Counting on the
Local School Media Program for Student Achievement
Presented by:
Paula Flageolle & Dr. Marsha Hunter
Media
Specialists, Duluth High School Gwinnett County Schools
In an effort to improve the media program, the media specialists
at Duluth High School , Paula Flageolle and Dr. Marsha Hunter,
conducted a student survey during the spring semester of the
2005-2006 school year using a form of the survey conducted in
Ohio schools in 2003. From January to March 2006, 435 student
surveys were administered to Duluth students in grades 9-12 (221 females, 214
males). Duluth ’s analyzed data was compared to the data results from
Ohio . The table illustrated that the Duluth data fell along the same lines
as the Ohio data even though the sample size from Ohio was must larger (13,000+).
| Test Section (? #s) |
Ohio |
DHS |
| Getting Information (1-7) |
2.53 |
2.58 |
| Computers (25-32) |
2.52 |
2.54 |
| Using Information (8-15) |
2.25 |
2.21 |
| Knowledge Building (16-24) |
2.07 |
2.15 |
| Achievement (37-40) |
1.96 |
1.91 |
| Reading (33-36) |
1.91 |
1.67 |
Along with the 40 attitudinal questions, students were given
the opportunity to write comments describing specific ways in
which the DHS Media Center had helped them. Analysis of the qualitative
and quantitative data indicated that personal or pleasure reading
was the weakest area in the school’s program. High school
students say they have so much reading in content areas that
it leaves little time for fun reading. Also, the survey indicated
students had a difficult time seeing the connection between instruction
in the media center and its application in areas other than research
projects or their specific assignment. However, students pointed
out they depended on the media specialists for finding resources,
technology help, computer help and database instruction. The
media center was definitely the place to find information and
work on research projects – particularly if you wanted
to get a good grade.
As a result of the study, promotion of personal reading is
receiving a strong focus with additional Teen Read Week activities,
teacher booktalks on the school broadcast program, books displays
throughout the school, and establishing a student book club.
The media specialists are using different terminology during
instruction – terminology that would point out several
areas where specific strategies might be used or how they would
help students in every day situations. The survey definitely
provided valuable feedback on the DHS Media Program and gave
the media specialists a direction for improvement.