Diversity means how we differ in terms of race, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or other forms. Schools are changing and are now faced with educating a diverse population of students with learning issues. As part of the public school education, the media program is made available to all students. Therefore, I think that the media program should support diversity regardless of how children differ, to develop literacy skills. As educators, we must be prepared to accommodate all children in this changing society.
Most of the centers that I’ve visited do provide a collection of print and electronic resources to address different ethnic group awareness and interests. Although, what’s offered would largely depend upon the population of the school. So far, I haven’t seen any assistive technology for students with disabilities. Again, that would also depend on whether there is a need for it.
Media specialists could find ways to accommodate students with diverse needs with technology resources. A listening station with a CD player and headset could be set up for ESL students. Free visual and audio software could be downloaded for visual and hearing impaired students. Web pages could be developed to include print and online resources to address different forms diversity as well. Students could use these resources at school and at home. Our school district uses SOLO for our special needs students. SOLO is an assistive technology software that includes a text reader. The Technology Specialist could install this software on one of the computers in the media center. The Media Specialist could also collaborate with the teacher and the Assistive Technology Specialist for the school district to install devices like a switch on a computer. These devices could assist students with speech and physical impairments.
It is important that we understand our students with diverse needs and help by creating a supportive learning environment that allows for opportunities to learn.
Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that “we must be prepared to accommodate all children in this changing society”. There are so many different diversities that do exist within a school system and it is important for us as media specialist to try and meet as many of those needs as possible. I’m sure that the difficult part will be to decide which needs to meet first or which ones are the most important. What will be valuable to us will be to stay in touch with our stakeholders through surveys and conversations that we have with them which will greatly assist us in figuring out what specific needs have to be met. Having the support of the administration will also help us when we are trying to acquire new equipment in order to assist students.
Diversity is a hot topic in today's schools. There are so many children coming from non-traditional families and backgrounds that it seems incorrect to call any family "traditional". As media specialists, we have to make sure our text collection speaks to children from all kinds of backgrounds and that the library harbors a safe and accepting environment.
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas for accommodating for students with disabilities. Every child deserves any equal opportunity to learn and if I can provide tools to assist with that learning in the media center, then that is what I will do.
I agree that we need to be prepared to accommodate all students. The range of accommodations needed these days has and is rapidly growing. Media specialists need to play a role in helping provide what is needed to help all students be successful. This doesn't always mean funding the project. Sometimes it just means being tuned into what your school's students need and letting the right people know that something needs to happen. I think this is where our relationships with teachers is important. If we have good relationships, opportunities for quality conversations will present themselves and then we can help solve issues to help all students be successful learners.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be great if the SLMC could be all and do all for every student. But the reality is that we are faced with far too many separate needs to accomodate them all. The SLMS I have talked with say they first try to make sure they have resources to cover the GPS and general population needs before spending money on special needs accomodations. Our national and school populations have never been as diverse as they are today. And it goes without saying that a SLMS should always keep the population of the school in mind when making media program choices.
ReplyDelete