Technology, Diversity, and the Media Center--The Final Frontier

"Infinite diversity in infinite combinations... symbolizing the elements that create truth and beauty." --Commander Spock

I looked up quotes about diversity, saw this one on finestquotes.com, and--being a Trekkie--had to use it!  I could "boldly go where no man has gone before" and say that only by embracing diversity will we "live long and prosper."

Okay, now that I've indulged my inner geek, let me just say that diversity is, without a doubt, important for consideration in the media center.  It is inescapable in our world; the media center is no exception.  No two patrons--students, teachers, or others--are exactly alike.  It falls to us to do our best to meet the needs of the varying individuals we serve.  And these needs are constantly changing, making it difficult at times to predict what will be pertinent and timely.  However, using research, reliable blogs, and expert sources can help us in our quest to build a rich collection to both tempt and satisfy our customers!

What does diversity look like?  Is it race, gender, ability level?  Yes, yes, yes, and then some.  Diversity includes these differences in origin, demographics, interests, abilities, and so much more.  It keeps things interesting. Okay, back to Star Trek--just look at the crew of the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise.  On one team, you may see a Vulcan, an African American woman, an Asian man, a Scot, and more.  In the "Next Generation," the team would include an android and a Klingon.  Each individual possesses qualities which differentiate him or her from others and which contribute to the whole.

Now, look at the students in our schools.  Not only do we have students from numerous races and ethnic backgrounds, we also serve families from varying socioeconomic levels and make-ups.  For example, children may live with one or both parents, step-parents, same-sex parents, grandparents, and more.  Their interests and abilities vary, and their learning styles differ as well.  Their home life affects their attitudes towards school and learning.

Next, look at the teachers in our schools.  Within one staff, even within one grade level, you may see first year teachers, veteran teachers, and one-foot-out-the-door teachers approaching retirement.  You may see by-the-book teachers who are afraid to veer from standard pedagogical approaches, then look around and see a teacher standing on top of desks while kids lie on the floor!  Not only do teachers differ in their educational backgrounds, histories, and approaches, but they each have individual personal lives which can influence what happens in school as well.

What role does technology play?  Technology tools can be used for research about needs and trends and for collection development.  They can be used to vary learning activities and to scaffold for varying ability levels.  Web 2.0 tools can be used to communicate with others and evaluation programming and get new ideas, and also to create and share projects.

As media specialists, we should be the "experts" in our schools when it comes to instructional technology.  This is where the state of Georgia is going, by the way, according to my sources.  Gone are the days of simply checking out books and having story time.  Now, it's podcasts, wikis, blogs, and more.  It's collaboration with teachers to create technology-rich instruction.

We may not know everything (just almost everything...), but we should maintain a toolbox of resources, both human and nonhuman, for locating information to answer the information needs of our patrons....at "warp speed."