Blog 7: Technology, Diversity and the Media Center

Many schools recognize that serving the needs of a diverse population is a dire necessity. On the other hand, many schools fail to provide the necessary programs and curriculum to serve a population of culturally different learners. The Schoolwide Cultural Competence Observation Checklist (SCCOC) was developed by Bustamante, Nelson, and Onwuegbuzie (2009) in order to assess whether schools were allocating the necessary resources to service diverse groups of students. How can the media center ensure that it too is meeting the needs of diverse students?

The term diversity can mean many different thing to many different people. So, what is the definition of diversity? Nieto (1999) suggests that cultural diversity is a complex entity that goes beyond everyday things such as traditions, food, fashion, and folklore. Diversity includes these influences but also includes daily experiences shaped by social factors and other factors defined by a particular region or community. Certainly ethnicity, race, family structure, socioeconomic status language, religious preferences, age, gender, and many other factors play a major role in determining diversity. Putting a single factor or designation on diversity may actually do the actual definition a disservice. Many factors play a role in determining one’s diversity.  

The role of the media center in promoting cultural diversity in a school is an immense undertaking. The media center has a responsibility to promote literature that is culturally accurate while giving students from diverse backgrounds a chance to engage in literature that depicts their respective culture. Media centers must house materials that are divers in nature so students from diverse cultures can find a deeper appreciation of their culture. In addition, students should be exposed to cultures that are not their own so that they may understand and value other cultures. According to Naidoo (2014), media centers can make a huge difference by including diversity in its programs and collections. In turn, the media center has the potential for helping children make cross-cultural connections and develop the skills necessary to engage productively in other diverse settings.

Media centers are a natural place where students can explore many different avenues of interests. Therefore, it is a wonderful place for students to explore diversity and different cultures in order to better appreciate these cultures. Technology is a great instrument for students to use to discover diversity. Technology helps students to engage in other cultures that they may otherwise not get the opportunity to do so. The internet allows students to reach out to diverse students in other countries to try and learn more about them. In addition, access-enhancing technology allows students with diverse needs to access materials that they may otherwise have trouble doing.

I have personally seen many media centers adopt materials that are divers in nature. Many library collections now contain materials that meet the needs of a diverse set of students. As far as technology, I think media centers are not quite proficient when it comes to serving diverse students. Technology can be a wonderful tool to teach others about diversity as well as helping students who have diverse needs.   

References

Bustamante, R M, Bustamante, J A, & Nelson, A J. (2009). Assessing schoolwide cultural

    competence: implications for school leadership preparation. Educational administration

    Quarterly, 45(5), 793-827.

Naidoo, J. (2014). The Importance of diversity in library programs and material collections for children. Chicago: Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association.

Nieto, Sonia. 1999. The Light in Their Eyes: Creating Multicultural Learning Communities. New York: Teachers College Press.