Assessment for School Library Media Certification
The process for school library media certification candidates is a continuous assessment process, but it officially begins once the candidate has been enrolled in LSC 520 (School Library Media Services).
Step Three: Certification Candidacy and Readiness Assessment
During the semester in which a student is enrolled in LSC 520, the instructor/supervisor will assess the candidate's readiness for Rhode Island student teaching certification, based on the student's observations and pre-practicum field placements at two approved field sites.
The student will complete a journal for LSC 520, reflecting on his/her readiness to
- fulfill the five roles of a library media specialist (as teacher, information specialist, instructional partner, program manager, and leader), and
- incorporate understanding of the Rhode Island Professional Teaching Standards.
This essay will be the first draft of a personal statement to be included in the exit e-folio.
When the student has completed LSC 520, including pre-practicum fieldwork, with a grade of B or better, the instructor/supervisor will interview the student and assess the student's readiness and eligibility for practicum placement according to GSLIS Guidelines and Dispositions. The student will complete a student teaching certification application and enroll in LSC 596 (School Library Media Practicum) for the Spring Semester. Each candidate is allowed to select among approved sites for practicum placement locations where the cooperating library media specialist/mentor has been trained in the Rhode Island Professional Teacher Standards.
Step Four: Exit Certification Assessment
LSC 596 (Professional Field Experience: School Library Media Practicum and Seminar) is a nine-credit graduate course that focuses on
- Supervised field experiences in two school library media programs for a total of twelve weeks (six weeks in an elementary school program and six weeks in a secondary school program) and
- participation in biweekly seminar classes.
Students perform the five roles of a school library media specialist: teacher, information specialist, instructional partner, program manager, and leader. This course is the capstone course for the library media/teacher certification track for all students in the school library media program. Students enrolled in the School Library Media Practicum have successfully completed LSC 520 (School Library Media Services) with a B or better, and have been interviewed for readiness by their faculty supervisor for the Practicum.
Each student is required to develop an electronic exit portfolio. This exit portfolio/e-folio will enable the student to showcase evidence of his/her field experiences and how they met or exceeded achievement of the eleven Rhode Island Professional Teacher Standards (RIPTS). In addition, the exit e-portfolio will document the level to which students are prepared to receive approval for teaching certification in School Library Media grades kindergarten through twelve.
Evidence included in exit e-portfolio documents the students' application of Information Literacy Standards and other subject area standards as used during the field experiences. The practicum supervisor will assess the electronic exit portfolio based on the stated tasks and criteria using the rubric.
The University supervisor works cooperatively and collaboratively in the process of providing the practicum student with positive learning experiences both at the school sites and at biweekly seminars conducted at the University. The supervisor visits the practicum student twice at the field sites and observes and communicates with the cooperating media specialist regarding the student's progress in all four roles and the RIPTS. The cooperating media specialists complete three evaluations of students at two, four, and six weeks. The supervisor completes two site visit reports and one final narrative evaluation. Cooperating media specialists are also extended a special invitation to attend any seminar class to participate in the class discussions. The seminar is a time to discuss current educational issues and books and to further bridge the gap between theory and practice. LSC 596 provides Guidelines for a Good Practicum Experience for both students and cooperating media specialists.
Students who successfully complete LSC 596 including their practicum placements and demonstrate mastery of the Rhode Island Professional Teacher Standards as evidenced in their portfolio/e-folio are recommended for certification as library media specialists K-12. Names of candidates who have completed all of the MLIS or TCP requirements for the school library media program are forwarded to the Office of Teacher Education for letters acknowledging their completion of a state approved program in library media K-12 in Rhode Island. Students also take the PRAXIS II exam and forward their scores to the Office of Teacher Education and the Rhode Island Department of Education and complete their certification application upon completion.
