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Last revised 4/11/05 being revised now

Course Syllabus for IRLS481/581 School Library Administration

Link to Course Outline

Fall 2005 Instructor: Patricia Montiel Overall, Ph.D.



SCHOOL LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION-IRLS 481/581

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to prepare 21st century school librarians. The course will examine how the role of the school library media specialist has developed as they have become leaders in the educational environment working with a diverse populations of teachers and students. A primary focus of this course is to prepare school librarians for teaching and collaboration with classroom teachers and administrators. An emphasis will be given to understanding of national, state, and district standards for content as well as information literacy. Educational concepts and methodologies will be examined to prepare the library media specialist to teach and evaluate instructional units with classroom teachers; and develop, implement, and evaluate schoolwide curriculum. The course will also examine the responsibilities associated with administration, organization, and design of a school library media center; development of school library media programs; management and marketing of these programs; supervision of library personnel; selection of educational materials and resources; establishment of policies and proceedures for access and responsible use of information; planning for technology; financial considerations for the school library media center; acquisition considerations; funding and the effect of legislation on school libraries. Students will be required to engage in 25 hours of service learning with a school librarian during the semester.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES

Based on class assignments, readings, service learning, and online group discussions students will develop a thorough understanding of:

1. The leadership role of the library media specialist as teacher, collaborator, manager, curriculum specialist, and technology specialist.
2. The purpose of collaboration and what it involves to be effective
3. National, state, and district guidelines and standards and the relationship between standards and librarian -teacher collaboration.
4. Teaching methods; epistemological views represented by these methods; effective strategies for whole class and small group instruction; learning styles of diverse populations of students; trends in education; and curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation.
5. The function of the library media center.
6. Management of a school library media center.
7. Design of new school library media centers or renovation an existing library media centers.
8. Professional literature for library media specialists with particular emphasis on literature about collaboration..
8. Professional organizations for library media specialists.
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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (1998) Chicago, ALA. (Available at the UofA Bookstore)

Administering the School Library Media Center 4th Edition (2004) by Betty Morris (Available at the UofA Bookstore)

The School Library Media Manager 4th Edition (2004) by Blanche Woolls (Available at the UofA Bookstore)


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ADDITIONAL COURSE MATERIALS

Selected readings will be available through E-Reserves
Password will be provided during the first week of class.
http://eres.library.arizona.edu/courseindex.asp
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COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity. 'The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.' If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.

Accommodating Disabilities

The University has a Disability Resource Center . If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.

Assignment Policies

Incompletes

The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads

The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester ...

If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.


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GRADING

Each assignment will be awarded points. Points are weighted and calculated on D2L. Grades will be available for students on D2L on a regular basis. Questions concerning grades should be addressed to the instructor within two days of posting. Final grade will be determined in the following manner:

Excellent =A
Good work =B
Fair =C

In addition, 2-5 quizzes will be given throughout the semester on content discussed in the class sessions that is not covered in the texts and readings or in the homework assignments. Students will also submit a self reflection at mid-term and at the end of the course on their learning related to the course objectives. The mid-term self reflection will be distributed by the instructor toward the end of February, and will be due on March 16, 2005. The final self-reflection will be distributed during the end of April, and will be due May 6, 2005.


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CONTACTING ME

Patricia Montiel Overall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Information Resources and Library Science
overall@u.arizona.edu
overall@d2l.ltc.arizona.edu
(d2l-mail address ONLY should be used after the first day of class)
520-626-8984

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