Increasing student achievement through the School Media Program

Betsy CumminsMEDT-6466Dr. Goldberg

“LIBRARIES STORE THE ENERGY THAT FUELS THE IMAGINATION. THEY OPEN UP WINDOWS TO THE WORLD AND INSPIRE US TO EXPLORE AND ACHIEVE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES FOR THE BETTER."

Sidney SheldonAuthor

Multiple research studies

have shown that student

achievement increases if

students have access to a

qualified media specialist

and an active media

program.

Dr. Keith Lance confirms that academic achievement

is affected by a library media specialist.

In 1993, Dr. Lance published a study showing an increase in academic achievement in 220

Colorado schools when:

There was a media specialist on siteThe media specialist collaborated with teachers and developed lessons using media resourcesThe media center included large amounts of quality print and multimedia material

Could these findings be a result of

• Location?• Parent involvement?• Parent educational background?• Socio-economic status?• Minority status?• Teacher-pupil ratio?• School budget?

NO. Dr. Lance tested the results against a wide variety of community factors.

In 2000, Dr. Lance published three more studies that

confirmed his previous findings of the media specialist having a

positive impact on achievement.• Colorado

– 200 schools– Grades 4 and 7

• Alaska– 211 schools– Grades 4, 8, 11

• Pennsylvania– 435 schools– Grades 5, 8, 11

High tech libraries lead to higher scores on

academic achievement tests.

High performing schools had:Students who can link to the media center at while on or off campusDatabases and electronic resources available online from the media center websiteComputers with internet capabilities

There is a positive correlation between academic achievement and the number of professional and support personnel in the

media center.

Support staff helps with clerical and

housekeeping duties, giving the media

specialists time to collaborate with

teachers and help students.

Effective teacher collaboration includes:

Planning units togetherIdentifying materials for teachersTeaching a portion of the unitIn-service training for teachersMotivational reading activities

High achieving schools have allocated more money for use in

the library media program.

Money is invested in the print collection in addition to

periodicals and electronic collections.

An additional study was

conducted in 1999 by Dr. James

Baughman, through Simmons

College’s graduate program of

Library Science to research the

relationship between school

media and student achievement.

Results from the Baughman Study:

Mean MCAS (the Massachusetts statewide standardized student achievement assessment) scores tend to be higher in schools with school library programs at all levels, as opposed to schools that do not have school library programs.

Schools with the highest achieving students have school library media.

Results from the Baughman Study (cont.):

Students score higher on achievement tests when there is a higher per pupil book count.

Student use of the library produces higher mean MCAS scores.

Hours open make a difference in MCAS scores (Baughman, Ph. D., 2000).

Hours of service, including before and after school

Strong library collections--per pupil book count, magazines, and non-print items

High library expenditures per pupil

Library instruction and high student use

Alignment of the library collection with the curriculum frameworks

Robust staffing, including a full-time librarian, non-professional assistance, and parent volunteers (Baughman, Ph. D., 2000).

At the elementary school level these factors are critical…

Conclusions drawn from the Baughman study:

Hours of service, including after school service

Books per pupil

Number of periodicals, including periodical databases

Expenditure per pupil for materials

Library instruction program

Participation in the regional library

Parent volunteers, including PTO donations

(Baughman, Ph. D., 2000).

At the middle school level these factors are critical…

Conclusions drawn from the Baughman study:

After-school hours

Books per pupil

Participation in the regional library system

Percent of the student body visiting the library

Full-time librarian

Staff assistance (Baughman, Ph. D., 2000).

At the high school level these factors are critical…

Conclusions drawn from the Baughman study:

Strong library media programs are marked by the leadership of library media specialists who builds relationships that enhance the media program. (American Association of School Libraries, 1998).

Leadership is the ability to influence or

inspire others to achieve shared goals. The

media specialist’s leadership is

demonstrated daily via interaction with

administrators, teachers, students, parent

volunteers, and community

partners.

“Leadership does not always mean

being in the front of the line;

sometimes leadership is walking beside

as an encourager or behind as

a supporter.”-Dees, 2007

Many Areas of Media Specialist Leadership

• Leadership in Technology

Media Specialists model how new technology can be integrated into the

curriculum and can provide staff development.

• Leadership in Reading

Media Specialists have a huge impact in reading

leadership with their collection development.

• Leadership in Curriculum

Media Specialists provide lessons to all grades,

they know what is going on in the instructional

program of the school.

• Mentoring as Leadership

Media Specialists mentor teachers and students in the learning process.

• Leadership in Professional Organizations

Media Specialists participate in state and national organizations which provides

opportunities to get involved in the larger media community.

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

-John F. Kennedy

References

American Association of School Libraries. (1998). Information power: Building partnerships for learning. Chicago: American Library Association.

Baughman, Ph. D., J. (2000, October 26). School libraries and mcas scores. Retrieved from

http://web.simmons.edu/~baughman/mcas- school-libraries/Baughman Paper.pdf

Dees, D. C., Alexander, K., Besara, R., Cambisios, R., Kent, T., Delgado, J.P. (2007 Jan.) Today’s school library media specialist leader. Library Media Connection, 10-14.

Frost, C. (2005 May/June). Library leaders: your role in the professional learning community. Knowledge Quest, 33(5), 41-42.

LMC Source. (n.d.). Powering achievement 2nd edition: School library media programs make a difference. Retrieved from http://www.lmcsource.com/tech/power/2nd/power2.htm