After working in higher ed as an academic technologist for over a decade, I recently made the move to working in a high school media center. In this talk I will share my insights from my recent experience on both sides of the k-12/higher ed divide, with a focus on the role of library, media center, and educational technology staff in their work with these two communities of students. I worked at Macalester College as an academic technologist for 10 years. In that role I worked daily with faculty and students with technology in their courses and research, often in collaboration with the library. I also trained and managed a team of students who did tech support and customer service in the Digital Resource Center. I recently took a job working in the Media Center at Minnetonka High School. Minnetonka is a top ranked public high school, with over 90% of its graduates going on to higher ed. It also has a 1:1 iPad program and high expectations for the students’ use of technology and digital materials. Because of my background, much of what I observe in my work at the high school is processed my internal question “how are these students being prepared for institutions like Macalester?” Specifically, how is their high school experience with technology and media going to affect their transition to higher ed? And on the flip side, what could I pass on to my friends and colleagues back at Mac and other colleges, that would help them be ready for the next wave of students to come through their doors? My talk will explore the answers to these questions.
