I believe the term "diversity" represents the varied cultures, beliefs, learning styles, and education levels of the student (and staff) population in a school. I like to think of diversity like the Jelly Belly candy aisle at my local Super Target (LOVE super Target, don't you?). Much like children, those little beans come in all different colors, flavors, and names. However, each one is delicious and surprising in its own way! It's a beautiful aisle to walk down, and just doing so can brighten my day! In schools today teachers have to be able to reach all types of learners. There are many tools a teacher can keep in her special "tool box" of tricks to make the job easier, and knowledge of new technology is a big one. Kids love playing around and exploring with different software programs and equipment. Plus, anything that helps make our jobs as teachers or their jobs as students easier, yet still enriching, is a blessing.
In a school media center technology can be used to meet the needs of diverse learners. Software programs and websites can translate materials into foreign languages, and software programs designed to support and help scaffold learning can be individualized for each student. Video projectors, sound systems, Smartboards, and other technology tools help media specialists and teachers reach students with diverse learning styles. Those types of equipment allow media specialist to visually display materials that might otherwise go unnoticed. Technology also helps make learning fun! With social networking, blogs, wikis, and digital storybooks, students can express themselves in whole new ways. Having experiences with such technology also helps students stay current with the larger world in respect to technology skills used in college, the work place, and even everyday home life.
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I think you have nailed this right on the head with staying current. By providing the materials and technology for learning, we are helping students maintain and develop the skills they need to succeed in life.
Great analogy between students and jelly beans! I've never thought of this comparison before. : )As teachers we know how to meet the needs of diverse learners; we do it every day. To carry that into the media center using technology through the many ways we've studied this semester will be fun and exciting. Thanks for highlighting the myriad ways we can continue to reach students once we are teacher librarians.
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