I learned how to promote reading as a foundational skill for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment through my development of MEDT 7454 Promoting Children’s & YA Literature in the SLMP. With this project; I endeavored to provide the reader with an eclectic assortment of books under the umbrella of social justice, highlighting the struggles of various cultures, as they relate to the ongoing fight to achieve fundamental rights in respect to the prevailing cultural climate. The selections I chose, in my mind, would be appropriate for a middle to high school curriculum and would benefit the curious student's interest in hopefully creating a desire to learn more regarding the often not-heard perils associated with those of a lower-perceived cultural scale in respect to society at large. In enticing this audience with these and similar selections, the groundwork for an empathetic outlook would prevail, thus establishing a further interest in reading as a fundamental skill and personal growth and learning. These selections would be substantive towards whetting the reader’s appetite for more.

Role of Reading

Information and Technology Literacy

My development of MEDT7465_Digital_Instruction_Project demonstrates that I have developed content knowledge in multiple literacies: literacy, information literacy, media literacy, visual literacy, and digital literacy. In this project, I was part of a team that addressed all the areas of standard 3 with a team effort that addressed the literacy portion with a lesson plan centered around figurative language, using Canva as the source for teaching the lessons. Additionally, media literacy was addressed through the explanation of Canva usage, as well as the use of hyperdocs and associated media. I was proud to be part of this team, as I feel very fortunate to contribute and learn from those who are Media Specialists. Our presentation and project ultimately culminated in a visually pleasant, informative lesson that touched on all elements of the Information and Technology Literacy standard, as evidenced by the completion of the assignment. By completing this project, the spirit of standard three was addressed concerning information and technology literacy due to the use of digital tools, allowing students to become more familiar with different technologies and explore the world of digital media more confidently.

Program Planning and Administration

The successful management of a school library program is essential for the success of the library’s effectiveness and of utmost importance in meeting the learning needs of the school community. From my MEDT7451_Budget_Project, I consulted with Karen Smith, the Media Specialist at South Effingham Middle School. And analyzed the current budget for the media center where she operates. After studying her operating budget, I composed a 3-year budget based on the school’s demographics, allowing for adjustments regarding future trends and student population considerations. Regarding this, I propose a desirable construct of what could reasonably be expected over the 3 years, to maintain reasonable cost expectations regarding materials needed to achieve continuous improvement for the Media Center and support the school's learning goals. In completing this assignment, it became apparent to me that book fairs, gifts and donations, and stakeholder support constitute an important and underappreciated role in the continuous improvement of Media Centers. Additionally, the importance of Grants cannot be overstated, and a continued effort to identify further funding sources is paramount for a school library's continued success.