• Teaching and Learning
• Information Access and Delivery
• Program Administration.

Ed Media students training to become a School library media specialists (SLMS) have the potential to be effective teachers as well as effective information specialists. The instructional role of the slms has emerged over the years and assumed importance. In addition, the breadth and depth of the school library collection and enhanced access to it, ensures that worldwide resources will be included in a variety of formats available to all PreK-12 students. Program planning and evaluation is more rigorous and reflective as well. As a result, PreK-12 student achievement is more central to the goals of the school library media program. Therefore, since the online Ed Media program prepares today's PreK-12 school library media specialist, it also reflects these values and educational expectations.

Ed Media program goals and objectives are derived from the national charge for school library professionals found in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (1998). The program knowledge base is grounded in developing and using skills and knowledge in the areas of information resources, information access, technology, management and research for providing library and information services. (ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialists Preparation)

College of Education (COE) Conceptual Framework and the Ed Media Program

Click to download the College of Education Conceptual Framework (MS Word .doc).
Click to view the Ed Media Program Standards, Goals, Learning Objectives and Outcomes

At the heart of the COE conceptual framework are three concentric circles creating a "target" for graduates from all of the COE's professional education programs. The core objective ("bull's eye") is becoming a Professional Educator, an achievement that requires continuous reflective practice (middle ring) and professional development aligned with applicable national, state, and institutional standards (outer ring).

The outer pentagon of the conceptual framework represents five broad orientations regarding the preparation of professional educators (Academic, Teaching/Scientific, Practical, Critical/Social, and Humanistic), which serve as a broad foundation for the framework. Students, as they progress through the Ed Media program, are expected to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions within these five orientations that will enable them to become successful professional media specialists.

Integrated throughout all aspects of our conceptual framework and thus reflected as a circle-in-motion is our circle of core beliefs (Research Base, Best Practice, Life-Long Learning, Ethics, Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, Caring, Democracy, Academic Standards, and High Quality Education).

The triangle represents the three major dimensions of professional development: Knowledge (Subject Matter Pedagogy, Ethical Standards), Skills (Communication, Systematic Inquiry), and Dispositions (Professional Commitment, Professional Collaboration). The next three overlapping triangles represent three broad levels of professional development: Pre-professional [Ed Media Masters], Professional, and Accomplished (note the physical progression indicating that professional development always moves in the direction toward Professional Educator).

The Ed Media Masters program and courses strive to blend the principles identified in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (ALA/AASL, 1998), multiple professional standards (NCATE, ALA/AASL, FL DOE) and the COE conceptual framework.