The teaching and learning roles involve curriculum involvement, participation on technology committees, and collaboration beyond the school. Those expecting state and national mandates to support or even save their programs may be disappointed. Principles and goals can serve as a a self-assessment, a tool for determining priorities, or as a job description. Leadership opportunities are present for those who choose to take on leadership roles in decision-making, technology and educational reform. Providing staff development for teachers, offering opportunities for them to become life-long learners and helping them improve how they teach and learn are some of many ways for media specialists to become leaders, mentors and role models.
Technology is more than hardware, software and wires.
However, this does not mean being a technician, but rather a technologist working with teachers and students to achieve authentic learning and information literacy by using information technology as an instructional tool. Gone are recommendations and descriptions of square footage and spaces. Access to the collection of regional, state, national and even global resources is strengthened by technology and the collaborative role of the media specialist. Media specialists are urged to become proactive, by building relationships, resource sharing, cooperative programming, and practicing advocacy. Advocacy is critical to implementing the Information Literacy standards and informing others of the vision for the 21st century media program.