Library/Media/Tech Teacher
Library media teachers and technology teachers and instructors can work in educational environments with all types of students. Those who love working with small children can introduce technology and library systems in elementary schools, while professionals wanting to teach more advanced topics in media technology and related fields may want to work in a high school, vocational school or college. These teachers are information specialists who help students with school projects, finding research materials, understanding how technology systems collaborate with academic study, and becoming more IT literate, generally.
These educational professionals have range of duties, from helping students and teachers find materials in the library to picking out technology for the library to designing lessons and presentations to teach correct methods for working with information systems and educational technology. Librarians and IT teachers need to have a strong interest in both education and technology and able to stay abreast of the leading trends in each of these fields. Librarians and media experts may travel to conventions to learn about new systems to add to the school’s library, and they need to conduct a lot of research to help them share new platforms that enhance education through technology. Examples of some of the technology that they may work with include virtual media systems, the Internet, online databases, social media, audio and visual systems and more.
Library/media/tech teachers work with students, teachers, administrators, alumni and the community to apply for grants, work with budgeting counsels, report on new technology systems that would benefit the school, and teach students to become more technologically adept in their academic pursuits. They will also need to design their own lesson plans and presentations that incorporate programs and examples of how to use the technology in the library or classroom. Computer, Internet and media technology proficiency is a must.
Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs in library science, library media teacher studies, information systems, educational technology and related fields. Depending on the school or district, teachers may need to have a Master’s degree, or at least some graduate level coursework completed. Courses in these programs may feature professional and technology ethics, instructional resources, electronic research technologies, instructional design, teaching courses, and a field internship.
Media tech teachers and librarians generally work on the same schedules as traditional teachers, but they may also work part-time during the summer months if they are preparing for a grant, going to a conference, or learning about new technology systems for the school or district.
