Rebecca West

FRIT 7739

Technology Program Administrator

Executive Summary

The Media Center at Mount Vernon Exploratory School serves as the resource and information center for literacy and technology resources. The media center is home to the Media/technology specialist and a media clerk. The school also has a Computer Lab Manager that assists the Media/technology specialist. It serves students, teachers and administration during school hours. The center offers the use of resources, references, books, iPads, iPods and laptops to its stakeholders. After analyzing the data collected, the mission of the school, the goals of the media center, and the activities performed by the center, the center is accomplishing their goals. The center structures learning experiences that encourages users to evaluate and use information effectively. The center does provide support instruction through leadership and assistance in information technologies. Suggestions have been made to provide online professional development units in areas of need/want for instructional technologies.

Methods

The methods used to obtain the data and information for this report was gathered from a variety of sources. Discussions and interview with the Media Specialist, and a list of questions were used to obtain accurate information during observations of Media/Technology Center. The MVES website was used as a method to support evidence as well.

Center Context and Goals

Mount Vernon Elementary School first opened in 1993. Since opening the school the media/technology center has grown. Throughout the years the media center has increased the number of activities and resources available to students. When the media center first opened there were only approximately 6 desktops available for student use within the Media Center. Today there are desktops, laptops, IPads, and IPods available for student and teacher use.

The Mission of the Hall County School Library Media Program is to “ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information; students are empowered to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information.” Empowering Learners (AASL, 2009)

The Media Center while they don’t have any set posted goals, the Media Specialist says that she strives to increase circulation, continue to add to the aesthetics and functionality of the center, increase the integration of technology by the students and staff, and to increase the complexity of technology projects created by students. The current stakeholders of the center are students, teachers, parents, and community members. The center is open to students 7:30 am-2:00pm Monday thru Friday and for teachers 7:15 am-3:15 pm Monday thru Friday. The Media Specialist has a variety of roles and responsibilities including:

• Teach students anything that will aide in their success in the classroom (technology, research skills, content, etc.)

• Work collaboratively with teachers to design and teach lessons (this can be done whole group, small group, or individually with me in the classroom or in the media center)

• Design and execute professional learning opportunities for teachers

• Work with administration to create and maintain online professional development for teachers

• As a member of the Hall County School Librarians Association leadership team, I create technology professional development opportunities for county media specialists and assist them with any technological issues with which I have the expertise.

• Also as a member of HCSLA, I help maintain and promote the county’s Little Free Libraries

• Order and maintain the book collection

• Execute reading promotions

• Maintain an inviting and functional media center

• Assist students with book selection

• Maintain the school’s Little Free Library

• Create and maintain content for digital signage in the building

• Assist with the maintenance of the school website and Twitter feed

• Inventory and maintain all technological equipment in the building

• Create work orders

• Execute a kindergarten orientation program – MVES Future Explorers Program

• Create and provide technological training for parents – Parent Tech Time

• Write grants for the media center and outdoor learning

The media center has a clerk that works as support under the media specialist. The media clerk assumes responsibilities given by the Media Specialist to help with media center operations. The latest inventory shows the following technology available to students/staff:

• 2 computer labs

• Classroom laptops

• 1 laptop cart

• 40 iPods

• 7 iPads

• Classroom digital cameras (still and video)

• Classroom USB microphones

• 12 USB digital microscopes

• Promethean boards or interactive projectors

Center Activities

The center’s current activities include the following Programs:

MVES Future Explorers Program

Parent Tech Time

The media center also offers instruction and training to students and teachers for the following web 2.0 tools:

• Ebooks

• Google drive and apps

• Mastery connect

• Canvas – LMS

• Tumblebooks

• PebbleGo

• Office 365

• Starfall

• Learning.com

• Typing Club

Evaluation

In analyzing the data collected the Media Center is doing a really good job working towards annual goals. There are so many activities that students have the option of sharing in. My suggestion would be to delegate or reallocate responsibilities so that the media specialist has more time for interacting with students and staff instead of trying to fix hardware technology issues within the school.