Mar 28, 2024  
Mansfield University 2013-2014 Graduate Catalog 
    
Mansfield University 2013-2014 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

School Library and Information Technologies, Master of Education


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Offered by the Department of School Library and Information Technologies
Ms. Cynthia Keller, Chairperson
Retan Center 202D; (570) 662-4676; e-mail ckeller@mansfield.edu
(717) 816-6995 (home office)

The School Library & Information Technologies department offers the degree program, Master of Education (M.Ed.) with two concentrations, Certification and Non-Certification. The total number of credit hours for this degree is 31 - 33. The M.Ed. is a distance education program that emphasizes practice-oriented outcomes and offers students the following:

  1. Close bonds with faculty who are committed to sharing their many years of practical experience and leadership in the school library community
  2. Convenience of online courses designed for working adults who cannot or find it difficult to attend a traditional library school
  3. Collaboration with practitioners and leaders in the school library community who provide advice on course development and revision
  4. Authentic assessment of practical, standards-based skills to enhance the learning experience

Mansfield University’s School Library and Information Technologies program is nationally reviewed and recognized by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2795, (800) 545-2533, www.aasl.org

The Master of Education, School Library & Information Technologies program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 466-7496, www.ncate.org/ and by the Pennsylvania Department of Education which has teacher certification reciprocity agreements with the other states.

Most candidates can complete the online master’s program in two to three years.  A one year completion is possible but not recommended for candidates holding a job.  Candidates are allowed up to seven years to complete the program.  Every course is offered at least twice each year.  Some courses are offered during summer.  For additional information, refer to the website: mansfield.edu/school-library-online-masters/. Due to the online delivery, many non-Pennsylvania and international students successfully complete this degree and earn school library certification in their state.

Mission

The mission of the School Library and Information Technologies graduate program is to empower school librarians with the skills and knowledge to assume an essential role in their school as leaders, instructional partners, information specialists, teachers, and program administrators of library and information services. The M.Ed. supports the mission of Mansfield University and the Teacher Education Unit.

In developing the program, the following core documents guided curriculum design: ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialist Preparation, the national standards; Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs; Standards for the 21st Century Learners, a document that offers vision for teaching and learning; Standards for Pennsylvania School Library Certification and Practice, the state school library association standards; and the Pennsylvania Department of Education Library Science Standards for the Preparation of Public School Educators. These guidelines represent the best thinking in the profession and reflect the emerging role of the school librarian as a critical educational leader.

Vision

Graduates with a M.Ed. degree will be identified as leaders in their schools, districts, and professional organizations as a result of their lifelong dedication to enhance school library services. Graduate program faculty in the M.Ed. program are committed to:

  • Enhancing learning with interactive technologies for all students, regardless of physical location or disability in an online, web-based environment.
  • Preparing skilled and knowledgeable school librarians based on the national school library guidelines, Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs.
  • Offering a transformative, personal learning experience facilitated by successful practitioners who apply best practices from contemporary educational theory within a highly practical, problem-solving environment.

Graduates of the School Library and Information Technologies program will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and disposition necessary to develop and manage library and information services in a PreK-12 setting. As M.Ed. candidates, students will meet or exceed the competencies of state and national school library professional organizations, as follows:

  1. Candidates are effective teachers  who demonstrate knowledge of learners and learning and who model and promote collaborative planning, instruction in multiple literacies, and inquiry-based learning, enabling members of the learning community to become effective users and creators of ideas and information. Candidates design and implement instruction that engages students’ interest and develops their ability to inquire, think critically, gain and share knowledge. (ALA/AASL Standard 1)
  2. Candidates promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment. Candidates are aware of major trends in children’s and young adult literature and select reading materials in multiple formats to support reading for information, reading for pleasure, and reading for lifelong learning. Candidates use a variety of strategies to reinforce classroom reading instruction to address the diverse needs and interests of all readers. (ALA/AASL Standard 2)
  3. Candidates model and promote ethical, equitable access to and use of physical, digital, and virtual collections of resources. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of a variety of information sources and services that support the needs of the diverse learning community. Candidates demonstrate the use of a variety of research strategies to generate knowledge to improve practice. (ALA/AASL Standard 3)
  4. 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 Standard 4)
  5. Candidates plan, develop, implement, and evaluate school library programs, resources, and services in support of the mission of the library program within the school according to the ethics and principles of library science, education, managements, and administration. (ALA/AASL Standard 5)
  6. Candidates apply fundamental concepts of library science to teaching K-12 grade students (PDE Standard I)
  7. Candidates foster student learning through multiple instructional methodologies (PDE Standard II)
  8. Candidates foster professionalism in school and community settings (PDE Standard III)

The following two concentrations are available in the M.Ed., School Library and Information Technologies Program:

 

School Library & Information Technologies Certification Concentration


Coordinator: Ms. Cynthia Keller
Retan Center 202D; (570) 662-4676; e-mail: ckeller@mansfield.edu
(717) 816-6995 (home office)

The certification concentration is designed for teacher-certified educators who are seeking Pennsylvania certification to be school librarians, K-12.

School Library Certification for Pennsylvania Residents

Pennsylvania certified teachers who complete the following 33-credit program with a 3.0 GPA or better can request the addition of “Library Science” to their teaching certificate by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This certification is granted for grades K- 12. Candidates for the certification concentration:

  1. Have earned at least a B in the four core special education courses, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or their equivalent:
    • SPE 5501 - Educating Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    • SPE 5530 - Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Learners
    • SPE 5542 - Assessment and Behavior Management
    • SPE 5544 - Instruction for High Incidence Disabilities
  2. Completed 10 core courses of the School Library & Information Technologies graduate program
  3. Completed the culminating, three-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) course
  4. Earned at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate course work
  5. Passed the state-required Library Media Specialist PRAXIS II Test (0311)

Although Pennsylvania certified teachers can become certified school librarians by passing the Library Media Specialist PRAXIS II Test, completion of the School Library & Information Technologies program fully prepares the candidate for the rigors of the job. The following course plan of 31 credits is designed for PRAXIS-certified school librarians who have been working as a professional school librarian for at least one consecutive year prior to taking the culminating LSC 5565 course.

  1. Have earned at least a B in four core special education courses, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or their equivalent:
    • SPE 5501 - Educating Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    • SPE 5530 - Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Learners
    • SPE 5542 - Assessment and Behavior Management
    • SPE 5544 - Instruction for High Incidence Disabilities
  2. Completed 10 core courses of the School Library & Information Technologies graduate program
  3. Completed the culminating, one-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) course
  4. Earned at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate course work

Students must contact the Department Chairperson (Ms. Cynthia Keller) for approval to take the one-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) culminating experience course.

School Library Certification for Non-Pennsylvania Residents

Out-of-state students may seek Pennsylvania school library certification by applying for reciprocity to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pennsylvania has reciprocal certification agreements with all states. Known as the Interstate Agreement, this provision allows teachers certified in a particular state to teach in reciprocal states, sometimes with additional requirements. Even though Pennsylvania may have a reciprocal certification agreement with another state, out-of-state students must contact their state’s department of education to identify additional requirements needed for transferring PA library certification to their state.

An out-of-state student who wishes to earn Pennsylvania school library certification first and then use the Interstate Agreement to secure certification in his or her state needs to meet these Pennsylvania requirements:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree
  2. Have completed a state-approved teacher education program, including a supervised student teaching experience, leading to a teaching certificate
  3. Have taken at least three (3) credits of college-level English composition coursework, three (3) credits of college-level English literature coursework and six (6) credits of mathematics courses (at least undergraduate level)
  4. Passed the Educational Testing Services (ETS) test for Library Science:
    • Educational Specialist who did not take the PRAXIS I or the PAPA tests as undergraduates must take the PAPA test to become certified.
    • Post-baccalaureate candidates must take the specific certification area test(s). If you are already certified and adding another certificate, you only have to take the test(s) corresponding to the new certification area. PRAXIS II Test for Library Media Specialist (0311)
      Note: the PRAXIS II test should be taken near or at the end of the School Library & Information Technologies program
  5. Completed all required courses in the School Library & Information Technologies program (31-33 credits) which includes either the one or three-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5556) culminating experience course, depending on whether the candidate is certified as a school librarian and has worked as a professional school librarian for at least one consecutive year prior to taking the culminating course
  6. Have earned at least a B in four core special education courses, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or their equivalent:
    • SPE 5501 - Educating Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
    • SPE 5530 - Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Learners
    • SPE 5542 - Assessment and Behavior Management
    • SPE 5544 - Instruction for High Incidence Disabilities
  7. Have earned at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework
  8. Received the recommendation from the Certification Officer at Mansfield University

 Student Learning Outcomes, School Library & Information Technologies Certification Concentration

As M. Ed. candidates, students will meet or exceed the competencies of state and national school library professional organizations, as follows:

  1. Candidates are effective teachers who demonstrate knowledge of learners and learning and who model and promote collaborative planning, instruction in multiple literacies, and inquiry-based learning, enabling members of the learning community to become effective users and creators of ideas and information. Candidates design and implement instruction that engages students’ interests and develops their ability to inquire, think critically, gain and share knowledge. (ALA/AASL Standard 1)
  2. Candidates promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment. Candidates are aware of major trends in children’s and young adult literature and select reading materials in multiple formats to support reading for information, reading for pleasure, and reading for lifelong learning. Candidates use a variety of strategies to reinforce classroom reading instruction to address the diverse needs and interests of all readers. (ALA/AASL Standard 2)
  3. Candidates model and promote ethical, equitable access to and use of physical, digital, and virtual collections of resources. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of a variety of information sources and services that support the needs of the diverse learning community. Candidates demonstrate the use of a variety of research strategies to generate knowledge to improve practice. (ALA/AASL Standard 3)
  4. 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 Standard 4)
  5. Candidates plan, develop, implement, and evaluate school library programs, resources, and services in support of the mission of the library program within the school according to the ethics and principles of library science, education, management, and administration. (ALA/AASL Standard 5)
  6. Candidates apply fundamental concepts of library science to teaching K-12 grade students (PDE Standard I)
  7. Candidates foster student learning through multiple instructional methodologies (PDE Standard II)
  8. Candidates foster professionalism in school and community settings (PDE Standard III)
  9. Candidates support the learning of all students and other members of the learning community, including those with diverse learning styles, physical and intellectual abilities and needs. (AASL Standard 1.1)
  10. Candidates present information literacy skills instruction that will meet the needs of the exceptional child as well as the diverse cultural and linguistic learner

 

School Library & Information Technologies Non-Certification Concentration


Coordinator: Ms. Cynthia Keller
Retan Center 202D; (570) 662-4676; e-mail: ckeller@mansfield.edu
(717) 816-6995 (Home Office)

The non-certification concentration is designed for teacher-certified educators who are not seeking Pennsylvania certification in school library but will request Certification/Licensure/or Endorsement in library science, K-12, in accordance with requirements of their state Department of Education.

Student Learning Outcomes, School Library & Information Technologies Non-Certification Concentration

As M. Ed. candidates, students will meet or exceed the competencies of state and national school library professional organizations, as follows:

  1. Candidates are effective teachers who demonstrate knowledge of learners and learning and who model and promote collaborative planning, instruction in multiple literacies, and inquiry-based learning, enabling members of the learning community to become effective users and creators of ideas and information. Candidates design and implement instruction that engages students’ interests and develops their ability to inquire, think critically, gain and share knowledge. (ALA/AASL Standard 1)
  2. Candidates promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment. Candidates are aware of major trends in children’s and young adult literature and select reading materials in multiple formats to support reading for information, reading for pleasure, and reading for lifelong learning. Candidates use a variety of strategies to reinforce classroom reading instruction to address the diverse needs and interests of all readers. (ALA/AASL Standard 2)
  3. Candidates model and promote ethical, equitable access to and use of physical, digital, and virtual collections of resources. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of a variety of information sources and services that support the needs of the diverse learning community. Candidates demonstrate the use of a variety of research strategies to generate knowledge to improve practice. (ALA/AASL Standard 3)
  4. 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 Standard 4)
  5. Candidates plan, develop, implement, and evaluate school library programs, resources, and services in support of the mission of the library program within the school according to the ethics and principles of library science, education, management, and administration. (ALA/AASL Standard 5)
  6. Candidates apply fundamental concepts of library science to teaching K-12 grade students (PDE Standard I)
  7. Candidates foster student learning through multiple instructional methodologies (PDE Standard II)
  8. Candidates foster professionalism in school and community settings (PDE Standard III)

Any student who is seeking only the Master of Education degree, without school library certification, must complete all graduate coursework as well as either the one or three-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) culminating experience course, with a 3.0 GPA or better. Students must contact the Department Chairperson (Ms. Cynthia Keller) for approval to take the one-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) culminating experience course.

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