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School Media Certification Meeting Notes
Wednesday February 8, 2006, 1-3 pm, SLIS rm001

(notes taken by Catherine Hall, SLIS student)

Presenters:

Dr. Noriko Hara, IUB School Library Media Education Advisor and Liasion

Dr. Danny Callison, Director of School Library Media Education

Dorothy Slota, School of Education, Licensing Advisor

Dean Debora "Ralf" Shaw, SLIS Internship Advisor

Overview: Dr. Danny Callison

  • The School Media Program (SMP) originated as a part of the Education Department 50 years ago.
  • SMP is:
    • nationally recognized and respected
    • ALA accredited
    • NCATE accredited
  • Of the 650-700 students enrolled in SLIS, 35% are enrolled in SMP classes.
  • The largest population of SMP students are enrolled in IUPU in Indianapolis.
  • Many SMP students are already in SM jobs and are taking classes to gain certification.
  • IU's SMP is the only accredited SM program in the state.
  • The SMP has gone from undergraduate focus to a graduate focus.
  • The SMP certification requires 27 credits, which work toward the 36 credit MLS.
  • Classes from other programs can be accepted toward the SMP certificate but not toward the MLS.
  • Advising/people to know:
    • Noriko Hara—IUB
    • Danny Callison—IUPUI and IUB (lives in Bloomington and can meet with IUB students here by appointment.)
    • Carol Tilley—IUPUI Distant Education
    • Linda Mills—IUB graduate and adjunct professor
    • Kim Kramer—Ph.D. student in Education, former SM specialist
    • Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson—husband/wife co-teachers for SMP; networking/job opportunities
  • Two Tracks:
    • Already have teaching license:
      • Other state—contact Dorothy Slota
      • Indiana—content irrelevant
      • Only need to take 27 credits of certification classes (3 of which are internship)
    • Do not have teaching license:
      • 15 credits required through Education Department
      • Praxis I and Praxis II
      • Student Teaching—10 credits, divided between Elementary and Secondary
      • 27 credits of certification classes (36 if wish to obtain MLS)
  • Internship and Student Teaching:
    • Supervisors are required to have an MLS and a few years experience in SM.
  • The 27 credits:
  • Internships are handled by Dean Shaw
    • Reduction on occasions when student has experience in a SM center
  • All states and other countries seem to accept SM certificate from IU

Teaching certificate requirements: Dorothy Slota

(3 handouts distributed: Indiana Teacher Licensing Tests 2005-2006;The Praxis Series 2005-2006 Dates for Paper-Based Administrators; Application for Indiana Teaching, Administration, or School Services License)

  • Praxis I
    • three general areas: reading, writing, math
    • can be taken on computer in Franklin Hall
    • have scores sent to IUB
    • need scores when applying to student teach
  • Praxis II
    • Content area: Library Media Specialist (Code #10310)
    • There are other SM tests, be sure to take correct one
    • Should take close to the end of content classes
    • Has to be taken by paper/pencil
    • Registration is one month (approx.) before test date
  • If teaching license from another state, contact Indiana Department of Education and ask if they'll give a reciprocal license.
  • If teaching license from IN:
    • Coursework in SMP counts toward professional development requirements
    • SM Certification will be added on to existing license
    • Not necessary to renew license while in school; there is no fee to reinstate if lapsed
  • Licensing application (handout)
    • Limited criminal history check required
    • Fee may increase, check before submitting
  • Transition to Teach
    • State mandated program
    • Opportunity to earn content license at same time as SM certification

Internships: Dean Ralf Shaw

(website shown: http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/internship.html)

  • Internships are most effective when done toward the end of coursework, so the student is prepared.
  • S605 (L596) - Internship in Library and Information Science
  • Supervisors should have a masters degree and experience
  • Nature of work should be pre-professional
  • Timeline for planning can be found at above website—planning takes longer when internship is outside of IN
  • It is the student's responsibility to make initial contact with placements and work out schedule
  • Student Teaching is not the same as an Internship
    • Internship is a 3 credit hour course through SLIS/ ST is a 10 credit hour experience through the School of Education
    • Students who have to do both can take a 7 credit ST course through Education while simultaneously taking the 3 hour Internship course through SLIS—thus 3 credits of the 10 will count toward the SM Certification and MLS
  • Internships should be sought in the grade level opposite your current teaching license. (Ex. If you hold a teaching license in Secondary English Education, you should do an internship at the Elementary level.)
  • Internships consist of:
    • 180 hours of field work
    • Keeping a journal, including annotations of professional literature
    • Supervisor's evaluation
    • Succeed/Fail grade at completion
    • Visits by SLIS are optional for internships/required for ST

Job strategies: Dr. Danny Callison

  • Word on the street makes job market out to be worse than it is
  • Larger high schools are losing positions—Monroe County is an example
  • SM job list serve: e-mail callison@indiana.edu to be added.
    • Word of mouth positions
    • Out of state positions—KY job market strong because of new SM mandations
    • IN positions
    • SM positions fill quickly
  • Let Dr. Callison and Rhonda Spencer know when you get a job
  • Good skills=good pay
  • About $35K starting with no experience for 9 month position
  • Good benefits through schools
  • Electronic portfolios are popular and well-liked by interviewers
    • Skills being sought:
    • People person
  • Team player and leader
  • Professional development
    • IN licensing changing
      • Old>6 credits every 5 years
      • New>Individual Growth Plan
        • Rubric options based on a point system:
          • Classes
          • Curriculum development
          • Presenting at conferences
          • Workshops
          • Taking an intern or ST into your classroom or SMC
  • Transferring license to other states usually okay—sometimes quirks
  • TX, FL, NV highest demand for SM specialists, esp. if Spanish speaker
  • MI, CT high paying states