ILS 581

School Media Specialist Practice (6 credits)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A professional work experience in a school media center with a media specialist who has received Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Program training.  Must meet all Department of Education student teaching requirements.  Connecticut residents must attend 3 on-campus seminars, the first being in the semester prior to student teaching.  Scheduled fall and spring semesters. 6 credits.

PURPOSE

Student teaching in a library is designed to provide students with a supervised professional experience which integrates the theoretical and practical aspects of activities in the student's professional field.

PLACEMENT

Placement assignments are based on three factors: preference of the student, agreement of a cooperating institution or agency, and approval of the Department.

Students interested in enrolling in LSC 581 are required to apply by March 1 for fall placement; October 1 for spring placement.

SUGGESTED PROGRAM

Libraries which cooperate in a student teaching placement may wish to incorporate the following within the practicum scope:

A. Interview - An interview with the student by the school media specialist or agency head is proposed to provide the student with a facsimile of an interview situation for a new employee.

B. Orientation - An introduction to the various facets of the school media center operation is suggested to provide the student with the scope of the operation and the inter-relationship of the contributing elements. 

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The student will be able to perform in the following areas:

1.  Technical Services -- subject heading selection, participation in decision-making on classification numbers and book selection.
2.  User Services - reference service to library patrons, literature searching, bibliographic compilation.
3.  Administrative Operation - compilation of reports and surveys.
4.  Public Services - participation in program planning, public relations and library displays.

STUDENT APPRAISAL

Since the student's role is that of learner and the professional supervisor's role is that of a teacher, the student is expected to perform and assume responsibility for tasks assigned in a cooperative and reliable manner.  The supervisor is expected to field the student's questions, discuss the student's progress and critique the student's total experience within his/her assigned supervisory area.

The supervisor's judgment in evaluation of a student in the practice situation should be based on the performance expected of a beginning professional in the position.

SUGGESTED TEXTS / TEXTS USED IN THE PAST

None 

 

 

Approved by the ILS Department Curriculum Committee and Faculty, Spring 2009.