Standard+1.3+Access+to+information

//**Reflection - AASLStandard 1.3: Access to information**// In our ISTC 653 Organization of Knowledge Class and ISTC 615 Collection Development classes we analyzed and discussed the use of MARC records/OPAC catalog systems. At our school we use Athena as our online catalogue system and as the media specialist I have learned how to download and export MARC records, so that staff members and students can access the print and digital materials in our school media center. In addition, I have also learned how to access various reports that assist me when it is time to order new materials for the media center. During the first few weeks of school prior to students checking out books, I review the organization of the media center with the students as well as the Dewey Decimal System. Students are also shown how to use the Athena System starting in the first grade. Even though the first graders are still in the process of developing their reading and basic spelling skills it is interesting to see how eager they are to try to find a book using the system. I feel that by teaching such skills to the students in the primary grades they will have the necessary background knowledge to develop their skills and eventually be able to find books on their own with little or no assistance from the media specialist. Furthermore, to make sure that the staff has access to the resources in our media center, at the beginning of the year we check to see that each staff member has an Athena shortcut on their laptop or classroom desktop. This way if they are in need of materials, they can access our catalogue system at their leisure in their classroom and then come at a later time to check out the book in the media center or email me with their request. To also ensure access to information to all of our patrons, in our ISTC601 Administration of SLM Centers, we designed a floor plan for the renovation of a school media center. My group actually chose my media center to renovate. By completing this project, I learned more about the various state and federal regulations in regards to school media centers as well as the ADA facility standards. Even though I know I will not be able to have any renovations done anytime soon to our school media center due to budget cuts, I was able to look at our current floor plan and make some necessary changes. Changes that I have made to the media center since I took over four years ago are noted in the reflection that I completed for ISTC 516 Practicum School Library Media. This artifact clearly shows how changes have been made in regards to adding more computers so that students could access non-print resources. In addition, the plan also shows how the media center has been modified to meet the needs of diverse learners by adding a digital listening center, kindergarten section and media production room. The current floor plan also adheres to ADA guidelines and allows access of materials to students with disabilities. In fact two years ago, we had a student that was wheel chair bound, and this student was able to move around the media center and access materials from the shelves as well as utilize the computers with little or no problems. In my reflection, I also mention the grant that I obtained to purchase a promethean board for instructional purposes. In the past few years this board has not only been used by me, but also by instructional assistants with reading intervention groups. Even though I have a fixed schedule for media classes, I worked with the instructional assistants so that they could utilize the classroom part of the library when they needed to do so with their groups. By having the interactive board available the assistants were able to design lessons to accommodate various style learners and improve upon necessary reading skills. By having a fixed schedule this sometimes restricts the use of the media center for teachers as well as students. In addition, it also restricts the amount of time that I get to spend in regards to collaborating and co teaching lessons with teachers in regards to research projects. In our online discussions with cohort participants there has been much debate about a fixed schedule verses a flexible schedule and how this impacts the media specialist as well as access to school media facilities. Last year I talked with my principal to arrange to have off on Thursday’s for team meetings. Even though I felt that by attending these meetings this would allow me the opportunity to speak directly with teachers and to be able to support what the teachers were doing in the classroom, it did not allow me time to really team teach with the teachers or have the teachers bring the students to the media center for research projects. So this year I have requested a schedule that will allow me to be available two mornings a week for grades 3-5 and two afternoons a week to be available for grades prek – 2. It will be interesting to see how this schedule will work out compared to last years schedule. I am anticipating that it will be more effective, and allow me more opportunities to do some team teaching as well as have teachers bring students to the media center for special projects. This way students and teachers will have more access to our resources that also include Web 2.0 tools and social media websites. In recent years the teaching of how to use and access such tools has become the responsibility of the media specialist, since they are usually viewed as the information specialists within their schools. In ISTC 601 I completed a journal review about the use of social media. This artifact allowed me to reflect upon my own practice and discuss my current position with the use of Web 2.0 tools. I plan on using the results from this reflection as a means to continue to grow and develop as a media specialist. This information will especially come in handy as I work with our leadership team this coming school year in developing a writing curriculum which will include the implementation of the new Core Curriculum thatMarylandhad adapted in conjunction with the Race to the Top initiative. As always media specialist must remain flexible and be willing to adapt to the current trends in education.