School Library Media Program

Participants in the School Library Media program are provided with the theoretical and practical knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors essential for administering a school library media center in K-12 schools in Georgia.This program is designed so the student exits the program with a clearly defined educational philosophy, a psychology of classroom learning, and an understanding of research and its place in education.

Over the past few years the MIT department has noted a significant shift in the degree objectives of our student population. The largest change has been with the proportion of students who are pursuing School Library Media certification. This has increased by approximately twenty percent. Further, we have observed that a much larger proportion of our new students are receiving job offers and accepting them with probationary certification before they complete our program, an indication of the shortage of fully certification applicants for school media positions. Also, we are receiving a large number of calls from the field indicating that media position openings are imminent and request information about our program. Many of these calls are from students in distant communities who are asking about the possibility of doing their coursework in a distance education format. These recent events indicate a need to make our Media certification program more accessible to a larger group of potential students who are geographically scattered throughout the state of Georgia and, perhaps, the southeastern regions of the United States.

The Georgia Outlook

A close examination of data provided by the Georgia Department of Education and the Professional Standards Commission gives greater insight into current and projected local needs. The number of LMS positions is determined by Georgia Board of Education rules and accrediting agency staffing mandates. Under current requirements, the number of positions will increase to the extent that growing school enrollment in the state necessitates the opening of new schools. While some systems leave positions unfilled if a fully certified applicant cannot be found, others elect to hire a person who is not fully certified.

The Department of Media and Instructional Technology provide a great service to the region and state by offering an Add-On, master’s and Ed.S. degree in School Library Media. To meet the needs of students the program is offered using a mix of distance technologies (i.e., WebCT VISTA, Horizon Wimba) and new and emerging technologies such as Camtasia, Impatica and Podcasting.

Instructional Technology Track in Media Program

Participants in the Instructional Technology program are provided with the theoretical and practical knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors essential for integrating technology into the K-12 schools in Georgia by working with school library media specialists and trouble shooting as needed.This program is designed so the student exits the program with a clearly defined educational philosophy, a psychology of classroom learning, and an understanding of research and its place in education.

As technology has become increasingly important in our schools the past decade the need for trained technologists to work with students, teachers, media specialists, and administrators has become apparent. Media specialists and highly skilled teachers within the schools cannot meet the diverse and growing technology needs of teachers, students, and administrators.

Georgia has passed the A+ Education Reform Act of 2000, which states that all teachers must go through the Phase One In-Tech Professional Development Program by 2006. This is an effort to enhance the computer skills of teachers so they may better meet the diverse learning needs of students. (http://www.ga-edtech.org/class.html ) To provide additional technology training, follow up In-Tech support, and trouble shooting assistance in the schools instructional technology trainers and coordinators are needed in our region.  

The MIT Department provides educational opportunities for students to receive their master’s and Ed.S. degrees in Instructional Technology to serve as technology leaders and trainers. Classes are delivered predominantly online using a variety of technology. (i.e., WebCT Vista, Horizon Wimba, Camtasia, Impatica, Podcasting).

It is anticipated the need for technology leadership positions will increase as schools infuse technology more effectively into their systems and more funding becomes available.