As a media specialist, you encounter every student in the school from pre-k to fifth grade, special education and the gifted. Since so many different types of students enter the media center, it is important for the media specialist to be aware of students needs, abilities and disabilities in order to serve library patrons most effectively. Accommodations may need to be made for students with high reading levels or students with visual or hearing impairments such as “Ashley” from the story provided. Diversity is in every school and among every age. Diversity includes students of different race, culture, gender, and academic and physical abilities. In order to support these different students, media specialist must be sensitive to students needs and must be willing to make accommodations and adapt to each individual students needs. The media center is the heart of the school and should provide a comfortable learning environment for all students. With available technology, students can be encouraged and enabled to effectively use the media center and all of its resources. The technology provided in my media center at Walnut Creek, teachers are able to check out technology carts that provide the ability to display lessons and activities on the board, which enlarges the text and pictures to help those students who may be visually impaired. The clickr system is available for teacher and student use and can be used for students who have fine motor skill disabilities. Students can use this system so that they do not have to type. There are also educational programs available on the computers that are leveled to reach students who are performing high and low. Walnut Creek has had the advantage of being a new school; therefore we have received start up money for the past three years that have helped to purchase several technology pieces. Now we are a Title I school, which also provides for additional funding to put towards technology. With these advantages, we are able to provide students with different diversities an equal opportunity to effectively use the media center.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Technology, Diversity, and the Media Center
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I think stories like Ashley's provide a much needed reminder of how doing small things in the media center can go a long way for students with special needs. Yes, it is hard to justify spending what little budget money we have on just a few students. That is why is it even more important to find free or cheap resources on the internet or by using some old fashioned creative thinking. If we look at meeting these students needs as a challenge and not a hassle, I believe we will see more happy and fulfilled students like Ashley.
ReplyDeleteI think it is so important these days that we use the money available to us as media specialist very carefully. Creating a team of teachers and staff that work with each of these different types of student groups will help in finding the right resources for these students. While working as a group the teachers may find that a resource that might work for one group of students could also be used to help enhance the curriculum for another group of students. With a team of teachers and staff collaborating, the media specialist can then begin to truly understand the patrons that visit media center and their needs.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Walnut Creek! Sounds like your off to a great start! Technology may be intimidating to many students but after getting acquainted & comfortable it can enhance their learning. Our electronic books should be just as diverse as our traditional print books. The books on tape would be especially beneficial to a student whose primary language is not English, sometimes a student can understand what is read to them before they can understand reading it themselves. Everyone in the school community should be able to go to the media center & find something they are comfortable with and are drawn to. Life is already so difficult for students with disabilities let’s make school enjoyable & rewarding. It’s also important to meet the needs of your highest readers, they will get so bored reading books below their level. Just because they’re in an elementary school doesn’t mean we can’t provide books on a 7th & 8th grade reading level (that are developmentally appropriate &/or parent approved).
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