Standard 4: Advocacy and Leadership
"Candidates advocate for dynamic school library programs and positive learning environments that focus on student learning and achievement by collaborating and connecting with teachers, administrators, librarians, and the community. Candidates are committed to continuous learning and professional growth and lead professional development activities for other educators. Candidates provide leadership by articulating ways in which school libraries contribute to student achievement" (ALA/AASL, 2010 p. 8).
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Standard 4 Elements:
4.1 Networking in the Library Community 4.2 Professional Development 4.3 Leadership 4.4 Advocacy |
Reflection and Artifacts
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
John F. Kennedy
From the Trade Mart Speech (never delivered, 1963).
Much like President Kennedy stated, leadership and learning go hand in hand. It is imperative that Media Specialists advocate for the best experiences that their students could possibly experience. Media Specialists have to become a sort of a “middle man,” in order to broker the best, highest quality experiences and services for our students, obtaining these services from school leadership, teachers, the learning community in general, and even from community partners.
There are several ways in which Media Specialists can become advocates and leaders within the school environment. The very easiest way in which Media Specialists can become an advocate for their students is to maintain a Personal Learning Network, or PLN. For FRIT 7234 I created a PLN that I have kept updated throughout my tenure at Georgia Southern University. I have also joined several social media groups and follow specific hashtags (#tlchat, for example) to maintain up to date on current trends. Further, I have joined organizations such as the American Library Association, the Georgia Library Association, and the Georgia Library Media Association in order to maintain currency with trends in library science. Working with these organizations, Media Specialists have the opportunity to engage in further learning through conference attendance, continuing education, and volunteer service through committees.
Media Specialists are an integral part of the Professional Development process. For my Clinical Practicum FRIT 7765, I created a Professional Development program about GALILEO--Georgia Library Learning Online utilizing the Instructional Design Principles I learned earlier in the program. My Professional Development presentation consisted of creating the lesson plan, the presentation, and an online module for distance learners. This presentation will be shared privately with Georgia Southern Professors Drs. Lucy Green and Stephanie Jones.
In every position I have ever worked in, advocacy for my patrons, children on my caseload, or teenage mothers has been in the forefront of my career. I do not expect that this will change when I am a Media Specialist. In fact, I relish the opportunity to advocate for my children and to become a school wide leader as a new Media Specialist.
John F. Kennedy
From the Trade Mart Speech (never delivered, 1963).
Much like President Kennedy stated, leadership and learning go hand in hand. It is imperative that Media Specialists advocate for the best experiences that their students could possibly experience. Media Specialists have to become a sort of a “middle man,” in order to broker the best, highest quality experiences and services for our students, obtaining these services from school leadership, teachers, the learning community in general, and even from community partners.
There are several ways in which Media Specialists can become advocates and leaders within the school environment. The very easiest way in which Media Specialists can become an advocate for their students is to maintain a Personal Learning Network, or PLN. For FRIT 7234 I created a PLN that I have kept updated throughout my tenure at Georgia Southern University. I have also joined several social media groups and follow specific hashtags (#tlchat, for example) to maintain up to date on current trends. Further, I have joined organizations such as the American Library Association, the Georgia Library Association, and the Georgia Library Media Association in order to maintain currency with trends in library science. Working with these organizations, Media Specialists have the opportunity to engage in further learning through conference attendance, continuing education, and volunteer service through committees.
Media Specialists are an integral part of the Professional Development process. For my Clinical Practicum FRIT 7765, I created a Professional Development program about GALILEO--Georgia Library Learning Online utilizing the Instructional Design Principles I learned earlier in the program. My Professional Development presentation consisted of creating the lesson plan, the presentation, and an online module for distance learners. This presentation will be shared privately with Georgia Southern Professors Drs. Lucy Green and Stephanie Jones.
In every position I have ever worked in, advocacy for my patrons, children on my caseload, or teenage mothers has been in the forefront of my career. I do not expect that this will change when I am a Media Specialist. In fact, I relish the opportunity to advocate for my children and to become a school wide leader as a new Media Specialist.