Research Finding:
Information power: Building partnerships for
learning (ALA, 1998) provides guidance for the
development of effective programs for the preparation
of teacher-librarians.
Comment
Information power identifies three functional
areas within the teacher-librarians [library media
specialists] rolelearning and teaching; program administrator;
information access and delivery. The former two areas
present unique challenges for educating teacher-librarians
(TLs) while the latter has long been a strength of
TLs and preparation programs.
Within "learning and teaching" curricular
emphases should include learning theory, information
literacy, curriculum/instructional design; the use
of technology for instruction, teaching skills, reading/literacy,
assessment of student performance and attention to
special needs/diversity.
Within "program administration", curricular
emphases should include communications/public relations,
management, policy and political issues, budgets and
funding, and attention to professional development,
both as a personal obligation of the TL and in terms
of the TLs role as a staff developer for colleagues.
Within "information access and delivery" the
emergence of concerns about a range of ethical issues
related to information use and a need for understanding
how to evaluate information and information resources
critically and effectively suggests important future
emphases for instructional programs.
Information power also identifies three thematic thrusts
-- leadership, collaboration and technology. Leadership
skills are fundamental to success for TLs while collaboration
is both a topic for study and application and format
for emphasis. Interaction with teaching colleagues
in both pre-service and continuing education should
be encouraged.
The greatest need fore research and development is
connected to "learning and teaching", particularly
as related to information literacy, and action research
is a promising model for TLs to learn and to employ.
Source
Neuman, D. (1999). Conference on re-visioning school
library media programs for the future: Final report.
CLIS Technical Report No. 99-01. University of Maryland
College of Library and Information Services. 68 pp.
