Credential
Connection Newsletter
October, 1999
LMT Program Shines in College
With 58 students enrolled in
LI520 Basic Reference, the LMT Services Credential Program is going
strong. In fact, the increase in
numbers over the last year has risen 82%, far more than any other program in
the College of Education. Queries about
the program occur weekly, so the need is out there – and the program is trying
to meet those needs. Dr. Lesley Farmer,
the new Coordinator for the program, has been busy updating credential
information, and has been exploring outreach avenues such as a “fast track”
option and professional development for practicing LMTs.
Campus Welcomes New Coordinator
Dr. Lesley S. J. Farmer joins
CSULB as the new Program Coordinator.
With opening gatherings and new faculty orientation sessions, Dr. Farmer
is settling into her job. In order to
be closer to the rest of the College of Education faculty, she has her office
in ED1, room 27, “Facing the library, of course,” she quips. Already, she has ordered new books for the
library to support the program. In
fact, she donated her own latest publication to the library: Cooperative
Learning Activities in the Library Media Center, 2d edition, Libraries
Unlimited.
Dr. Farmer most recently hales
from Northern California where she taught at San Jose State University in their
MLIS program and directed the Redwood High School Library. Dr. Farmer has worked in public, special,
government, community college and college libraries as well as taught library
science, English, and computer programming.
Active in her profession, Dr.
Farmer was recently elected CSLA VP Organization as well as American
Association of School Librarians (AASL) Region VII Director. She will be keynoting the Virginia
Educational Media Association conference in November, just before her
presentations at the California Library Association and CLSA conferences.
In an effort to keep abreast of technology, Dr. Farmer has added
several new features to the program.
Along with the present program information listed under the Educational
Psychology department Web page (http://www.csulb.edu/~edpsychg),
courses now have an online Web presence. The Newsletter will also be available
online. The current syllabus is posted
for students, as well as online weekly activities. “I want incoming librarians to be comfortable with communications
channels; researching and networking online complements face-to-face
discussion,” says Dr. Farmer. Next
semester, LI570 Library Technologies and LI580 Field Experience will have expanded
Web-based interface. CSULB installed
CourseInfo, a set of programs that “package” coursework. Dr. Farmer will use this software to
integrate class notes, online activities, group work, “real time” chats,
assignments and grades. “Students will
experience “one-stop” course information.”
Increasingly, the campus is incorporating technology
into the curriculum. A new iMac lab
provides students with fast Internet access.
The school also has a new full-time technician to help faculty. In addition, more tech aids are available
during lab time. Each course in the LMT
program will include lab and software preview activities.
The College of Education
received a grant from the U. S. Department of Education to update technology
for faculty and students. This grant
addresses the new state requirements for technological competence of incoming
teachers. Part of this funding will
enable the school to re-establish a software demonstration/review center. Dr. Farmer and Steve Adams will be working
on this project. Donations to this
phoenixed center are greatly appreciated; send them to Dr. Farmer.
Also in the works is the option
for credential candidates to earn a Master’s degree in Technology-Based
Learning. This interdisciplinary
program offers a flexible 33-unit plan that incorporates research and
statistics, cognition and learning, technology-based learning, and design. Up to five LMT credential courses may be
applied to the degree. “Particularly
with the advent of Digital High School and 4-8 grade technology opportunities
from the state, this degree can offer added options for our students,” asserts
Dr. Farmer.
CUE
conference in Sacramento; LME SIG breakfast Oct. 29 (Dr. Farmer is facilitator)
California
Reading Association conference in Long Beach
CLA
conference in Palm Springs
CSLA
conference in Palm Springs
Sat. is Recruitment Day and showcases CSULB
Last
day of fall semester
LI570 Technology begins
Deadline
for applying to CSULB matriculation, summer fieldwork
First
summer session
LI540 Organization/
Cataloging
July 22-August 26
LI530A Elementary Library Materials
Welcome to the newest LMT
credential candidates: Marsha Davies, Michael Denman, Eileen Fallman
and John Hamrick. All bring
valuable educational experience to the program.
Current candidate Susan
Lawson, who will be doing her field work this spring, was featured in the
September 1999 issue of Advantage for her work on reading support.
Many thanks to Rosalind Hertz
and Marilyn Lawson for their fine efforts on the Advisory
Committee. They are retiring from the
group, but continue to support the program.
Ongoing advisory members include Dale Buboltz, Chris Burcham, Camille
Dolas, Kathy Foss, Pam Houseman, Judy Hughes, Virginia Kalb, Janet Minami,
Richard Moore, Zhita Rea, Joyce Roth, and Kitty Salinas.
Alum Irma Loera now substitutes for Garden
Grove Unified District.
Alum Meredith Brace is working at Crane
County Day School, an independent K-5 school with 220 students.
Anne Polkingharn retired
after 31 years at Harbor Day School, and was feted for her work. As one parent summarized it, “Anne
Polkingharn was a major factor in our decision to educate our children at
Harbor Day. I wanted my children to
learn to read in the warm company of such a woman. Anne is a dedicated teacher, and an imaginative librarian.” Anne notes in her letter to CSULB alumni, “I
love school library work and would love to continue supporting and promoting
our work. Integrating technology in the
library is a special interest of mine.
Molly Mailloux is my successor and is currently enrolled in the CSULB
program.”
Orange County Develops
Standards Under the guidance of Marilyn Boyce (who
also helps teach in the LMT program), the Orange County Office of Education has
established a task force to develop standards for library media program in
support of standards for student outcomes in information, reading and
technology literacies.
Part of the impetus for the
project stems from the state funds allotted for library resources; guidance is
needed in spending it well and making sure that students can use these
materials to achieve academic success.
Presently, many elementary school libraries in the county are open only
part time, and some staff are not sufficiently trained. Books are sometimes outdated, and the
average number of books per student is under 10.
Several aspects of library
standards are being examined: the continuum of literacies, staffing and roles,
policies and positions, and levels of service.
LMT program Advisory members Camille Dolas, Kathy Foss, and Richard
Moore, along with coordinator Dr. Farmer are participating in this
important work.
Mentoring Opportunities
In speaking with other library
educators, Dr. Farmer noted the importance of student-professional
connections. The Advisory Committee,
which has a strong reputation, suggests these methods to connect:
Ø
Visit
local libraries and LMTs
Ø
Continue
field experience contacts
Ø
Call
upon adjunct faculty
Ø
Join
CSLA, CUE, CLA, CRA
Ø
Attend
conferences and volunteer to help
Ø
Join
librarian listservs such as CALIBK12
Ø
Read
and contribute to this Newsletter!
Please support the CSULB LMT Services Credential Program …Through Credential
Connection.
Send
$10 membership to Nancy Slusher, 310 Spinnaker Way, Seal Beach 90740.
Name:
Address:
City/State/ZIP:
Current
Position:
School/District
Work/home
phones:
Email:
NEWS: