Case Studies in Educational Technology and Library Leadership

by Steven M. Baule

Overview

The best solution to any problem is to refer to past experiences. This book includes a collection of case studies and situations relating to educational technology and library media, covering issues such as copyright, instructional issues, and hardware and software. This useful resource provides a framework in which to address common situations that school leaders encounter regarding educational technology and school library media programs. For each situation, the book provides a contextual setting of both the school and the community, the immediate background of the situation and the articulated problem. Most of the cases are expressed as an assignment from the superintendent or a principal, and include a listing of appropriate reference sources for further information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781586831530
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/01/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.37(d)

About the Author

Steven Baule is the Superintendent of Schools at Westmont Community Unit School District 201 in Westmont, IL. His published works include Facilities Planning for School Library Media and Technology Centers, Second Edition.

Editorial Reviews

Capable leaders learn from experience. The librarian/technology director has a definite leadership role in the K-12 educational environment where he or she is expected to be the technology guru as well as a personnel manager, a public relations person, a defender of academic freedoms, and a protector of copyright. The value of this book lies in the fact that the situations the author has included are current and similar to ones encountered on the job. The logically arranged topics include everything from handling the teaching staff that has a collection of illegal videos to being gracious to the community member bearing gifts of outdated computer equipment. The author carefully explains the background of each case offering added details to consider, and then suggests other print and Internet resources to further the understanding of the problem. The last chapter includes case-by-case considerations to final resolutions. The author has placed the information experienced leaders have had to glean from workshops and the school of hard knocks neatly between two covers. This will be an excellent resource for working librarians and technology directors. It will likewise be a valuable resource in leadership seminars for professional development. Highly Recommended.” —Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

This activity book offers realistic case studies of what library professionals face on a regular basis. Baule convincingly introduces the pedagogical basis of using case studies, identifies the varieties of them (true, disguised, and fictional), defines the steps for most effectively teaching with them, and describes how they were developed. The studies themselves are organized effectively by six general areas: censorship/copyright/ accountability; equipment and software; personnel; instruction; programming; and evaluation. Each chapter contains several whimsically titled entries, such as "Muggles, Muggles Everywhere," "The Vanishing Vendor," and "Skills or Else!" Each one is engagingly written and ends with a specific assignment, further information, and a list of possible resources. Additional chapters address issues more limited in scope, concluding with "How might you respond?" and a teacher guide pointing out relevant points necessary to resolve each of the major issues. A valuable asset for library schools and in any professional-development situation.-Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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