Teaching at Fresno Pacific University again

I am teaching yet another section of this same library technology course for Fresno Pacific University. The evolution has been amazing. When we brought the course online, it was a two-unit one. It is now four units and chock full of technology that students will need throughout the program. In addition to the technology, it is also an orientation to the program.

We are already seeing success from students who instead of going to the instructor automatically know which technology to use, where to post assignments (on their wiki), and how the course is structured.

It has been an interesting progression to watch the program grow. Initially, I was supposed to teach one course and then teach it again when it came around to being my turn. I have now taught it, I believe, four semesters in a row. The online program has become quite successful to say the least.

What am I up to?

I have many things going on right now, so I have been behind in posting. Let's see, I have been:

• Developing an online library service course for students in my district. It is an out-growth of one of my Fresno Pacific University courses.

• Taking the cataloging course at FPU. This is, I believe, my second-to-last course in the teacher librarian services credential program (and I have not decided yet if I want to do the master's degree).

• Teaching two courses for FPU. The first is an expansion of the course I have been teaching, but now it is three units and offers more technology. The second is that same two-unit technology course for graduate math & science students. It has been interesting to see the difference between library folks and math/science folks.

• Helping to coordinate the recent Clouds & Clout Conference for CSLA Northern Section, Region 3.

I hope to be posting on a more regular basis from here on out.

Teaching again...

I am teaching another class for Fresno Pacific University. As loyal readers recall, I taught one this spring. In point of fact, I will be teaching the same course again because they are starting a new cohort for the online Teacher Librarian Services Credential.

If this course is anything like my last group of students, I should enjoy the experience. We are still working at pulling the cohort together.

Once more into the breach...

As loyal readers know, I taught an online course in the Teacher Librarian Services Credential program at Fresno Pacific University this past spring. I thought it went well and I was quite pleased with the results.

Apparently, I did sufficiently well that I have been asked to teach the same course again. There is a district in California that is requiring their TLs to become credentialed, so a new cohort will be starting soon. Thankfully, I only need to tweak the old course outline and I will be good to go.

I am excited at the prospect of teaching another course. When I taught that last course, it had been about a decade since I had taught college students (both at CSU Fresno and at Fresno City College). I had forgotten that I enjoy doing so.

It is rather interesting to be a student and a teacher in the same program. At this point, I have not taught students who have been in the same courses with me and I do not think that will come to pass. That is probably a good thing.

Teaching online

I have been teaching this tech class for a week now for Fresno Pacific University's Teacher-Librarian program.

I am so impressed with these students. It is a small class and entirely online, but I think that has been helpful in many ways. Students tend to be less threatened by what they say and how they say it in online classes, so they are willing to have real conversations about real issues.

Teaching them there librarians

In that last post, I mentioned what I would do if I were teaching a teacher-librarian credentialing course.

As it happens, I am.

But, Tom, you only started the program last year. How can you be doing that so soon? That is just so wrong!

Full disclosure: I am not actually teaching a library course. I am teaching the technology festival course (MCE-760/Curriculum Integration). In other words, I am teaching technology to teacher-librarians. That I can do.

And stop worrying about what I am doing, will you! I know I'm not ready to be teaching the library courses. :)

This is why it has been a little quiet around here lately. As it happens, I am teaching the very first course in Fresno Pacific University's brand-new online program. I also had the pleasure of developing the course. For those not in the know, often instructors teach online courses that they did not develop. That is significantly more common.

Why was I asked to do this? I am not sure. I have taught university classes before, but I also have some experience with online learning. Probably seemed a reasonable choice, I suppose.

Fresno Pacific University Online Program

A few months back I mentioned that Fresno Pacific University would be creating a 100% online library media credential and master's program. This will start May 2008. The university now has a link up for those that are interested in learning more. You can find the credential link here:

Fresno Pacific University Online Library Media Program

The link for the master's degree doesn't seem to be working as of yet, so I will post it when it becomes available.

As I also mentioned, I have been incredibly pleased with the program. Very practice oriented and with exceptional teaching. Two things I greatly appreciate.

By the way, they are so on the ball that it even has the new name for the credential:

Teacher Librarian Services Credential

Teacher Librarian Services Credential

As loyal readers may recall, I mentioned that the credential for those that do what we do has changed. We are no longer Library Media Teachers. As of January 1, 2008, all new credentials issued will say Teacher Librarian.

I have now found the document that tells you all about it on the Commission on Teacher Credentialing's website.

See: Teacher Librarian Services Credential

The one advantage to the new title is that I no longer have to explain what is I do. Very few understood what a Library Media Teacher was and we have had that title since 1990 (when they issued the first LMT credentials). Everyone understands Teacher Librarian because they skip that first part.

By the way, I still think it should be Teacher-Librarian (with hyphen).