Credential Connection
Newsletter
May 2002
Library Media Teacher Services Credential Program
CSU Long Beach,
1250 Bellflower Blvd.,
Long Beach, CA 90840
Graduate Council Approves New MA Program Option:
School Librarianship
The Master of Arts in Education, Option in School Librarianship, degree has reached a university benchmark: approval by the Academic Senate’s Graduate Council and Financial Affairs Committee. This new option is slated to begin spring 2003. Since a master’s degree program typically extends to seven years of work, it is planned that current credential candidates can apply for the master’s degree and fold in their ongoing units. This degree option builds on the credential courses, adding a Foundations of Information course, a research methods course, and a capstone seminar with a comprehensive examination. It is anticipated that the program will seek NCATE approval. If interested, contact Dr. Farmer and the Program Web site: http://www.csulb.edu/lmt .
Dr. Farmer, Program Coordinator, received a
university Enhancement Award to develop the LI 500 Foundations of Information
course: the newest offering in the LMT program. It will be offered
Fall 2002 for the first time. The course explores the role of information
and information technology in organizations and society. Topics include societal
needs and demands, sociology of knowledge and science, exploration of diffusion
of knowledge and technology, information seeking and use, information and
culture, and technology and culture. LI 500 will be offered as a hybrid course
(five Saturdays supplemented with online activity) and also as a completely
online course. This course may be used to satisfy professional growth plans
as well as to broaden the knowledge base of library and information science.
Think
of it as CSULB North. That’s Granada Hills High School where Judy Cohn
has been teaching CSULB LMT candidates. Judy taught LI 520 Basic Reference
in the fall and LI 550 Library Media Center Management this spring. She is
slated to teach LI 540 cataloging next fall. “I really enjoy teacher adults,”
exclaims Judy. “I found last’ year’s reference class
to be very stimulating and interesting.” Darla Magana will
be joining the lecturer force next fall in Long Beach.
Betty VanDivier earned high marks from her own cataloging course taught fall 2001 in San Diego. “I really felt prepared after taking her course,” candidates were heard to say. This spring the technology course in San Diego was cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Online courses hope to provide service to this area in the future. Dr. Farmer will teach the selection course next fall via cyberspace so outlying regions can access this program. Candidates from as far as Palm Springs have indicated interest in CSULB’s program. “They hear great things about us, and transfer from other programs,” says Dr. Farmer. “I’d love to start a cohort group in Ventura County as well.” Those interested in getting such a group of students established should contact Dr. Farmer.
NCATE Standards Change
The national standards for graduate
school library media preparation programs is undergoing significant
change. The new standards are slated for presentation this coming October
to the National Council for Accrediting Teacher Education. Dr. Farmer serves
on the national AASL task force to develop these standards. “It’s been fortuitous
shaping the national standards while developing the MA program simultaneously,”
Dr. Farmer explains. “I have also reviewed peer programs, so we should be
well prepared for our own NCATE review.”
National Board Certification Starts
Several LMT graduates are interested in applying National
Board Certification for Library Media. The Los Angeles area has established
a study group to facilitate this process. If interested, contact CSULB LMT
graduate Carolee Christy at cchri7424@aol.com
June 7:
LMT Party
July 14-18:
American Library Assn. conference Atlanta
June 15:
Start of LI 530A Children’s Literature by Joyce Roth
Start of LI 530B online: YA literature by Dr. Farmer
July 1:
Deadline for fall CSULB acceptance
August 31:
Start of LI 500 Foundations of Information by Dr. Farmer
Start of LI 510 Selection online by Dr. Farmer
September 7:
Start of LI 540 Organization of Information by Darla Magana (Long Beach)
September 14:
Start of LI 540 Organization of Information by Judy Cohn (Granada Hills High
School)
Oct. 1:
Deadline for spring CSULB acceptance, spring credential processing
Welcome to the newest LMT credential candidates: Cindy,
Aliff, Terri Carlson, Daniela Dixon-Yanez
, Claudia Farmer, Denise Gold, David Henderson, Susan Rupp, Donna Sharpe,
Elbert Shitimoto, Patricia Simmons, Margaret
Sollitto, Joan Wang, and Aileen Willoughby.
Finishing
their credentials in the last six months are Muriel Bourke, Helen Cox,
John Henning, and Molly Mailloux.
As the LMT and Program Advisory Board meets this spring, they are honoring
key member Janet Minami, who is retired from LAUSD after over 30 years
in the profession. Her influence will certainly continue.
LMT candidate Aileen
Willoughby was awarded a CSLA Southern Section scholarship. Darlene
Dunn was awarded the CSULB Leadership for Diversity Award. LMT
candidates Vida Bahremand and Suzanne
Osman were awarded scholarships from the
Friends of the Leisure World Library.
Advisory Board member
Kathy Foss and Dr. Farmer presented at CUE in Anaheim. Hal Morris
and Rosemary Bernier contributed articles to the
Spring 2002 CSLA Journal, which is again edited by Dr. Farmer.
Indeed, it’s been a banner year for Rosemary Bernier. Besides her CSLA activities, Rosemary participated as a panelist for the LA Festival of Books in April. “There were so many people to talk to and such an opportunity to say some things that will help students with reading comprehension and reading for pleasure,” says Ms. Bernier. She also conducted a plagiarism workshop for her district.
Nation’s Most Improved
Library
Cover girl and recent LMT
graduate Helen Cox and her school library at Lindbergh Middle School
(Long Beach) were awarded the School Library Journal/Gale Giant Step
Award and its $10,000 prize. That’s not including a trip for Helen and her
husband to ALA in New Orleans, where she was lauded by the professional heavyweights
– and Dr. Farmer. Helen was cited for her library transformation and Distinguished
Scholars program. See the cover story in the January 2002 SLJ.
Dr. Farmer: Highlander
and Hawaiian
In August, Dr. Farmer flies to Edinburgh to present a paper on “Information Literacy as a Whole School Reform Effort” for the World Congress on Reading. Later that month she will present a paper on online instruction for the International Federation of Library Associations conference in Glasgow.
She has been invited to teach next summer at the University of Hawaii, and hopes to get one of their faculty to supervise field experience here at that time.
Info Lit: Videos and Web Update
The final (and introductory) episode of the seven-part series on information literacy and technology has been created, and is available for use. Dr. Farmer helped plan and act in the series, which has been introduced in several venues. Copies are available from KOCE-TV by sending a blank VHS videotape to Hall Davidson at KOCE-TV, 15751 Gothard Dr., Huntington Beach 92647. The accompanying Web site may be accessed at: http://www.csulb.edu/~lfarmer/ infolitwebstyle.htm . It features a streamed video version of the six steps.
Please support
the CSULB LMT Services Credential Program …
Through Credential Connection.
Send $10 membership to Nancy Slusher, 310 Spinnaker Way, Seal Beach 90740.