Lesson 18

Roles and Function of an Educational Media Center

“We have said that the best ideas in the world are to be found in a modern library. But the modern educational media center must include excellence in varied media-not merely in printed materials”. –Edgar Dale

Mission/Vision The educational media center functions as a vital instrument as well as a basic requirement for quality education by enriching all parts of the school’s educational process. It is a source center. In it; different forms of communication and their accompanying g technology organized

and housed for easy accessibility and use.

It is a learning laboratory. It provides materials which will enrich and implement the curriculum; it encourages individual exploration and inquiry; it provides materials and facilities for research and self-directed learning .It teaches students how to find information; it stimulates new interests; it encourages new students to use a variety of media; it keeps teachers informed about new materials and welcomes their suggestions for purchase. It serves as a central depository for various form of media. It uses a variety of promotional techniques to encourage use of materials for recreational purposes.

EMC Services

1.ORIENTATION

All new teachers are given an orientation on the EMC. It services, facilities, guidelines and procedures during their in service program. Hands-on training on the use of the different equipment is a part of the new teacher’s program. The students are also given an orientation on their first Media Instruction Program (MIP) class.

2.SELECTION OF PRINT AND NON-PRINT MATERIALS

The librarians continually select and acquire print and non-print materials that suit the needs, interest and special abilities of the students and teachers. Teachers, middle supervisors, and the administration are encouraged to take active part in the selection process.

3. ORGANIZATION OF PRINT AND NON-PRINT MATERIALS

A technical librarian organizes all the purchased print and non-print materials for easy retrieval. The Resource Organizer, the computerized system of library organization by the G-Soft Solutions is already in use to facilitate effective and efficient organization and retrieval procedures, as well as the other tools such as the Dewey Decimal Classification System and the C.A Cutter’s Three-Figure Author Table.

4. CIRCULATION OF PRINT AND NON-PRINT MATERIALS

The EMC lends out various types of materials to students and teachers. To make it serve efficiently, at the same time maximize the use of its resources, the EMC has prepared some guidelines that were discussed and approved by the Committee on Educational Media Resources and Services, a standing committee of the school chaired by the AHAA.

5. REFERENCE

The EMC attends to request such as bibliographic information from the card catalog, search through books, periodicals, pamphlets, documents and non-print materials. A logbook of question asked is available at the circulation counter. The logbook also serves as a data for the librarians in their selection, purchase, organization and publicity of materials. There are computers which Internet facilities that help facilitate this service.

6. BIBLLIOGRAPHIC SERVICE

There are listings of materials and periodical articles

To publicize the new materials

And periodical articles in the EMC.

7. MEDIA INSTUCTION PROGRAMThe media Instruction Program (MIP) aims to teach students to be skillful and discriminating users of print and

Non-print media. It is designed to develop the habit of inquiry and stimulate the growth and development

Of the young mind in independent thinking. It also aims to develop appreciation for the different forms of media. MIP is given to all classes from prep to Gr.7 at least seven times a year.

8. CLASS SUPERVISED RESEARCH

It is a scheduled program of activity particularly in Science and Social Studies. It refers to the class periods allowed to these subjects where the students are brought to the EMC to do the research for a particular topic

9. GRADE LEVEL NEWSPAPER

Batch grade level is given a description to a newspaper of their choice. It is a service rendered to ensure that the faculty is updated daily on current events locally and internationally.

10. MAGS-ON-WHEELS

Selected professional and general interest journals are routed in the different grade levels and services areas. The service is given to maximize the different subscriptions for professionals and personal growth of the school community.

11. PHOTOCOPYING SERVICE

A self-service photocopying machine is available for the faculty to Xerox materials needed. Students may also request photocopying of library materials. A corresponding amount is charged.

12. VIDEO AND SOUND PRODUCTION

Simple productions for class instruction, program and school wide presentation are put together in the Audio-Visual area.

13. MULTI-MEDIA SERVICES

Different non-print media-materials are acquired. Teachers are encouraged to minimize use of their materials. The procedure for reservation and usage is teacher-friendly.

ABSTRACTION

An EMC is a facility designed for the housing and utilization of all educational media within the school. It is a basic requirement for a school to render quality service. It is not independent of the school. Rather, like any part of a human body, it is a unit in the school that cooperates with other units or departments that help the school fulfill its mission and realize its vision by living up to the school’s philosophy and aims. It serves a myriad of roles, among which are: 1) center of resources, 2) laboratory for learning, 3) agent of teaching, 4)service agency, 5) coordinating agency,

6) recreational reading center, and 7) a stepping stone to other resources of the community.

An EMC renders various kinds of services boil down to improving the teaching-learning process by making it more interactive, collaborative, interesting and authentic.

PS POSTSCRIPT- A FUNCTIONAL EMC MOTIVES and INSPIRES

It has to be overemphasized that a school put the right persons in the EMC. All the technologies housed in the EMC will be laid to waste if the media specialist and the assistants are not very knowledgeable and are not committed to the operation and manipulation of educational media.