Well, I feel that I have gained more of an understanding on my ALAR project. I was able to locate several articles through the library and several websites have helped for me to continue my research towards my product.
Because of conflicting schedules and other classes, I had difficulty in communicating with my literature circle group, but we made the most of the time we did have together. I decided to create a power-point of my strategy. I focused on the text readings, the articles that I read, and discussion with other Media Specialists. Within the PowerPoint presentation I also included several activities and strategies that would allow for more communication with the family members and the community, I also presented some challenges that may arise with implementing these activities.
Truly, form my readings, this is truly an objective that needs to be enforced in all school media centers. Of course, we all know that communication is essential between all faculty at the school, but in order to increase literacy and make the media center an important place we need to focus that communication to the families and the school community. I look forward to seeing how my strategy will tie into all of the other presentations tomorrow.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
more research . . . .
This weeks research and reading really helped me to emphasize the importance of having a media center program that opens the doors not only to the students but to the parents as well. I really appreciated the chapter in school reform that focused on family literacy. This also ties into my ALAR strategy "Communication with the family members and the community memebers". I thought the definition of what family literacy was very beneficial to both communicate with family members and friends of the library. It states - to make sustainable changes in a family by integrating activities and training parents to teach literacy at home. Some of the ideas that were suggestesd were open houses, poetry night, field trips to the poublic library and,literacy nights. These were all great ways for the Media Center to be a pertinant place in the schools community. Also these events allowed for everyone to become involved. All of these topics were easily incorporated into the plan of my strategy.
Friday, July 30, 2010
ALAR Continuation
Well due to my trip with Dr. Veltze and the committments that I have had to do with completing for this class have put a hold on my Actrion Learning Project until . . . . a couple of hours ago!!! I was able to finish my NYC project and I was able to concentrate a little on my ALAR Project. THrough the continuation of my project I had (last week)research several articles along with the reading of the school reform. While reading these articles I really appreciated how they all seem to address the importance for Media SPecilast to have a dynamic relationship with the community and the family memebers with in the school community. "work closely with teachers, university researcher, administrators, and community members to implement information gathering strategies taht included using cameras and documentation of students' out-of-school lives (School Reform, p. 84). WIthin my ALAR project, I have also incorporated several strategies that were discussed within all resources. I was really interested in the possibility of holding an semester open house, where the school library is open in the evening to students and their families. Offereing resources to both students and parents, reading activities, and a tea/snacck period. Patricia Edwards is right when she states, "Trying to educate children without the involvement of their family is like trying to play a baseketball game without all the players on the court" (school reform, p. 81).
Friday, July 16, 2010
Connecting to the "Whole" School
While discussing with my group our logic model, we decided to focus our attention to the Short-term Goal / Objective "Becoming a Leader Within the School Community". I decided to focus my attention to the strategy; "Connecting to the "Whole" School, I feel that this is a goal that all media specialist must encourage. My hopes are for this strategy to encourage collaboration (PR, campaigning, integrate, communicate, and share) with students, faculty, and the administration. If we are the "Change Agents" then what a great strategy to include to any logic model.
I chose this strategy because I want the media center to be a place where students and faculty can come and partake in the enjoyment and its "coolness"! Currently in my school, the media center is not really all that exciting. There is no connection to what is happening within the media center and the rest of the classrooms in the school nor with the students.
I was able to find a few articles that helped to highlight my strategy through the Belk Library. Something that keeps reoccurring within our assigned text readings and the articles that I read for "enjoyment" are that team collaboration is crucial and that only helps to connect the "whole" school. Tootles - more to come soon!
I chose this strategy because I want the media center to be a place where students and faculty can come and partake in the enjoyment and its "coolness"! Currently in my school, the media center is not really all that exciting. There is no connection to what is happening within the media center and the rest of the classrooms in the school nor with the students.
I was able to find a few articles that helped to highlight my strategy through the Belk Library. Something that keeps reoccurring within our assigned text readings and the articles that I read for "enjoyment" are that team collaboration is crucial and that only helps to connect the "whole" school. Tootles - more to come soon!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Interview Analysis
Roslyn Carney 7/12/2010
Interview Analysis
I had the opportunity to interview three professionals who are employed by Madison County Schools, NC. The administrator and the Media Specialist both are employed at an elementary school and the educator teaches 6th grade English/language arts at the middle school. I asked them questions that related to support, funding, purpose, role, vision of the media center. I also asked them about scheduling, collaboration, materials, and resources at their media centers.
The three interviewees were very proud of the strength of their school media centers. They felt that they have a good collection of books, and that weeding had taken place to pull some of those resources out that simply did not need to be there any longer. Both media centers were working towards becoming more technology friendly and the ELA teacher provided me with information that she takes her students to the media center on a daily basis so they can input information into their class wiki. Both media centers are warm, friendly, and inviting places. The elementary students receive a full range of informational resources and technology lessons when they enter the media center. The media center middle school students are welcome to come to the library whenever they please. The educator was also appreciative of the work that the media specialists put into receiving the funding for a new OPAC system and new furniture in the media center. As with all media centers, they are used quite frequently so things often need to be replace. The educator also stated; “I believe almost everything in our media center can be improved upon. We need to replace old outdated copies of books. We need to build a more up-to-date resource and non-fiction sections. We need more ways students can explore and utilize technology. There should be a larger resource area for the teachers. Magazines should be looked at closely to determine if they are appropriate and needed”.
Although both schools are on a fixed schedule, the three interviewees would in the future love to see flex scheduling within the media center. They all agreed with this question; “What would you like to see in the media coordinator?” They want to have a colleague that works with each teacher to plan and implement instruction that supports the information already taught through exploration and application. They also stated that they would like for the media coordinator to be a tireless advocate for the student’s resources including technology, up to date reading materials, resource materials, and to be an influence throughout the school building in a way that works to foster a love and enjoyment of reading and research skills.
All three individuals agreed when I asked the question; “What is the primary role of a media coordinator”? According to the three interviewees, there is complete support and backing with the media coordinator and the media center. The assistant principal said; “The media coordinator is to be an added source to the children and the faculty. They must be a very approachable character and willing to help wherever it is needed”. This goes into being classified as a “change agent”. The media coordinator is often suggesting improvements and is very supportive of the school improvement team, the school, and the local community. I must agree with their vision as well, I see the role of the media coordinator as someone who should be able to help the students foster the love of reading, to keep them updated on all new technology, and to share that with the faculty. They need to advocate for constant upgrades in books, technology, magazines, materials, etc. The media coordinator needs to work closely with all educators and administration to create curriculum and differentiate instruction for students.
What is the purpose of collaboration, I asked all three interviewees? “How do you see teachers and media coordinator collaborating”? The response was very unanimous and upsetting, but I appreciate their honesty. The assistant principal said; “Teachers don’t know how to collaborate, because they are not used to doing it”. The media coordinator responded to that question by saying; “It is very difficult to collaborate because the media center is on a fixed schedule, so it is hard to collaborate”. The media specialists also added; “Nor are they willing to try flex scheduling because they don’t want to give up their 45 minute planning time”. In further discussion, he states, that he tries to tie his lessons into what the educators are doing. He always communicates with the teachers at the beginning of the year about topics and focus points they may be covering throughout the year. The ELA educator stated that she too spoke with the media specialists regarding focus points that are covered in her class, but she states; “I do not necessarily consider this ‘collaboration’”.
As I was reading “Empowering Learners; Guidelines for School Library Media Programs”, I really appreciated the quote on page 45. “Our [Media Specialist] roles may continue to change and alter as more technology and information tools become available. Flexibility will be important as we continue to move beyond the keeper of the books to the facilitator that helps guide our students through the jungle of information” (AASL, p. 45). This is also one of most important points that I received from all three of my interviewees. A school library is the “hub” of the school, its door is constantly revolving and the children, educators, media specialists, and administration are working to improve all demands of this facility.
Focusing my attention to interviewing is a positive aspect of learning about a specific focus point. What would be interesting to me would be to continue other interview opportunities at different schools. I could then compare and contrast these interviews to see what each varying program has to offer. Other points of interests would be to get the opportunity to observe the media specialists as well as the regular education teacher in the media center. My interview experience was positive and enlightening.
Interview Analysis
I had the opportunity to interview three professionals who are employed by Madison County Schools, NC. The administrator and the Media Specialist both are employed at an elementary school and the educator teaches 6th grade English/language arts at the middle school. I asked them questions that related to support, funding, purpose, role, vision of the media center. I also asked them about scheduling, collaboration, materials, and resources at their media centers.
The three interviewees were very proud of the strength of their school media centers. They felt that they have a good collection of books, and that weeding had taken place to pull some of those resources out that simply did not need to be there any longer. Both media centers were working towards becoming more technology friendly and the ELA teacher provided me with information that she takes her students to the media center on a daily basis so they can input information into their class wiki. Both media centers are warm, friendly, and inviting places. The elementary students receive a full range of informational resources and technology lessons when they enter the media center. The media center middle school students are welcome to come to the library whenever they please. The educator was also appreciative of the work that the media specialists put into receiving the funding for a new OPAC system and new furniture in the media center. As with all media centers, they are used quite frequently so things often need to be replace. The educator also stated; “I believe almost everything in our media center can be improved upon. We need to replace old outdated copies of books. We need to build a more up-to-date resource and non-fiction sections. We need more ways students can explore and utilize technology. There should be a larger resource area for the teachers. Magazines should be looked at closely to determine if they are appropriate and needed”.
Although both schools are on a fixed schedule, the three interviewees would in the future love to see flex scheduling within the media center. They all agreed with this question; “What would you like to see in the media coordinator?” They want to have a colleague that works with each teacher to plan and implement instruction that supports the information already taught through exploration and application. They also stated that they would like for the media coordinator to be a tireless advocate for the student’s resources including technology, up to date reading materials, resource materials, and to be an influence throughout the school building in a way that works to foster a love and enjoyment of reading and research skills.
All three individuals agreed when I asked the question; “What is the primary role of a media coordinator”? According to the three interviewees, there is complete support and backing with the media coordinator and the media center. The assistant principal said; “The media coordinator is to be an added source to the children and the faculty. They must be a very approachable character and willing to help wherever it is needed”. This goes into being classified as a “change agent”. The media coordinator is often suggesting improvements and is very supportive of the school improvement team, the school, and the local community. I must agree with their vision as well, I see the role of the media coordinator as someone who should be able to help the students foster the love of reading, to keep them updated on all new technology, and to share that with the faculty. They need to advocate for constant upgrades in books, technology, magazines, materials, etc. The media coordinator needs to work closely with all educators and administration to create curriculum and differentiate instruction for students.
What is the purpose of collaboration, I asked all three interviewees? “How do you see teachers and media coordinator collaborating”? The response was very unanimous and upsetting, but I appreciate their honesty. The assistant principal said; “Teachers don’t know how to collaborate, because they are not used to doing it”. The media coordinator responded to that question by saying; “It is very difficult to collaborate because the media center is on a fixed schedule, so it is hard to collaborate”. The media specialists also added; “Nor are they willing to try flex scheduling because they don’t want to give up their 45 minute planning time”. In further discussion, he states, that he tries to tie his lessons into what the educators are doing. He always communicates with the teachers at the beginning of the year about topics and focus points they may be covering throughout the year. The ELA educator stated that she too spoke with the media specialists regarding focus points that are covered in her class, but she states; “I do not necessarily consider this ‘collaboration’”.
As I was reading “Empowering Learners; Guidelines for School Library Media Programs”, I really appreciated the quote on page 45. “Our [Media Specialist] roles may continue to change and alter as more technology and information tools become available. Flexibility will be important as we continue to move beyond the keeper of the books to the facilitator that helps guide our students through the jungle of information” (AASL, p. 45). This is also one of most important points that I received from all three of my interviewees. A school library is the “hub” of the school, its door is constantly revolving and the children, educators, media specialists, and administration are working to improve all demands of this facility.
Focusing my attention to interviewing is a positive aspect of learning about a specific focus point. What would be interesting to me would be to continue other interview opportunities at different schools. I could then compare and contrast these interviews to see what each varying program has to offer. Other points of interests would be to get the opportunity to observe the media specialists as well as the regular education teacher in the media center. My interview experience was positive and enlightening.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
class so far . . . .
I feel that this class with Dr. Rob is really going to prepare me for the daily concerns, concepts, and dealings that I, as a future media specialists will encounter. I feel that the text, the discussions, and the assignments will give me a first hand look at what I can do to be a successful media specialists. I am really looking forward to that!
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