resources and services that the library had, to the teachers and students. A school library would not be successful if a school library media specialist wasn’t there to manage the many aspects of their library program.
School library media specialists are also the information specialists in the school. This entails demonstrating proper research skills, ensuring that information is being used ethically, modeling how to access information, and acquiring information resources in a multitude of formats. In ISTC 651 and ISTC 615, I learned how to evaluate resources, like online databases, websites, and books, and I created a LiveBinder to archive all of my reviews, so I can use them as a reference in my future. I was also able to create a SlamDunk webquest, that would help students locate and access information, in order for them to develop their information literacy and research skills. In my middle school placement, in ISTC 789, I taught 7th grade GT students, a series of lessons to assist them in their science fair projects. I created a portal page on the library website, which included screencasts of online databases that highlighted their features, a Voicethread about how to evaluate websites, and scholarly search engines that they could use, to help them find sources for their research. Using web 2.0 tools with their research project like, Noodletools and Edmodo, allowed students to understand the importance of digital citizenship and using information ethically. It is so important to stay current with the information and the technologies that are constantly emerging, and to share that knowledge with the school community, so that they can be successful in the 21st century.
The role of an instructional partner is another critical role of the school library media specialist. Collaborating with other educators in the school in areas like content, assessment strategies, learning outcomes, and differentiation, can help link the curriculum across multiple content areas, and it provides students with seamless and authentic learning experiences. In ISTC 601, I created action plans and evaluated school improvement plans, which emphasized the importance of collaboration in schools and how a school library media specialist could connect with the entire school community. Providing teachers with professional development is another important task of an instructional partner. Therefore, I conducted extensive research on how the benefits of collaborating with educators on technology tools and using Wikis as an online format for professional development, in ISTC 541 and EDUC 761. In my elementary field experience, through ISTC 789, I provided teachers with a professional development on LiveBinders and discovered the benefits of sharing and collaborating with them, to improve our practices. Additionally, in my middle school placement, I was able to collaborate with a 7th grade GT science teacher, and work together to help students conduct research on their science fair projects. It is so beneficial to work together and collaborate with the other educators in a school, in order to provide students with multiple opportunities to achieve success.
Throughout all of my coursework and my field experiences, I am confident that I will be able to successfully fulfill the four roles of a media specialist, in order for my future school community to achieve their goals, and become lifelong learners and users, of technology, literacy, and information.
The role of the teacher, in my opinion, is the most important role of a media specialist. Media specialists need to be able to provide students and teachers with effective instruction in areas like research, information literacy, digital citizenship, technology, literature, and more. In the beginning of my coursework, in classes like ISTC 541 and ISTC 667, I designed lessons that met the needs of all learners, incorporated emerging technologies, and created formative and summative assessments , while meeting and linking curriculum standards. Then, when I was able to apply all that I learned in my coursework, into my internship experiences in ISTC 789, I realized the importance of teaching these critical skills to students. From Kindergarten to 12th grade, I was able to teach students about making inferences in texts, evaluating websites, navigating through online databases, developing their own unique love of literature, and more. Not only did I have the opportunity to teach students these important skills, but I was able to teach teachers about emerging technologies, through professional development opportunities. Being in the middle of the action in schools, and teaching the school community about 21st century skills, has prepared me for any school that I have the opportunity to be a part of, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Another important role of a media specialist is being a program administrator. It is important to be able to evaluate and assess the library collection, as well as managing the budget, staff, facilities, and equipment in a library. In ISTC 601 I learned about how to create an appropriate physical space for the library, by meeting the needs of all students and providing them with the resources and tools they need to be successful. I also learned how to evaluate and develop a library collection in my ISTC 615 and ISTC 651, through assessing collection development policies and reviewing resources. In my ISTC 789 practicum experiences, I had the opportunity to practice these skills by, weeding portions of the library collections at my placements and making purchasing suggestions. Additionally, I was able to implement a reading promotion program, and promote resources and services that the library had, to the teachers and students. A school library would not be successful if a school library media specialist wasn’t there to manage the many aspects of their library program.
School library media specialists are also the information specialists in the school. This entails demonstrating proper research skills, ensuring that information is being used ethically, modeling how to access information, and acquiring information resources in a multitude of formats. In ISTC 651 and ISTC 615, I learned how to evaluate resources, like online databases, websites, and books, and I created a LiveBinder to archive all of my reviews, so I can use them as a reference in my future. I was also able to create a SlamDunk webquest, that would help students locate and access information, in order for them to develop their information literacy and research skills. In my middle school placement, in ISTC 789, I taught 7th grade GT students, a series of lessons to assist them in their science fair projects. I created a portal page on the library website, which included screencasts of online databases that highlighted their features, a Voicethread about how to evaluate websites, and scholarly search engines that they could use, to help them find sources for their research. Using web 2.0 tools with their research project like, Noodletools and Edmodo, allowed students to understand the importance of digital citizenship and using information ethically. It is so important to stay current with the information and the technologies that are constantly emerging, and to share that knowledge with the school community, so that they can be successful in the 21st century.
The role of an instructional partner is another critical role of the school library media specialist. Collaborating with other educators in the school in areas like content, assessment strategies, learning outcomes, and differentiation, can help link the curriculum across multiple content areas, and it provides students with seamless and authentic learning experiences. In ISTC 601, I created action plans and evaluated school improvement plans, which emphasized the importance of collaboration in schools and how a school library media specialist could connect with the entire school community. Providing teachers with professional development is another important task of an instructional partner. Therefore, I conducted extensive research on how the benefits of collaborating with educators on technology tools and using Wikis as an online format for professional development, in ISTC 541 and EDUC 761. In my elementary field experience, through ISTC 789, I provided teachers with a professional development on LiveBinders and discovered the benefits of sharing and collaborating with them, to improve our practices. Additionally, in my middle school placement, I was able to collaborate with a 7th grade GT science teacher, and work together to help students conduct research on their science fair projects. It is so beneficial to work together and collaborate with the other educators in a school, in order to provide students with multiple opportunities to achieve success.
Throughout all of my coursework and my field experiences, I am confident that I will be able to successfully fulfill the four roles of a media specialist, in order for my future school community to achieve their goals, and become lifelong learners and users, of technology, literacy, and information.