AND

     The School Library Media Cohort

Master of Science Instructional Technology

Purpose

The School Library Media Cohort is designed to address the critical shortage of school library media specialists in Maryland. Candidates are MSDE certified teachers who have completed either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree and are highly motivated to enter a challenging graduate program at Towson University to qualify as a school library media specialist. The School Library Media Cohort requires a part-time commitment to acquire 36 required and 6 elective graduate credits in the Master of Science in Instructional Technology,

School Library Media program of study. The graduate program is approved by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC).

Graduates are qualified to direct library media programs in K-12 schools and serve as a member of a large media center or system level media program. The school library media specialist is the keystone of a student-centered library media program where students learn and apply information and technology literacy skills through content-driven multi-disciplinary instruction. The school library media specialist works with the school community in the following roles:

• Teacher who is knowledgeable about current research on teaching and learning, information science, and instructional technologies. The library media specialist is skilled in applying this knowledge to a variety of situations that challenge students to access, evaluate, and use information from multiple sources in order to learn, to think, and to create knowledge.
• Instructional Partner who collaboratively plans with teachers and others to integrate information and technology indicators with curricular content, learning outcomes, student information needs, and resources.
• Information Specialist who works in an environment that has been profoundly affected by technology, the library media specialist both masters sophisticated electronic resources and maintains a constant focus on the nature, quality, and ethical uses of information available in these and in more traditional tools.
• Program Administrator who advocates for the library media program and provides the knowledge, vision, and leadership to steer it creatively and energetically in the 21st century.

Courses

Tuition

• Each course will cost Anne Arundel County teachers $150.00 plus the current county allowable course reimbursement. The course reimbursement will be sent directly to Towson University.
• Participants in the program will take 12 credits at year
• Applications to Towson University Graduate School will be completed during the first class. Registration for each course will completed on-line. Students will receive emailed directions for the on-line registration through their Towson University Tiger Account.
• Students will be billed for the $150.00 per course tuition fee

Admission

Criteria for admission to the program which seeks to identify teachers who have demonstrated effective teaching competencies and who are highly motivated to enter a graduate program to qualify as a school library media specialist are:

• BA or BS degree with a minimum of a B or 3.0 average
• Strength of application
• Strength of recommendations
• Strength of interview
• 2 years of successful employment in Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Application

Submit the School Library Media Cohort Application and return it to Cathy Gillette, BOE
Two references are required. Completed reference forms should sent to Cathy Gillette, BOE Interview with the Office of Library Media Services. Call 410-222-5365 to set up and interview.