Technology, Diversity and the Media Center

When one thinks about the definition of the term diversity, we are immediately drawn to the word different. We think about different genders, different races, different cultures, different languages, etc. When I think about the term diversity with regard to technology and the media center I am also drawn to the term different, specifically different learning styles. I feel that the greatest challenge that the media specialist faces in every aspect of their position boils down to meeting the learning style needs of the entire school, staff and students alike. Every decision the media specialist makes has to pass the different learning styles litmus test. Does this resource accommodate the three basic learning styles (auditory, visual and kinesthetic) as well as students with learning disabilities?

I know that this seems like a tall order, or even an impossible request, for the media specialist to fulfill. On a certain level I might agree with you, however I do not believe media specialists have a choice in this matter anymore. The big push within the Cobb County School District right now is instructional differentiation. In other words, how can teachers within the school district meet the individual needs and learning styles of all of their students? If the teachers are expected to provide differentiating instruction, then the media specialist will be expected to provide individualized resources and support that will assist with the differentiation movement. That said I believe that using different learning styles as the primary concern that permeates all decisions made by the media specialist will do nothing more than make the media center stronger as a result.

In addition to assisting the student population, I feel that the media specialist’s focus on differentiating instruction will do wonders to benefit the faculty as well. I think that this is especially true with regard to administering technology training in-services to the faculty. Within the field of education I often feel that the focus on different learning styles stops at the student level. Just because we became education professional does not mean that we stopped having a specific learning style through which we acquire information best. Technology training in-services should be administered to the faculty in the same manner as a lesson is administered to the student, with everyone’s individual needs and level of technology experience considered.