the information services and technology program at eastern iilinois university

dr. donald w. smitley*
and
dr. floyd a. landsaw

Editor's Note
Dr. Donald W. Smitley is chairperson of the Department of School Service Personnel, School of Education, Eastern Illinois University. Dr. Floyd A. Landsaw is associate professor of Information Services and Technology (IST) in that department. Other members of the IST staff who planned and developed the program are Ms. Sylvia Y. Kaplan, Dr. Richard W. Lawson, Ms. Beverly B. Miller, and Dr. Robert C. Wiseman. Any of these individuals may be contacted for information concerning the IST program at the School of Education, Room 211 Buzzard Building, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920, or by telephone at 217-581-2919.

In January of 1984, the Illinois State Teacher Certification Board approved the Information Services and Technology (IST) Program at Eastern Illinois University. This program now meets state requirements for the Media Specialist Certificate as well as university requirements for the M.S. in Education Degree.

Since 1964, Eastern Illinois University had offered the M.S. in Education Degree in Instructional Media. When Illinois state certification standards were modified in 1977, students enrolled in the Instructional Media Program were encouraged to take courses in library science in order to obtain the Media Specialist Certificate through transcript evaluation.

In 1979, the opportunity to integrate the areas of library science and instructional media into a unified program was made possible when three library science staff members were transferred to the Department of School Service Personnel, which served as the administrative agency for the Instructional Media Program. The department staff then developed plans to restructure that program to include both library science and instructional media course work, in an attempt to meet modified state certification standards. Students completing the restructured program continued to obtain state certification through transcript evaluation.

At the same time, department staff members began the process of conceptualizing the theoretical components of the IST program. The term, "information services," was selected because it applied to those services provided by library/media specialists to students, teachers, and other staff members in order to facilitate and enhance teaching and learning processes. The term, "technology," was disignated because it referred to a knowledge of the application and utilization of the hardware (audio-visual equipment) and software (instructional materials) to accomplish this task.

The IST program was designed to train media specialists in the use of both print and non-print resources. Increasing budgetary restrictions upon public schools have intensified the need for employment of one professionally trained specialist in the library science and instructional media areas rather than a specialist in each of these fields. Such personnel, trained in both of these areas, have been (and are continuing to be) sought by school district employers to meet all of the information needs of their clientele and staff.

The IST program provides students with knowledge, attitudes, and skills relating to (1) the functions of a school library/media program, and (2) the specific responsibilities assumed by the library/media specialist to carry out these functions. The IST staff has identified the following functions of a school library/media program:

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1. To support the informational needs of professional staff and students.

2.  To assist in the selection of print and non-print learning resources for teachers and students.

3.  To provide equipment and resources that implement the utilization of learning resources.

4.  To catalog, store, disseminate, and retrieve instructional equipment and resources.

5.  To assist staff members in the application of learning theories to curriculum design.

6.  To assist staff members in the systematic design and production of instructional resources.

7.  To provide instruction and guidance to teachers and students in the proper utilization of print and non-print resources.

8.  To assist teachers in the exploration and use of modern technologies that enhance learning processes.

9.  To contribute to the development of positive attitudes of school staff members toward the achievement of educational goals and objectives.

The functions listed above are accomplished by the library/media specialist through fulfillment of the following responsibilities:

1. Supervision of the library/media center;

a.  Develop and maintain collection of instructional resources,

b.  Establish procedures for the dissemination and retrieval of resources,

c.  Train and supervise staff members assigned to the library/media center,

d.  Organize and maintain professional reference materials for teachers,

e.  Provide systematic scheduling for utilization of library/media center facilities by students on an individual or group basis.

2. Utilization of learning resources;

a.  Assist teachers in the use of resources to meet specific learning objectives,

b.  Provide training for students and teachers in the effective utilization of equipment and resources,

c.  Plan and implement staff development activities appropriate to the use of instructional resources,

d. Assist staff members in the design and development of units of instruction,

e.  Assist staff members in the development and implementation of the school curricullum..

3. Production of learning resources;

a.  Provide adequate facilities and materials for the production of learning resources by teachers,

b.  Provide faculty with consultant services concerning learning resource production,

c.   Design and develop instructional materials for use in the library/media center.

4.   Promotion of positive relationships;

a.  Establish effective channels of communication between library/media center staff, teachers, and other educational specialists,

b.   Promote positive student attitudes regarding their use of library/media center facilities and resources,

c.   Increase the awareness of community citizens concerning the functions of the library/media center in facilitating learning processes,

d.  Assist students in the development of effective study habits.

5.  Selection and cataloging of instructional resources;

a.  Establish criteria for evaluating and selecting instructional materials to be housed in the library/media center,

b.   Plan and implement procedures for participation of school staff in the selection of learning resources,

c.   Establish appropriate cataloging methods to enhance staff and student access to instructional and learning resources.

6.  Administration of library/media center operations;

a.   Establish goals for the library/media center,

b.  Develop program policies involving faculty and student use of facilities and resources,

c.  Establish and maintain procedures for providing library/media center services,

d.   Establish procedures for recruitment, selection, and training of library/media center staff,

e.   Develop a budget for the operation of the library/media center.

Instructional components of the IST program were developed after careful consideration of input from Illinois public school administrators, library/media specialists, and teachers, as well as guidelines of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology and the American Library Association. Course content in the program includes the following areas:

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1.  Basic sources of information;

2.  Cataloging and classification of information;

3.  Communications, resources, and technology;

4.   Print applications in photography;

5.  Administration and supervision of library/media programs;

6.  Selection of information sources and collection development;

7.  Selection of materials for children and/or adults;

8.  Computer systems applications;

9.   Instructional television;

10.  Advanced production techniques;

11.  Special educational problems;

12.  Seminar in educational technology;

13.  Research;

14.   Independent study.

The IST program includes a major emphasis upon management and utilization of the microcomputer in education. Eastern's IST staff members believe that the public school library/media center is the ideal location for housing microcomputers which are, and will continue to be, essential in meeting the information needs of students and teachers. Library/media specialists who understand the application of microcomputers in informational and instructional processes should readily find employment in public schools as well as in numerous other public agencies and private businesses and industries. Such individuals should be most capable of providing necessary resources and services to their clientele in the information age of today and tomorrow.

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