Curricular Action Notice: Program Change
Department: School Library & Information Technologies

Rationale for change:
Residency (LSC5563) is no longer a requirement for PA certification therefore, the learning activities, presented during residency, will be added to a redesigned Seminar course (LSC5564). The existing Seminar in School Librarianship course (LSC5561) will be deleted and the culminating Seminar course (LSC5564) will change from a one credit to a two credit course. The new Seminar course will be comprised of content and authentic learning activities from the “old” Seminar In School Librarianship course as well as from the Residency course.
An Introductory Seminar one credit course (LSC5500) will also be added. This course is designed for new students so that they develop the core technical and critical thinking skills necessary to be successful in the online graduate program.
The addition of these credits will increase the program requirement for the M.Ed. from 31 to 33 credits.

1. Old Degree and Program Title: M.Ed, School Library & Information Technologies
New Degree and Program Title: M.Ed, School Library & Information Technologies

List all changes:

Course deletions:
LSC5561 Seminar in School Librarianship
LSC5563 Residency

Course additions:
LSC5564 Seminar
LSC5500 Introductory Seminar

2. Program Description for Catalog (if changed): (changes are in red font)

SCHOOL LIBRARY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Online Master of Education (M.Ed.), School Library and Information Technologies
Cynthia Keller, Chairperson
717-816-6995(home office); email ckeller@mansfield.edu

The mission of the School Library & Information Technologies graduate program is to empower school library media specialists with the skills and knowledge to assume an essential leadership role in their schools as teachers, instructional partners, information specialists, and program managers of library and information services. In developing the program three core documents guided curriculum design: Information Power, the national standards; the Standards for Pennsylvania School Library Certification and Practice, the state school library association standards; and the Pennsylvania Department of Education Library Science Standards for the Preparation of Public School Educators. These guidelines represent the best thinking in the profession and reflect the emerging role of the school library media specialist as a critical educational leader.

To be successful, a school library media specialist will: 1) provide leadership in planning and managing the use of electronic technologies and information retrieval, 2) teach students to access, apply, and evaluate information to solve problems, 3) partner with teachers to design, implement, and assess curriculum and instruction to meet academic standards, 4) select and manage resources to meet the literacy and information needs of students and the curriculum, and 5) build and oversee a school library program that promotes literacy and information literacy as keys to authentic, lifelong learning for students.
Our online program emphasizes practice-oriented outcomes and offers the learner four significant advantages:

•Close bonds with faculty who are committed to sharing their many years of practical experience and leadership in the school library community
•Convenience of online courses designed for working adults who can not attend a traditional library school
•Close collaboration with practitioners and leaders in the school library community who provide advice in course development
•Authentic assessment of practical, standards-based skills to enhance the learning experience

The 33-35 semester hours of course work serve as an add-on certification program leading to recommendation for library science K-12 certification. Students who are already certified school librarians complete ten 3-credit courses, a 1-credit Introductory Seminar and a 2-credit Seminar for a total of 33 semester hours. Students without library experience complete the required courses, plus a 100-hour practicum, a 2-credit course for a total of 35semester hours. Depending on specific requirements by the student's state department of education, the practicum requirement may be waived.

Course Listing SH
The program consists of the following courses:
LSC 5500 Introductory Seminar 1
LSC 5501 Instructional Collaboration 3
LSC 5505 Core Resources for the School Library 3
LSC 5510 Electronic Delivery Systems 3
LSC 5515 Collection Management in the Electronic Age 3
LSC 5520 Cataloging and Classification in an Electronic Environment 3
LSC 5525 Strategic Library Management 3
LSC 5530 Library Advocacy 3
LSC 5535 Information Literacy and Academic Standards 3
LSC 5540 Information Searching, Retrieval, and Presentation Strategies 3
LSC 5545 Access and Legal Issues in the Information Age 3
LSC 5562 Practicum in School Librarianship 2
LSC 5564 Seminar 2


Most students can complete the online master’s program in two to three years. A one year completion is possible but not recommended for students holding a job. Students are allowed up to five years to complete the program. Every course is offered at least twice each year, including summer. For additional information, refer to the website: http://library.mansfield.edu

Previous Course Listing

Course Listing, SH
The program consists of the following courses:
LSC 5501 Instructional Collaboration 3
LSC 5505 Core Resources for the School Library 3
LSC 5510 Electronic Delivery Systems 3
LSC 5515 Collection Management in the Electronic Age 3
LSC 5520 Cataloging and Classification in an Electronic Environment 3
LSC 5525 Strategic Library Management 3
LSC 5530 Library Advocacy 3
LSC 5535 Information Literacy and Academic Standards 3
LSC 5540 Information Searching, Retrieval, and Presentation Strategies 3
LSC 5545 Access and Legal Issues in the Information Age 3
LSC 5561 Seminar in School Librarianship 1
LSC 5562 Practicum in School Librarianship 2
LSC 5563 Residency 1 Total credits 31- 33


Proposed Course Listing
Course Listing – changes highlighted in yellow SH
The program consists of the following courses:
LSC 5500 Introductory Seminar 1
LSC 5501 Instructional Collaboration 3
LSC 5505 Core Resources for the School Library 3
LSC 5510 Electronic Delivery Systems 3
LSC 5515 Collection Management in the Electronic Age 3
LSC 5520 Cataloging and Classification in an Electronic Environment 3
LSC 5525 Strategic Library Management 3
LSC 5530 Library Advocacy 3
LSC 5535 Information Literacy and Academic Standards 3
LSC 5540 Information Searching, Retrieval, and Presentation Strategies 3
LSC 5545 Access and Legal Issues in the Information Age 3
LSC 5562 Practicum in School Librarianship 2
LSC 5564 Seminar 2
Total credits 33-35

New Course Descriptions

LSC5500 Introductory Seminar
New students of the School Library & Information Technologies program will develop core technical and critical thinking skills necessary to progress through the online graduate program. The one-credit course will begin with a tutorial on Blackboard and proceed with various self-assessments and exercises to improve skills and dispositions related to technology, reflective writing, critical thinking, and online communication needed in a modern school library media center. As needed, the instructor will provide coaching, advising and writing assessments to prepare students for successful program completion.

LSC5564 Seminar
Seminar serves as the capstone of the Master's degree program in School Library & Information Technologies. The goal of the course is for students to reflect on past course work in order to complete authentic learning experiences and a research project. The course is required of all students and consists of ten modules that span ten-weeks. Coursework includes readings, research, and forum discussions.