Technology Program Administrator

Executive Summary

The Media Center at H.E. McCracken Middle School functions as both a library and a technology center. The media center serves all students, faculty, and administration. The media center is staffed with a media specialist, a media specialist assistant, and a computer technician. The media specialist works with students to teach them research skills using both the library and the district’s virtual library, DISCUS, as well as, how to use information responsibly and in accordance with policies and laws. The media specialist, media specialist assistant and computer technician are all responsible for helping students and teachers troubleshoot basic technology issues with teacher and student devices. The computer technician is responsible for device repairs for both teachers and students. Observations and an interviews show that the media center is meeting the expectations of its mission and goals which include ensuring all students and staff are effective users of information. Suggestions for improvement include: 1) Creating a Building-Level Library Media Center Advisory Committee; 2) Hiring a fulltime computer technician; 3) Developing a school Technology Plan to establish guidelines, goals and objectives for the 1:1 device program.Organizational Chart

Methods

Various methods were used to collect information for this evaluation. Two interviews were conducted during the evaluation. One interview was with the media specialist (Appendix A) and the other with the bookkeeper (Appendix B). The Beaufort County Schools media center plan was provided by the media specialist and reviewed (Appendix C). Other documents reviewed were the media Centers Long Range Plan (Appendix D), the library media specialist self-report including a needs assessment (Appendix E) and the media center calendar (Appendix F). All of these documents were provided for review by the media specialist. Finally, an observation checklist was used during media center observational visits (Appendix G).

Center Context and Goals

The mission of the Beaufort County Schools Media Center Programs:

The mission of the BCSD media centers is to ensure students and staff are effective users of ideas and information and to promote activities which encourage lifelong reading and learning skills.

Belief Statements

The school library media program supports, supplements, and complements the educational program of the school.

The purpose of the school library media program is to promote information literacy so that all students may become life-long learners.

The school library media program will function as the information and technology center of the school.

Goals for Beaufort County School Media Center Programs

To provide materials and services appropriate to the curriculum of the school.

To provide materials and services that meet the information and recreational library needs of the learning community.

To provide opportunities for collaboration between the library media specialist and classroom teachers to incorporate information literacy into instruction.

To provide age and developmentally appropriate resources in all formats to meet the information needs of varied users.

To promote information and media literacy.

To implement the integration of the library media program into the curriculum through collaboration among all members of the school community—teachers, students, parents, and administrators.

Goals and Objectives specific to the H.E. McCracken Media Center:

Goal 1:The HEMMS media center staff will attempt to increase the amount of independent reading for all students in grades eight and nine by creating an environment that promotes books and literacy.

Objective 1:Create library displays and bulletin boards promoting high interest books and book

series.

Objective 2:Continue to research the latest young adult titles and update the library collection with high interest books.

Objective 3:Provide additional copies of materials that are checked out most often.

Objective 4:Show book trailers or give book talks to teachers and students.

Objective 5:Promote the BCSD virtual library to students.

Goal 2:In an effort to promote safe, ethical and effective use of technology, the media center specialist will collaborate with teachers to prepare and present lessons that help students master information literacy, inquiry and research skills.

Objective 1:Collaborate with content area teachers to plan and implement research/inquiry based

lessons.

Objective 2:Provide instruction on how to use the DISCUS database.

Objective 3:Provide instruction about the safe, ethical and effective use of information.

The H.E. McCracken Media Center is an established media center in the school district. Currently, the media center is staffed by a full time media specialist, a full time media assistant and a part time computer technician.

Job Description for Library Media SpecialistPosition Purpose: To administer an integrated information technology program that provides library, media, and technology resources in support of the instructional program of the schoolReports To: Building Principal and Director of Educational TechnologySupervises: Library media assistant (paraprofessional), parent and student volunteers

Job Description for Library Media Specialist AssistantPosition Title: Library Media Center AssistantReports To: Library Media SpecialistJob Role: To perform general and specialized paraprofessional duties in the school library in conformance with established procedures.

Job Description for Computer TechnicianPosition Title: Computer TechnicianReports To: Technology DirectorJob Role: To perform general and specialized computer repairs for students and teachers in the school media center in conformance with established procedures.

In the last few years, the media center has evolved from a library to a hub for technology for this school. Below is a timeline that displays the transition from just a library to a library and technology center.

2010- Beaufort County School District introduced county wide virtual library for student access.

2010- Media Center created student chess and book clubs.

2010- Beaufort County School District required all school to implement a summer reading programs.

2011- Media Center designed and presented book author door mural.

2011- Media Center bought an electronic poster maker.

2012- Beaufort County School District gave all core teachers classroom-set IPads. Media Center was in charge of repairs and collections of IPads.

2013- Beaufort County School District gave all middle school students an individual IPad. Tablets were given and collected during the school day. Media Center was in charge of repairs and collects of IPads.

2013- Media Center began collection of new materials and weeded through outdated books.

2014- Beaufort County School District gave all middle and high school students an individual Dell Tablet. Tablets were given to students at the beginning of the school year and collected at the end. Students are allowed to take home tablets. Media Center was in charge of repairs and collects of Dell Tablets.

2014- Media Center created a School Media Production crew. Students delivered daily announcements and video tutorials.

2014- Media Center upgraded room’s presentation hardware.

2015- Beaufort County School District gave all middle school students an updated individual Dell Tablet. Tablets were given to students at the beginning of the school year and collected at the end. Students are allowed to take home tablets. Media Center was in charge of repairs and collects of Dell Tablets.

2015- Media Center prepared for next year’s return to a 6-8 grade school. Materials have been added for those grade levels and weeded some the high school books.

Media Center Budget

District: $17,550

Local School: $25per student technology fee

Center Activities

The center provides the following services to students and staff:Teach students how to use reference materials.Teach students how to conduct research.Teach students about the acceptable use policy, plagiarism and copyright laws.Teach students how to use DISCUS virtual library.Demonstrate how to troubleshoot basic technology issues with teacher and student devices.Demonstrate the use of web 2.0 tools in the classroom.

Evaluation

After completing observations in the H.E. McCracken media center and reviewing media center documentation, I evaluated the plan using the rubric below (Appendix H).

Does Not Meet Meets Exceeds

Mission/Vision There is no indication of an articulated mission or vision in this technology center.

The mission/vision focuses on the technology outcomes and avoids the learning outcome issues.

The mission/vision is all-inclusive dealing with learning outcomes, not just technology outcomes. The statement recognizes the learning process skills and values.

Goals and Objectives

General goals are not clear or are not present in this technology center.

The goals are broad and inclusive but are not entirely clear. They are related to objectives, but are not measurable.

The goals are broad and inclusive, addressing teaching and learning needs. The goals are clear and measurable. The objectives are related to the goals and further information defines how they will be met.

Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment is absent, or incomplete.

Technology has been assessed and analyzed,

but may not include summaries of

information from all elements in the

technology surveys.

Assessment is comprehensive and

contains detailed information from

hardware resources, technology needs assessment and Maturity Model

Benchmark surveys; identifies use by

students and staff, and training received and

desired.

Technology and Learning

Statement

Technology and Learning statement absent or provides incomplete information on the

current use or future role of technology in the

technology center and how it will enhance

learning.

Provides overview of the current and future use of technology in enhancing

the teaching-learning process for students. Little detail on how technology will be

integrated into learning and curriculum.

Provides clear and strong description of

how technology is currently used in

learning environment and

ways it will be used to achieve

instructional outcomes; describes how technology will enhance curriculum

and teaching and learning strategies; is tightly coupled to

other reform efforts; indicates what

students will do.

Budget No funding process is included.

Broad and general funding methods are included. These methods are limited to traditional resources.

The center has a specific funding process which describes in detail traditional and nontraditional resources. The funding describes how each aspect of the goals and objectives will be met.

Evaluation No evaluation instrument is included. There is no mention of progress monitoring, data collection/analyzation, or use of results.

An evaluation instrument is included that lacks details concerning progress monitoring, data collection/analyzation, or use of results.

The evaluation instrument clearly identifies progress monitoring of the goals and objectives, data collection and analyzation, and how results will be used for future planning.

Summary:

After reviewing the data collected, it is evident that the Media Center is not performing successfully as a library and technology center. The media specialist, along with the center staff, upholds the mission and goals of the media center. It is evident that the activities, information, demonstrations, and tutorials that are provided support literacy and lifelong learning for all stakeholders. However, it seems the technology component of the media center is not as successful. With this school being a 1:1 school for student tablets, there is a lack of focus on setting guidelines, goals and objectives for technology. It is evident that having a part time computer technician is not enough support for a successful technology center as the media specialist and assistant spend much of their time dealing with repair issues. Suggestions for improvement include: 1) Creating a Building-Level Library Media Center Advisory Committee; 2) Hiring a fulltime computer technician; 3) Developing a school Technology Plan to establish guidelines, goals and objectives for the 1:1 device program.

Appendix A

Media Specialist Interview Questions

1 What is your job title?2 What are your responsibilities in this position?3 What are the job titles of other media center staff and describe their

responsibilities?4 What is the mission of the media center?5 What are the goals and objectives for the media center?6 What activities and programs are provided by the media center?7 What is the budget for the media center?8 Give a brief history of the media center.9 What are the strengths of the operations of the media center?

10 What are the challenges of the operations of the media center?

Appendix B

Bookkeeper Interview Questions

1 What is the current budget for the media center provided by the school district?2 Does the school contribute to the media center budget?3 Is there any fundraising money available to the media center?

Appendix C

Media Center District Plan

http://www.beaufort.k12.sc.us/files/_AGH6L_/44a7daaa21e36bb83745a49013852ec4/BCSD_POL_PROC_MANUAL_2008.pdf

Appendix D

Media Center Long-range Plan

This document was created by the media specialist in reference to the 2015-2016 school year. The document addresses the school population and their media center needs. It establishes the instructional goals and objectives for the current school years and environmental goals as well.

Appendix E

Media Specialist Self Report

This document was created by the media specialist at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. This document is a reflection of the strengths and weaknesses of the media center and offers suggestions for improvement.

Appendix F

Media Center Calendar

This is a calendar that is kept by the media specialist and contains dates for all media center activities.

Appendix G

Observation Checklist

1 Literacy skills are being promoted by media center staff2 Students are encouraged by the staff to be responsible digital citizens3 Copy Right laws are explained and enforced by the staff4 Media Center resources are current5 Technology updates and repairs are current6 Technology is being used by students in a meaningful way7 Student access to websites is monitored by staff8 Students use the computer lab9 Teachers have access to appropriate technology resources

10 Instructional Technology support is provided for teachers

Appendix H

Rubric for Evaluation of Technology Center

Does Not Meet Meets Exceeds

Mission/Vision There is no indication of an articulated mission or vision in this technology center.

The mission/vision focuses on the technology outcomes and avoids the learning outcome issues.

The mission/vision is all-inclusive dealing with learning outcomes, not just technology outcomes. The statement recognizes the

learning process skills and values.

Goals and Objectives

General goals are not clear or are not present in this technology center.

The goals are broad and inclusive but are not entirely clear. They are related to objectives, but are not measurable.

The goals are broad and inclusive, addressing teaching and learning needs. The goals are clear and measurable. The objectives are related to the goals and further information defines how they will be met.

Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment is absent, or incomplete.

Technology has been assessed and analyzed,

but may not include summaries of

information from all elements in the

technology surveys.

Assessment is comprehensive and

contains detailed information from

hardware resources, technology needs assessment and Maturity Model

Benchmark surveys; identifies use by

students and staff, and training received

and desired.

Technology and Learning

Statement

Technology and Learning statement absent or provides

incomplete information on the current use or

future role of technology in the

technology center and how it will enhance

learning.

Provides overview of the current and future use

of technology in enhancing the teaching-

learning process for students. Little detail on how technology will be integrated into learning

and curriculum.

Provides clear and strong description of

how technology is currently used in

learning environment and ways it will be

used to achieve instructional

outcomes; describes how technology will enhance curriculum

and teaching and learning strategies; is

tightly coupled to other reform efforts;

indicates what students will do.

Budget No funding process is included.

Broad and general funding methods are included. These methods are limited to traditional resources.

The center has a specific funding process which describes in detail traditional and nontraditional resources. The funding describes how each aspect of the goals and objectives will be met.

Evaluation No evaluation instrument is included. There is no mention of progress monitoring, data collection/analyzation, or use of results.

An evaluation instrument is included that lacks details concerning progress monitoring, data collection/analyzation, or use of results.

The plan includes an evaluation instrument is included that clearly identifies progress monitoring of the goals and objectives, data collection and analyzation, and how results will be used for future planning.