Richard Winbigler
University of West Georgia
MEDT 7490: Visual Media Literacy Teaching and Learning
Dr. D’Alba
October 8, 2023
Tift County High School Media Center Description
The Tift County High School Media Center is a large space located roughly in the middle of our building that serves 2,271 students in grades 9-12. There are two different entrances, one from a main hallway, and one that students can access from the commons/cafeteria. There are three full time staff members in the Media Center. This includes one Media Specialist, and two IT positions. The Media Center also partners with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for an intern program which provides currently three interns in 1st block, and one intern in 4th block. This varies by semesters and availability of interns. There is also a paraprofessional that works within the Media Center to provide services as needed. The Media Center serves as a hub for meetings, group work, and clubs. It is open throughout the day, but generally closed during one lunch per day for staff to have a lunch break.
Media Center Programs
Destiny Library System / e-Book Checkout:
The Media Center utilizes the Destiny Library System to allow students and staff to check out e-books. Students download an App, enter district information, and have immediate access to many online resources. They also can use the Destiny Library System to check out books and e-books, and to also place books on hold.
Free Audiobooks:
The Media Center also provides links to three different Audiobook portals to allow students, both English and non-English speaking, to access audiobooks.
Chromebook Loaner Program:
This program provides rental Chromebooks to students who occasionally forget them so they do not miss out on learning. Students receive three free rentals for a marking period after which they are charged one dollar per rental. Rentals are due at the end of the day. Each day late results in a one dollar fee per day.
Insurance Program for Chromebooks:
This program covers most minor issues and two cracked screens per school year. Students are issued a loaner Chromebook to keep until it comes back from repair.
Recreation Center:
This area is available during lunches, and includes a ping pong table, cornhole, chess, and Connect 4. There are two coloring stations with coloring books, colored pencils, and markers. Students are welcome to use this resource; however, this is a privilege, not a right. Staff have the right to ask any student to leave for being loud, eating/drinking, mishandling equipment, or breaking any other school rules.
Calculator Rentals:
The Media Center provides calculators to students when required for certain classes. Calculators are checked out to students when classes start and are due back at the end of the semester. There is a one dollar fine for each day the calculator is overdue. The Media Center currently carries the following Texas Instruments models: 30xs, 83, and Plus CE. The Media Center offers battery replacement for calculators that require it.
Headphones for Sale:
The Media Center carries a selection of 7 different colored earbuds for one dollar each. Students can pay in cash or charge their account. These are available for purchase all day.
Sticker Store:
The Media Center carries a variety of stickers for .25 cents each. Students usually put these on their Chromebook or water bottles. Options include but are not limited to sports, memes, and motivational quotes.
Media Center Internship:
This program is available to all students after completing two technology courses. Students who take advantage of this program receive high school credit. They assist with Chromebook rentals, light cleaning, Chromebook repair, and other assigned tasks.
Media Center Resources
Teacher Only:
Laminator
Poster printer
Long colorful paper
Student Desktops:
There are 12 student desktops connected to a printer for easy access to printing and copying. Color printing is available on these desktops. Students have their own student copy code to use which differentiates them from teachers and faculty members.
Circular Couch:
This couch comfortably seats 7 people. It has a large round ottoman in the middle. This is used for small club meetings and group discussions.
Independent Student Work Station:
This area of the Media Center includes a dye press, crayons, colored pencils, markers, tape, scissors, rulers, yardsticks, construction paper, and pencil sharpeners. Students often use this area to complete group projects and make spirit posters.
High Top Tables:
There are 5 high top tables with a view of the courtyard. Each high top table seats 4 people.
Promethean Board with 10 Rectangular Tables:
Used for presentations, seminars, teacher meetings, testing, and college presentations.
Projector with Whiteboard:
This projector is located towards the back of the Media Center, and has been utilized for the tracing and making of posters, large projects, and other artistic projects.
Round Tables:
Four round tables that can be used for independent or group activities by students.
Corner Desk:
Desk for students who prefer to sit in corners and work independently.
Media Center Library
Fiction:
All fiction books are sorted by the basic categories and author last name. Categories include Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery/Forensics, Horror, Science Fiction, Classics, LGBTQIA, Historical Fiction, and Graphic Novel. Each book is given 3 categories with the top category determining where the book is kept. A book may contain more than one category. For example, The Harry Potter series is labeled as Fantasy, Sci Fi, and Thriller, but because Fantasy is the top category, it would be filed in the Fantasy section of the library.
Nonfiction:
The Media Center library has a large selection of nonfiction books organized by the standard Dewey Decimal System:
000 General Knowledge
100 Philosophy and Psychology
200 Religion
300 Social Sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Art and Recreations
800 Literature
900 History and Geography
College and Test Prep:
The Media Center library carries a wide variety of SAT and ACT Prep, College Board books, and other post-high school resources.
Other Schools Around Georgia
In reaching out to surrounding districts, I found success in response to three schools in proximity to Tift County High School. I was able to get in touch with Lowndes High School, Cook County High School, and Crisp County High School. These are surrounding county schools. I posed four brief questions to each Media Specialist. I asked each media specialist: How many student desktops do you have in your Media Center? Are there any unique services you offer teachers and students? What resources are available to support teachers and students? Is there any other unique information or features about your Media Center?
The responses from each Media Specialist were very informative and helpful. They painted very clear pictures of what their Media Center provides to their students and staff. I reached out to a few other surrounding Media Specialists, but I did not get a response. These schools are each different sizes, and are in a very similar geographic location as Tift County. I believe these three schools are representative of other schools in similar size in South Georgia. For each school, I provided the total enrollment, and the distance that each school is located from Tift County High School. I then summarized my findings based on my original questions, our personal correspondence, and by any additional information provided by the Media Specialist.
1. Lowndes County High School (3,079 students, 48.9 miles)
a. I reached out to Dr. Monica Dyess, the Media Specialist at Lowndes, who provided me with an overview of the Lowndes Media Center. This is a summary of our personal communication.
i. The first information I gathered from Dr. Dyess is that the Media Center website is currently under construction. Once complete, they will have a large presence on the internet for students and teachers to access services and digital items in an efficient way.
ii. Computer Facilities: The Media Center houses six desktop computers primarily used for printing purposes, with a special emphasis on accommodating Dual-Enrolled students who require access to Microsoft applications and PC-based programs for their college coursework. Teachers frequently utilize these computers for color printing, given that it is the only color printer accessible to both teachers and students, centrally located within the Media Center.
iii. Comprehensive Services: The Media Center adopts a customer-centric approach, dedicated to meeting the needs of students and teachers. The core philosophy is centered around the idea that if a student or teacher requires assistance or resources, the Media Center staff will make every effort to address those needs directly or facilitate connections with the appropriate support channels. Some examples of support provided in the past include resolving iPhone accessibility mode issues, organizing author events to support the writing aspirations of students and teachers, offering tutoring services and resource discovery for academic needs, connecting students and teachers with community members who share specific hobbies or interests, active participation in various campus committees and initiatives, and collaborative lesson planning and brainstorming with teachers.
iv. Resource Accessibility: The Media Center extends a wide array of resources to both teachers and students. For teachers, a comprehensive list of basic resources is readily available. For students, there is a diverse range of makerspace activities, including monthly "Makerspace of the Month" events. In addition to makerspace facilities, the Media Center offers various creative and Social-Emotional Learning opportunities, including access to musical instruments like an acoustic guitar and a keyboard, a selection of board games, coloring pages, art supplies, and a weighted stuffed animal. Books hold a prominent place in the library service. There has been a noted growth in circulation over recent years. This growth is attributed to the Media Center's efforts to provide a collection of diverse, current, and trending books, complemented by regularly updated displays that align with current trends and student interests. To further facilitate student engagement with literature, the Media Center offers a "book concierge" service, allowing students to request books via a Google Form or seek recommendations tailored to their preferences, with the convenience of picking up their selections when time permits.
v. Media Center Café: Within the Media Center, a coffee-shop style café is operated by Life Skills classes. This café serves as a popular gathering spot for students, operating before school and during lunch hours. In the mornings, there is a notable influx of students, with around 150-200 students congregating in the Media Center. During lunch breaks, the café accommodates up to 60 students per lunch block, providing a comfortable environment for meals and relaxation. To ensure orderliness and maintain attendance records, students are required to sign in using the LibraryTrac software when entering the Media Center.
vi. Accessibility and Support: Throughout the school day, students are encouraged to visit the Media Center by obtaining a pass from their teacher. This access is facilitated to cater to various needs, including assistance with Chromebooks (Lowndes is 1:1 Chromebooks), book checkouts, resource support, printing services, or simply to enjoy a conducive environment. The Media Center is open during after-school hours, remaining open until 3:45 PM on most days.
2. Cook County High School (890 students, 30.4 miles)
a. To find information about Cook County High School, I reached out to their Media Specialist, Allison Tolman. This is a summary of our personal communication.
i. Computer Facilities: The Media Center offers four student desktops available for use by students and parents. Cook County is a 1:1 Chromebook school as well, which is why the desktop count is low. Additionally, there are two desktops designated for the use of circulation staff.
ii. Comprehensive Services: The Media Center has established itself as a hub for accomplishing a wide range of tasks within the school community. It boasts an extensive inventory of physical and digital supplies, catering to the creation, printing, and design needs of school-related projects. Resources include items such as butcher paper, a poster printer, die cutters, and a laminator. Students and teachers frequently seek assistance in crafting specific materials, and their staff is often tasked with designing and producing custom materials to meet their unique requirements.
iii. Resource Accessibility: The Media Center employs a diverse set of digital resources. Students benefit from access to SORA, a platform that provides round-the-clock availability of eBooks, audiobooks, and e-magazines. These materials can be downloaded onto cellphones and Chromebooks for offline use, even during summer break. In support of staff members, the Media Center has subscribed to Swank Streaming, an educational platform akin to Netflix. Swank Streaming hosts an extensive catalog of movies tailored for academic purposes. These movies can be assigned for out-of-class viewing and seamlessly integrated into Google Classroom.
iv. Unique Feature: The Media Center employs two paid student workers and one unpaid student worker, all of whom play integral roles in its functions. This active engagement fosters a sense of ownership among the student body and ensures immediate feedback from students regarding Media Center activities. The student workers often take the initiative to propose new activities and programming designed to engage their peers. While the presence of a full-time library aide would be beneficial, the Media Center is able to consider the insights gained from student workers, enabling the center to stay closely attuned to the evolving needs and interests of the student community. This setup not only ensures the efficient operation of the Media Center but also guarantees that its services remain in sync with the preferences and demands of its students.
3. Crisp County High School (1070 students, 39.6 miles)
a. For Crisp County High School, I reached out to Ashley Purvis who is the Media Specialist. This is a summary of our personal communication.
i. Computer Facilities: The Media Center is equipped with 12 Chromeboxes available for student use, ensuring ample computer access for students' academic needs.
ii. Comprehensive Services: A diverse range of services is provided by the Media Center to cater to the needs of both students and staff. These services encompass regular and poster printing, lamination services, textbook and classroom novel set checkouts, Chromebook checkouts tailored for Hospital/Homebound students, laptop checkouts specifically designed for Work-Based Learning, and access to a small computer lab.
iii. Resource Accessibility: The Media Center boasts a wealth of resources to support students and staff effectively. These resources include an extensive collection of books available in both print and digital formats, textbooks, and classroom novel sets. In addition, the Media Center provides access to Viewboards, Chromebooks, T-84 calculators, iPads for individual checkouts, and laptops for various academic purposes.
iv. Other Services Provided: The Media Center facilitates the sale of prom and homecoming tickets, provides dedicated filming spaces in resource rooms and the patio area, plays an active involvement in attendance incentive programs, creates an optimal testing environment for small groups, conducts SRI testing, manages webmaster and social media responsibilities, and offers meeting spaces for external individuals or groups not affiliated with the school.
4. The State of Georgia
a. The Georgia Department of Education has a Digital Media and Literacy team that “connects and collaborates with content teams within GaDOE, other state agencies, districts, schools, and stakeholders within the education community to provide high quality, engaging digital resources” (Digital Media and Literacy, 2023). On this website are multiple links to podcasts about visual and media literacy, and general classroom content. There are also links to many teacher “vodcasts” that links to a YouTube content hub that has many videos. There is a schedule for upcoming professional learning activities. There is also contact information provided for those who run this program at the State level. This is a state level resources that can lead to a lot of collaboration opportunities between teachers.
Tift County High School Media Center Needs
Upon review of my own experience as a teacher and athletic coach, I know there exists many needs within our Media Center in terms of visual and media literacy. While our library serves as hub for groups, speaker presentations, teacher meetings, and business outreach, it is not necessarily a hub for visual and media literacy. In my own experience, I can identify a big area of need which is reliable Wi-Fi. My teacher colleagues (Noel and Ryan) and media specialist (Lacy) identified this as a need as well. While our Wi-Fi can be labelled as acceptable, there are many instances where the student Wi-Fi is unreliable. As a teacher of Edgenuity classes, I along with Ryan and Noel, agreed that the reliability of the school Wi-Fi is a major need. When the Wi-Fi is down, there is literally nothing that can be done in our virtual classroom settings. Lacy also pointed to this as a need, but within the context of this assessment, there is not much that can be done regarding this at the teacher and media specialist level. Lacy noted that a Media Center's effectiveness in promoting visual and media literacy heavily depends on the accessibility and reliability of its network. A dependable Wi-Fi network ensures that students can access online resources, research materials, and multimedia content.
Another area of need noted by Lacy is the ability of the Media Center is to provide options for students to engage in visual and media literacy, such as access to multimedia software, interactive workshops, or multimedia production tools to provide students opportunity both in and out of the classroom. Ryan and Noel agreed with this when I presented it to them in a separate conversation. While as teachers we have access to some digital materials there isn’t a central hub that exists for teachers to understand how to use and incorporate these digital tools and materials. Therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult for teachers to engage students because they do not have proper training. While we do receive some technology assistance in the form of professional development days, at Tift County High School our professional development days are seminars filled with a wide-variety of options. You must rank these sessions in the order that you prefer, but, as Ryan and Noel have noted, they haven’t always been able to get in to a preferred session especially one that many teachers want to attend.
An obvious area of gap, resources, and need according to Lacy is time. Throughout the school day Lacy, and the Media Center, is tasked with the management of 2,271 students and their Chromebooks. The library is staffed with two IT Specialists, and at times collegiate interns from Abraham Baldwin College. The IT Specialists deal with a host of issues on a daily basis leaving Lacy as the lead on Chromebook repairs, billing, loaners, replacements, and any other issue that arises throughout our 4-block school day. This time cuts in to the potential ability of the Media Center to focus on the gaps in visual and media literacy that exist. Time does not only affect Lacy, but the teachers as well. Teachers must figure out a way to have the time to allow students to access the Media Center in a way that aligns with their instructional goals and the ability of the Media Center to support visual and media literacy. In addition to finding the time, the Media Center must provide opportunity and resources to enhance visual and media literacy.
The opportunity and resources for visual and media literacy engagement are lacking as a focus in the Tift County High School Media Center. The Media Center is more of a library than it is a “Media Center.” There are some student desktops, but no tangible areas dedicated to visual and media literacy. As I was talking with Lacy, she lamented the lack of options that students have within the Media Center to really engage multiple forms of technology and the visual arts. She noted that the cheerleaders use the projector to trace and make spirit signs, and that students often work together outside of class on the large rectangular tables on group projects that require some illustration or visual elements, but it is more to use the Media Center as a convenience for space and large tables than as a hub to learn and engage in visual and media literacy. An area that she would love to incorporate in to the Media Center is a hands-on digital photography and/or movie studio that could support a variety of small group projects in multiple subject areas. This could include photographic displays and assignments, podcasts, vlogs, and short movies that could support classroom learning in a multimedia way that puts student creation first. With the availability of a Promethean Board and a projector, she feels like there would be a great opportunity to provide this as a jump start to enhancing the visual and media literacy footprint of the Media Center.
It is also a need to provide ample time to collaborate with other departments. With our school being so large, there would be a lot of communication and planning involved within each department and the Media Center in terms of creating and managing meaningful visual and media literacy projects. Each department has the same planning period, but with so many course offerings and subjects, it could be difficult to get full departments in line, and scheduled, in terms of consistent projects or opportunities in regards to visual and media literacy. This was an area that Lacy talked about a lot, and how it would be difficult to get multiple departments to work together to provide some creative resources within the scope of the Media Center. She noted that all departments work well with each other, but the simple math of figuring out the scheduling could become a barrier if the Media Center were to be stocked with visual and media literacy opportunities and tools to be used as a hub for multiple classrooms and subject areas.
Noel, Ryan, and myself also discussed the need for ample training and development in these areas. Having visual and media literacy tools and services in our Media Center would be great, but the instructors would also have to be prepared to utilize and understand the tools provided. We couldn’t expect Lacy to be the sole provider of training and implementation to our school and colleagues because of the sheer size of our building. It would create an unfair burden on our Media Specialist to train, answer questions, and problem solve for every faculty member in our building. As mentioned earlier, we do receive some opportunities to train, but they are not solely focused on building competency in the realm of visual and media literacy. We believe this is a big need at Tift County High School. Our teachers and staff need training, instruction, and support in order to best utilize this medium within our classrooms and with out students. It cannot be the job of one media specialist, training must be done on a district level and on more than one occasion.
Another identified need by Lacy is for more support staff in regards to visual and media literacy. While not something she expects to be filled, she noted that this would be a critical asset in including visual and media literacy on a more sustainable level in the Media Center. A staff member to assist Lacy with her daily duties, as well as being able to assist students and teachers in the realm of visual and media literacy would increase the effectiveness of any incorporation of visual and media literacy within the Media Center.
An increase in technology and tools available would be another area of need. Though the district did provide Promethean Boards for every classroom in the building, a growth in technology and materials is still a need area for the Media Center. As stated earlier, Lacy believes that digital cameras, podcasting equipment, and any other physical tool and software that could support visual and media literacy would be a welcome addition to the Tift County High School Media Center. Being able to provide these tools both in the library, and on a check in/check out basis, could really amplify the impact of the Media Center on the teaching and learning the occurs at the individual classroom level.
Colleague Information
Lacy Cargle, Media Specialist, lacy.cargle@tiftschools.com, PSC#: 659994
Ryan Walters, Teacher, ryan.walters@tiftschools.com, PSC#: 1883208
Noel Dean, Teacher, noel.dean@tiftschools.com, PSC#: 1843367
References
Georgia Department of Education. (2023). Digital Media and Literacy. https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-
Instruction/Pages/Digital-Media-and-Literacy.aspx
National Center for Education Services. (2021-2023). CCD Public school data. Cook High School.https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?
Search=1&DistrictID=1301470&ID=130147003900
National Center for Education Services. (2021-2023). CCD Public school data. Crisp County High School. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?
ID=130156000769
National Center for Education Services. (2021-2023). CCD Public school data. Lowndes High School.https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?
Search=1&DistrictID=1303390&ID=130339001310
National Center for Education Services. (2021-2023). CCD Public school data. Tift County High School. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=1304980