• Online - no travel to campus required
• 3 semester hours graduate credit
• Next session:
  EDUC 744 927 September 28 – November 25, 2009
  
  

Description
Examination of current critical issues facing the media profession. Strategies for understanding and impacting change, program advocacy, data collection, planning and implementing staff development programs, becoming a leader in technology integration, harnessing the power of Google and applying innovative web 2.0 technology skills to support engaged student learning while helping you and your media program have an integral role in today’s changing education environment.

What Our Students Are Saying

School media specialists face multiple demands and ongoing changes in what is expected of school media programs. Opportunities for collegial discussion and interaction are often limited if you work alone in your school. Additional challenges are increased demands of accountability and learning new technology skills. 

Simultaneously, many media specialists are facing job cuts and need to enhance skills for professional success and program survival. This course is designed for K-12 media specialists and media supervisors with a professional development goal to enhance their career, candidates seeking media licensure, and educators interested in and improving school media programs.

Media specialists just beginning their careers and those currently in the field will gain new ideas to apply in daily work and program development.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will:

1. Analyze trends that impact media programs (NBPT V) (NETS II)

2. Integrate practical strategies for coping with change (NETS II)

3. Summarize how media specialists can become influential agents of change (NBPT V) (WI DPI 6) (NETS II)

4. Analyze case studies and explain changes in job expectations (NBPT VI) (WI DPI 9)

5. Implement strategies for becoming a technology leader, a technology integrationist, a technology staff development leader and demonstrate an understanding of new and emerging technologies. (WI DPI 9) (NETS I, V, VI)

6. Demonstrate the role of a media specialist as a curriculum partner (NBPT IV) (WI DPI 10) (NETS II, VI)

7. Analyze the role of the media specialist in school accountability measures, become knowledgeable of changing information and technology literacy standards and recommend methods media specialists can implement to help students achieve content standards (NBPT IV) (WI DPI 10) (NETS II)

8. Analyze evidence-based scientific research on the impact of library media programs on student achievement (NBPT VII) (WI DPI 9) (NETS V)

9. Document evidence supporting the role of school library media programs in supporting improved student achievement (NBPT VII, IV) (WI DPI 9) (NETS V)

10. Design advocacy activities and demonstrate the importance of advocacy and community partnerships as a professional responsibility. (NBPT V, VI,  X) (WI DPI 6) (NETS V)

11. Apply strategies for coping with misperceptions and misunderstanding of the job of media specialists, balancing multiple job roles, and improving job security. (NBPT VI , VII,) (WI DPI 6)

12. Reflect on professional experiences and create a professional growth plan

Participants in the class will gain experience that will help them meet the following state and national standards:

 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for Library Media Specialists (NBPT) (IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X)

Wisconsin Standards for Teacher Development and Licensure (WI DPI): http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/stand10.html (6, 9, 10)

National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (I, II, III, V, VI) http://cnets.iste.org/teachers/t_stands.html

This class is intended to help you reflect on current practices and help you become more valuable and indispensable in your school.

You will connect to learning modules via the World Wide Web and interact with other participants and the instructor through email and online class discussions. Each module provides opportunities for participants to share ideas and participate in discussion with the instructor and peers. Participants may work with one other participant as a team. Ongoing participation in engaged discussion is an important part of the class.

Content Outline
Introduction and reflection
Examine your reasons for becoming a school library media specialist. Why did you become a media specialist or why do you want to become a media specialist? Have you had a mentor or is there a person who also shaped your decision? Examine your professional goals and what you would like to accomplish in this class.