Results
- Results:
1. What type of schedule is your media center on? |
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2. If you are on a partially fixed/flexible schedule, please explain how this works.
1. In rotation for 4th and 5th grades. 2. I
am required to teach an enrichment class for the last 45 minutes of the
day, during which time the media center is closed. This is not
perceived as a problem since all students in the school should be in
enrichment classes during that time and should not be coming to the
media center. 3. Every class
in the school is signed up on a certain day and time to come each week.
The teachers choose this time slot at the beginning of the year based
around their classroom schedules. However, this often changes due to
other school events and I always reschedule classes...
If participants responded that they were on a partial fixed/partial flexible schedule, I asked them to explain the specifics of their scheduling procedures. Two of the media specialists listed that they were partial. One is in the rotation (meaning that the media center is a "special" at their school like art, music and P.E., and the teachers leave the students there for their planning period) for just 4th and 5th grades. The other media specialist spends the last 45 minutes of the day teaching an enrichment class along with everyone else in the building. A third media specialist responded that they were on a flexible schedule but then explained in question 2 that they have teachers sign up for a time slot for the year, but still have plenty of open spaces to schedule people as needed.
If participants responded that they were on a partial fixed/partial flexible schedule, I asked them to explain the specifics of their scheduling procedures. Two of the media specialists listed that they were partial. One is in the rotation (meaning that the media center is a "special" at their school like art, music and P.E., and the teachers leave the students there for their planning period) for just 4th and 5th grades. The other media specialist spends the last 45 minutes of the day teaching an enrichment class along with everyone else in the building. A third media specialist responded that they were on a flexible schedule but then explained in question 2 that they have teachers sign up for a time slot for the year, but still have plenty of open spaces to schedule people as needed.
3. Who makes decisions about how the media center is scheduled? | |||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. In deciding how media center scheduling should be done at the elementary schools involved in the survey, 5 (45%) answered that the media specialist does the scheduling, 4 (36%) answered that the administration decides the scheduling and 2 (18%) chose "other". The two that chose "other" went on to say that the decisions in scheduling are a combination of both the media specialist and the administration. | |||||||||||||
4. What type of tool do you use for scheduling? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. An overwhelming 10 out of the 11 (91%) media specialists responded that teachers have to come into the media center to schedule their class' visit. One person (9%) uses a Microsoft Outlook calendar that is shared from the media center to the faculty to sign up classes. | |||||||||||||||||||||
5. Do teachers stay in the media center with the class? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 7 people (64%) claimed that the teachers not only stayed with their classes, but were also active participants in the activities in the media center. 1 person (9%) said that the teachers stay but do not participate. 2 people (18%) said that sometimes the teachers stayed with their class and 1 person (9%) said that the teachers do not stay because it is their planning time. No one said that the teachers leave by the media specialist's choice or the teacher's choice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
6. What are some of the activites that you use in the media center for PreK and Kindergarten classes? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 100% of the participants offer story time and lessons on book care to the PreK and Kindergarten classes that come into the media center. 73% (8 people) teach lessons on how to find materials in the media center. 55% (6 people) have book talks prepared for the students. 27% (3 people) begin teaching research skills with this age group and another 27% replied that they do other activities with these students, such as, response to literature and media center etiquette. 18% (2 people) use interactive games in their media center lessons and 18% plan lessons about genres. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7. What are some of the activites that you use in the media center for 1st and 2nd grade classes? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. For 1st and 2nd grade students 100% of the media specialists surveyed teach lessons about book care and finding materials in the media center. 91% (10 people) use class visits for story time and 73% (8 people) begin introducing the computerized card catalog and research skills. 64% (7 people) teach genre studies. 45% (5 people) use book talks and interactive games as part of their lessons. 27% (3 people) chose "other" and incorporate dictionary, encyclopedia and response to literature activities into their lessons. 18% (2 people) teach computer skills and use media center scavenger hunts with 1st and 2nd grade students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. What are some of the activites that you use in the media center for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. For 3rd, 4th and 5th grade lessons in the media center the percentages were different than the responses to the previous questions. 100% of media specialists surveyed said that they teach computerized card catalog skills, genre studies and how to find materials in the media center. 91% (10 people) teach book care and research skills. 73% (8 people) use book talks and story time with this age group. 55% (6 people) play interactive games or have the students participate in media center scavenger hunts. 45% (5 people) teach computer skills. 18% (2 people) chose "other" and expanded on that by saying that they teach reference materials and classroom response units. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9. When planning lessons in the media center, do you...(check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 91% (10 people) of media specialists surveyed said that they collaborate with a teacher before the class comes into the media center so that they receive a custom made lesson. 82% said that when planning lessons in the media center that they refer to the curriculum map and try to match the lesson to what standards the students should be working on at that time (but not necessarily work directly with the teacher). 55% (6 people) said that they teach information literacy skills regardless of what the students are doing in class. 18% (2 people) responded that they provide a menu of lessons per grade level and the teacher chooses one when they sign up. One person chose "other" stating that they suggest specific lessons each month. | |||||||||||||||||||||
10. How many students do you allow in the media center when there is a class scheduled? | |||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 45% (5 people) of media specialists included in the survey responded that they allowed individual students in groups of 4 or 5 to come into the media center while a class is in there. 27% (3 people) allow groups of 2 or 3 and said that they don't enforce a limit. No one responded that they don't allow students to come in when a class is scheduled. | |||||||||||||||||
11. Do you block out time for your lunch in schedule? | |||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. Of the 11 people in the survey, 9 (82%) do block out time for lunch in their schedule and 2 (18%) do not. | |||||||||
12. Do you have helpers in the media center? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. All of the media specialists responding to the survey have a media clerk or parapro that is a paid position in the media center. 45% (5 people) have either student helpers or parent volunteers. One person (9%) has an unpaid volunteer from Legacy Link, a place that provides senior citizens as volunteers in the community. No one had anyone from their Partners in Education program volunteer in the media center. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
13. Which of the following do you participate in? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 67% (6 people) of elementary media specialists participate in the Accelerated Reader Program and Read Across America. 33% (3 people) selected "other" stating that they particpate in the Georgia Children's Picture Book Award and Battle of the Books. | |||||||||||||||||
14. Do you have a media center handbook? | |||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 60% (6 people) of participants have a media center handbook and 40% (4 people) of people do not. One person did not respond to this question. | |||||||||
15. How are teachers "trained" on how to use the media center? | |||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 55% (6 people) have a media center orientation time during preplanning to train teachers on how to use the media center. 36% (4 people) train teachers to use the media center in other ways such as emails, monthly newsletter, training at faculty meetings, or meet individually with new teachers. One media specialist (9%) stated that the teachers learn what they need to know during their class' orientation time. | |||||||||||||||||
16. How do you collaborate with teachers? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. All of the media specialists involved in the survey stated that they set up meetings with individual teachers who were willing and interested in collaborating. 91% (10 people) said that they use brief conversations (drive-by planning sessions) to collaborate with teachers. 82% (9 people) said that they use email and attend grade level/department meetings. 9% (1 teacher) uses curriculum maps, having very little contact with teachers when planning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
17. How do you keep the staff informed about happenings in the media center? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. In keeping the staff informed about happenings in the media center, all if the survey participants use email to help get the word out. 91% (10 people) are able to get time on the agenda at faculty meetings. 73% (8 people) rely on word of mouth. 27% (3 people) have a media newsletter. Three people also responded that they use collaborative meetings, media committee members and morning announcements to keep staff informed and 1 person (9%) uses a media center blog to inform faculty. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
18. What else is the media center in charge of? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. All of the media centers involved in the survey are also responsible for the A/V equipment in the school. 73% (8 people) are also in charge of the leveled book room and 64% (7 people) are in charge of laminating for the school. 55% (6 people) are responsible for the Promethian Boards/Smart Boards or ACTIVBoards in the building. 45% (5 people) have class novel sets and the morning announcements as part of their responsibilities. 36% (4 people) are in charge of the computers throughout the building, . 18% (2 people) are in charge of the school store and the AR store at their school. 4 people (36%) also chose "other" to include AR Wall of Fame, Conference Room scheduling, CRCT/ITBS Testing, book fairs, copier and laminator maintenance, set of for meetings, coffee for staff and the parent resource library. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19. Do you have any morning or afternoon duties? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 55% (6 people) of those surveyed are responsible for morning announcements. 45% (5 people) have car rider duty. 18% (2 people) have bus duty and 9% (1 person) has hall duty. 3 people, (27%) chose "other" to include monitoring students, breakfast duty and that they have no duty. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
20. Are there school functions held in the media center? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. All of the media centers that responded to the survey are used for faculty meetings and training sessions. 64% (7 people) also have conferences held in the media center. 27% (3 people selected "other" to include showers, parties, summer long staff development, and anything that needs a large space! 9% (1 person) stated that goodie days for the faculty are also held in the media center. | |||||||||||||||||||||
21. What does the media center close for (does not check out books)? (check all that apply) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. 73% (8 people) close during book fair weeks. 55% (6 people) selected "other" as a chose to include kindergarten registration, parent conferences, media luncheon, testing, S.S. fair, and the geography bee. 27% (3 people) close during inventory. 18% (2 people) don't close at all during the school year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
22. What is one area of your media center that you think is working really well?
The
selection of materials I've provided to the students and staff. I began
the position 5 years ago with a collection that hadn't been weeded in
over 25 years. It's been my mission to update the collection based on
GPS, student interest, requests and up-to-date information. I've
received positive comments.communication with the teachers seems to be working really well. Access to the media center works well for everyone.I
think my programs have provided incentives for students to read. I
provide an inviting atmosphere which has not always been there in the
past. Teachers feel open to app...
23. What is something in your media center that you would like to change or do differently?
Get out of rotation! I
wish there were more time to engage with the classes instead of just
check out. Due to Reading First requirements, our schedule in the
school has offered limited interaction with 2nd and 3rd grade students,
so they lack some information and research skills unless the teacher
has made a point to stress them during the year in the classroom. While
i do sit in during planning times, I would like for teachers to ask for
help more often, instead of waiting until the day of and thinking about
something they need. I try to recommend as much as possible and find
resources. I...