One of the goals of this project is to think about ways to encourage leisure reading in students, which is also one of my top goals as a Media Specialist. This was an interesting project to plan. It's also one I'd love to implement at some point. It would take a great deal of planning and work to create a successful Day of Reading like the one we described, but it could also become a valued tradition at a school and have a major impact on students. I especially enjoyed learning more about reading therapy dogs with Kathy.
Standard 1: Use of Information and Ideas
1.1 Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior
1.2 Literacy & Reading
1.4 Stimulating Learning Environment
Standard 2: Teaching and Learning
2.1 Knowledge of Learners and Learning
Standard 3: Collaboration and Teaching
3.1 Connection with the Library Community
3.3 Educational Leader
Program Development & Evaluation Plan
I view this project to be the second most meaningful to me. I'm very anxious to get to work creating a PDEP for my media center! I can't imagine a more valuable document. I've only visited my future media center once so far and I didn't see any sign of an existing PDEP, but I'm holding out hope.
Standard 1: Use of Information and Ideas
1.3 Access to Information
1.4 Stimulating Learning Environment
Standard 3: Collaboration and Leadership
3.2 Instructional Partner
3.3 Educational Leader
Standard 4: Program Administration
4.2 Managing Program Resources: Human, Financial, Physical
4.3 Comprehensive and Collaborative Strategic Planning and Assessment
I-Search
I had a lot of fun working on this project and I don't think there's much I would change about it. I never really hated doing research or writing papers, so I wasn't one of the folks excited about a new way to research. The few times I've disliked conducting research and writing research papers have been when I was denied choice and forced to write on a subject about which I have little interest. The beauty of the I-Search is the amount of freedom the writer enjoys.
Standard 1: Use of Information and Ideas
1.1 Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior
Standard 2: Teaching and Learning
2.3 Information Literacy Curriculum
Selection Policy
This was one of the first Big 8 Assessments I completed when I was working with Cohort 5. I don't know if there is an existing Selection Policy document at my new school, but this project will provide a good starting point for me.
Standard 1: Use of Information and Ideas
1.3 Access to Information
Standard 4: Program Administration
4.1 Managing Information Resources: Selecting, Organizing, Using
4.2 Managing Program Resources: Human, Financial, Physical
Order & Order Powerpoint
This assignment was very helpful to me. When I first started the program, I think I would have said that I was both excited and nervous about the order process. I was able to use Titlewave during this project and again during my internship. I'm confident this experience will prove valuable to me as I become a media specialist. This project really helped me understand the importance of having a focus when ordering new materials for the media center.
Standard 1: Use of Information and Ideas
1.3 Access to Information
Standard 4: Program Administration
4.1 Managing Information Resources: Selecting, Organizing, Using
4.2 Managing Program Resources: Human, Financial, Physical
Collaborative Unit 1
The colloborative unit was one of the easier assessments. As a classroom teacher, I've had countless experiences collaborating with other educators. Each year I've taught in the classroom I've collaborated with EIP, ESOL, and SPED teachers. I've also had experiences collaborating with the Gifted teacher, the media specialist, literacy coaches, science coaches, and my fellow classroom teachers. Being an instructional partner is one of the many hats a media specialist wears. I feel very comfortable in my ability to successfully work with my peers.
Standard 2: Teaching and Learning
2.1 Knowledge of Learner and Learning
2.2 Effective and Knowledgeable Teacher
2.3 Information Literacy Curriculum
Standard 3: Collaboration and Leadership
3.2 Instructional Partner
Internship
My internship experience was, by far, the most rewarding and educational experience in the SLM program. This is more of a reflection on the internship experience than on any of the other Big 8 Assessments. By not working this past year, I was able to stretch out my internship experience over the course of about six months. My mentor, a former UGA SLM graduate, was outstanding. I was able to gain experience in author visits, ordering books, teaching lessons, and running the Book Fair.
Standard 1: Use of Information and Ideas
1.1 Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior
1.2 Literacy & Reading
1.4 Stimulating Learning Environment
Standard 2: Teaching and Learning
2.1 Knowledge of Learners and Learning
Standard 3: Collaboration and Leadership
3.2 Instructional Partner
Standard 4: Program Administration
4.1 Managing Information Resources: Selecting, Organizing, Using
GACE
Tests Taken: Media Specialist Tests I and II
Test Date: 28 March 2009
Results: passed both tests
