Strategies for Enhancing Collaboration between IT and Library Professionals in Educational Settings
Empowering Instructional Technology Specialists and Library Media Specialists as Strategic Partners in Education
In a forward-thinking approach, schools are recognizing Instructional Technology Specialists (ITS) and Library Media Specialists (LMS) as strategic partners in teaching and learning. Charlie Hinsch, Instructional Technology Coordinator at Virginia Beach City Public Schools, is leading this charge.
Hinsch believes that ITS and LMS should be embedded in a school's professional learning structure, co-designing and delivering instruction, aligning with school goals, and focusing on continuous improvement. This includes integrating innovative lessons that engage students with technology, such as gamified learning.
One of Hinsch's key strategies is to position ITS and LMS as leaders in reimagining pedagogy and using technology to enhance learning. They drive initiatives like digital citizenship, AI literacy, and the inquiry model for research. Hinsch even suggests that ITS and LMS should co-lead instruction on AI and digital citizenship.
To achieve this, Hinsch encourages a culture of respect between ITS and LMS teams, fostering a cohesive school atmosphere. He also emphasizes the importance of giving everyone a seat at the table, meaning active participation in decision-making processes.
Hinsch further encourages ITS and LMS to attend statewide instructional technology conferences, such as those held in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and to submit proposals for national conferences like STC, ISTE, and ALA. This provides opportunities for growth and learning, transforming ITS and LMS into change agents.
In addition to these strategies, Hinsch suggests embedding ITS and LMS into division-wide coaching frameworks, aligning their support with key instructional priorities like blended learning and digital citizenship. Tools such as Adobe Express, Google Workspace Suite, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, MagicSchool, WeVideo, Canva, Suno, Canvas, and School AI are just a few examples of the resources they use to facilitate transformative learning experiences.
For more in-depth professional learning and support, educational consortia like CESA 1 offer customized instructional technology professional development. These workshops help specialists advance their role in facilitating transformative learning experiences, focusing on leveraging AI tools, makerspaces, and differentiated instruction strategies.
In conclusion, to empower ITS and LMS as strategic partners in schools, it's crucial to focus on district case studies and leadership perspectives from ITS/LMS coordinators like Charlie Hinsch. Professional learning frameworks embedding ITS and LMS as instructional coaches and collaborators should also be considered. Specific instructional priorities where their expertise is aligned, such as blended learning and digital citizenship, should be identified. Lastly, customized professional development programs that build their capacity to be change agents and strategic partners in schools should be sought.
For further reading, the article “5 Ways to Improve Relationships Between Your Instructional Technology Specialists and Library Media Specialists” on Tech & Learning provides actionable insights and practical recommendations on this topic. Scholarly resources or frameworks on instructional coaching, digital leadership, and change management in education technology contexts may also be useful. Educational organizations and consortia websites may provide ongoing resources and workshops to further empower these specialists.
- Library Media Specialists (LMS) and Instructional Technology Specialists (ITS) are being recognized as strategic partners in a school's teaching and learning approach, with Charlie Hinsch leading this movement.
- ITS and LMS should be integrated into a school's professional learning structure, co-designing and delivering instruction, and aligning with school goals to focus on continuous improvement.
- ITS and LMS drive initiatives like digital citizenship, AI literacy, and the inquiry model for research, and they should co-lead instruction on AI and digital citizenship.
- To achieve these goals, Hinsch encourages a culture of respect between ITS and LMS teams, active participation in decision-making processes, and attending instructional technology conferences for growth and learning.
- ITS and LMS should be embedded into division-wide coaching frameworks, using tools like Adobe Express, Google Workspace Suite, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, MagicSchool, WeVideo, Canva, Suno, Canvas, and School AI to facilitate transformative learning experiences.
- For further professional learning, educational consortia like CESA 1 offer customized instructional technology professional development, focusing on leveraging AI tools, makerspaces, and differentiated instruction strategies.
