Blog #6

Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

I am currently a media specialist in the Dallas Independent School District.  This is my second year in the library and I am finishing up my degree in Library Science.  Before I began working in the library I was a teacher in several different grade levels in the district.  I have a reading specialization and just always loved the idea of becoming a librarian and helping children with not only how to read, but loving to read.  When I graduate in May I plan to continue to be in the library, and preferably stay in an elementary library.

I currently am a First Level of service employee.  When deciding where I wanted to go with my degree I have always thought of myself remaining in the library.  I enjoy working directly with children and teaching them the strategies and skills that they will need to become successful students.  I enjoyed that aspect of my job when I was teaching and still enjoy that section of my job.  I have no desire to train others or design instruction.  I enjoy working directly with students to see what strategies work, rather than working with adults about strategies (who are not around children on an everyday basis).  I enjoy being in charge of my space and working with teachers and students teaching them about new resources that they can use to further student success.  Another feature that has become very important to me is improving the school by programs that we are implementing, such as Accelerated Reader, reading programs, parent programs, etc.  All of these things I have either been in charge of or take a very strong role in and the school has become a better environment because of these things.

The most important thing that I have realized that I need to learn are new technologies and resources.  Not only do I need to know about them, but I need to be able to explain them to teachers and staff and show them how to effectively use them in their classrooms.  The program that I am a part of has taught me many of these things.  They have not only told me of resources that are available, but I have had to use them in my classes which has enabled me to become a better learner.  They have showed me meaningful ways to use these resources and I have been able to go to the teachers and staff and show them how they could use these same resources and where they might be able to find resources similar to the ones I have taught them.

One of the organizations that I think would help me would be Association for Applied Interactive Multimedia.  I have explained that I have taught teachers about different technology resources that they can use in their classroom, this is one of the areas that I continue to work on with the staff.  We have looked at resources (web based and others) that will allow the children to create projects using multimedia.  If I joined this organization I would be able to keep up with the latest resources and bring that information back to my campus.  Another organization that I would benefit from is SALT or Society of Applied Learning Technology.  Again I think this organization would help me continue my learning in  multimedia and interactive instructional materials.  I noticed that they also discuss performance support systems at their conferences.  This would be an area that I would like to learn more about not only so I could discuss with my teachers how we could be a better support system for each other, but to also help me improve on ways that I can support the teachers and staff of my campus.