Last night at Dr. Ludgate's monthly wimba, we has a conversation spark that made me think about certifications. It was based on a term I came across this week in research called "Cybrarians", which you may already surmise is a term for media specialist of digital content... like us.
I found it in a Google Scholar doc, but then just searched "cybrarians" within and found this:
choose your own research for more info.
But it led me to another practical consideration, that of Florida Teaching Certifications. According to their definitions, EMDTMS grads are eligible for:
*Certification in Computer Science (Grades K-12)
*Certification in Educational Media Specialist (Grades PK-12)
*Certification in Technology Education (Grades 6-12)http
ROI? Not bad.
While I started out in high school as a "librarian assistant", I think I rather like having evolved into a Cybrarian. It sounds very intimidating. Well, knowledge is power. Mrs. Conant would be proud.
Who knew??? As I haven't been an educator except within my role as a trainer at work, I have to admit figuring out what I will be qualified to teach is a little intimidating. Thank you for the information - it gives me a direction to explore in my own state!!
ReplyDeleteLaurie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for a very interesting post. I was wondering about the relationship of our degree with the of a Media Specialist. I definitely plan on researching this further and as I need to look for a new job for next semester that information comes in handy. I will not be returning to OLCHS next year and I think this degree opens more fields than I ever thought it would. Thank you again and best of luck to you as well!
For someone who has a hard time selling herself to a potential employer, certification is a crucial piece that does some of the talking for me. Thanks for the heads-up on that. I do think that the role of librarians are changing and will change a tremendous amount this year (based on job postings I am seeing). Cybrairan or media specialist seem appropriate monikers. I shy away from the specialist word as I feel the pressure of the constant uphill climb to stay current in all the technology I use and all that is new to the market. It is exhausting and often expensive to stay current. If anyone should be current, it should be the specialist, no?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insight! I called the GA Professional Standards Commission when I started thinking of this program, and they told me that Full Sail was not a recognized university for GA certification! I was upset! Then, she told me that I could appeal it by proving that it was certified for teaching in Flordia's Public school system and it would likely be accepted. I am crossing my fingers... Anyone have any experience with this issue in GA?
ReplyDeleteOh, and I also was told by the GA PSC that I had to take and pass the Gace. The only options they offer for technology education are 1) Media Specialist (which is a classified position where you are paid less and not able to teach students), and 2) Educational Technology (which is very high college level physics and hardware creation). The only other option was to take the business test. Which is what I did... This test was NOTHING like my degree. It was all accounting and marketing facts and concepts. I am upset and amazed that GA has not yet come up with a test for certification to teach students technology! Nor do they allow your graduate studies to certify you. What does a GA teacher do?
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