One
of Maryland's Top Technology InitiativesB.C.P.S. Online Research Modules
| Update to printed version distributed Oct. 1, 1999 |
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One
of Maryland's Top Technology Initiatives
B.C.P.S. Online Research Modules
The Maryland Business Roundtable and the Maryland State Department of Education have recently recognized the Online Research Modules as one of ten exemplary technology initiatives in the state of Maryland.
The modules represent an exciting new way to structure and guide student research efforts so that they focus upon higher level thinking using rich electronic resources. Students are challenged to gain new insights through their interaction with information by employing thoughtful reading, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information to create answers, not just find them.
The Online Research Modules are designed as webpages which include a carefully structured research process model to include a research scenario, learning task, rubrics and scoring tools, directions for use of various media and electronic resources, and links to excellent Internet websites.
The concept of online research modules is based on the research by Dr. Jamie McKenzie, an international technology expert and editor of From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal.
"Trailblazing" library media specialists began to design Baltimore County's modules during the summer 1998 Curriculum Workshop and again in 1999. Leading the design team is Kay Jones, library media specialist at Perry Hall High School. The design team members include: Joyce Caldwell, Barbara Falkinburg, Phyllis Fullem, Chris McSwain, Ann O'Neill, Ann Tanner, Penny Setser, Pat Simon, and Carrie Terry.
The Online Research Modules are available on onLINE: The Librarians' Information Network for the Essential Curriculum at http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/curric/.
Benefits and Outcomes
1999-2000
Library Information Services Goals
Goals serve as a pathway to reach our vision for both the school
system and library media services. The goals for Library Information
Services were carefully crafted to dovetail with systemic goals,
and clearly show how the library media profession can make significant
contributions towards student achievement, maintaining a safe
and orderly environment, and effective and efficient use of resources.
Use these goals as well as your local school goals to develop
your school library media center goals for 1999-2000. It is recommended
that you keep your goals visible to yourself and others. Remember
the power of a "shared vision" when John F. Kennedy
stated, "We will put a man on the moon!"
1999-2000 S.A.F.E. Grant for Elementary Schools
Funds will be used to rebuild literature collections that K-5 elementary students are motivated to read and provide new online and electronic references to support their research. The total amount of the grant is $752,636 and will be allotted to schools on a per pupil basis using the September 30, 1999 enrollment figures. The addition of these new materials are timely in that Baltimore County Public School students have made significant gains in reading skills. Scores from the 1998-99 Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test and the comprehensive Test of Basic Skills show that 90% of K-2 students are reading at or above grade level. The addition of these new reading materials will dramatically spark and sustain students' independent reading interests as well as support research, learning, instruction, and student online research/investigations to promote reading for literary experience, reading to be informed, and reading to perform a task.
The collection development focus areas are as follows:
Our collection specifications have been sent to vendors to develop
master Literature Catalog/Orders. Baker and Taylor, Bound
to Stay Bound, Sagebrush (formerly EconoClad), and Follett have
responded to our request. Library media specialists will use these
catalogs as well as
the Library Instructional Media Catalog to order materials.
Ordering directions will be
discussed at the October 1, 1999 Library Staff Development
Meeting.
Quick
Notes
A budget presentation was made by the Office of Library Information Services to the Superintendent's Staff on September 9, 1999. The purpose was to discuss current budget practices, to provide an historical overview of funding, and to discuss the collection development process and MSDE Standards.
We are very encouraged by the interest and support shown by the Superintendent's Staff. Within the next few weeks, we are to do another presentation which will focus on the "quality" of collections.
Parent Internet Education: Congratulations on Launching A NATIONAL MODEL!
Many thanks to all for leading a nationally recognized parental involvement program last school year. Increasing awareness of parents as to the benefits and the risks of the Internet not only fosters safe use by their children, but also garners support for educational uses of technology in our schools. It has also had a positive effect on how the community perceives the role of the library media specialist. We need to continue our efforts to engage more parents in this valuable training during the 1999-2000 school year. This program directly ties in with the three systemic goals: (1) to improve achievement for all students; (2) to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment; and, (3) to use resources effectively and efficiently. This program is included in the system level strategic plan currently being developed by offices and schools.
Library media specialists are urged to organize a training team within the school or by feeder schools. Contact you local Baltimore County Public Library Branch manager to get their involvement. Marketing your workshops is very important. If you have not already done so, seek help through your school's PTA. The Parent Internet Education curriculum/training material is available at http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/curric/. I look forward to hearing great things from you and other again this year!
Mark Your Calendar
School Library
Media Cohort Begins
Classes
The 3rd cohort of 23 graduate students who have made a commitment
to earn a Master's of Instructional Technology or MSDE certification
in School Library Media began classes at Towson University the
first week in September. We extend our best wishes and enthusiastic
support as you begin your professional journey to an exciting
career in school library media. For more information about the
cohort check out the website at http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/curric/
(click link for cohort)
FirstClass Messages
The Office of Library Information Services uses FirstClass to send to library media specialists timely and important messages. Make sure that the person responsible for distributing information to school personnel understands that all messages directed to library media specialists must be sent to you.
Teen Read Week, October 17-23, provides a focal point for year round efforts to get older kids involved in reading outside the classroom. This year's theme: "Reading Rocks! Read for the Fun of It."
Check out the ALA website at http://ala8.ala.org/teenread/ which highlights a few of many past successful events and provides tips and ideas, sample publicity materials and resources to get the word out. You'll also find new posters and promotional products available from ALA Graphics.
Cataloging and Processing of Library Materials
The Automation and Media Processing Center staff (Carla, Julia, and Maggie) are working diligently to get all the new media cataloged for the schools. When it is all done, they have cataloged and processed over 8000 items! Can you imagine 8000 items coming in and out of our small office area? Some days it is piled to the ceiling! Until November 1, we ask that you do not send any "special requests" for cataloging of items you locate in your library. When we resume this service, please contact Carla at 4208 to make arrangements for special requests.
Reminder..."You Deserve a Break Today!"
When ordering books from vendors, always get them fully cataloged and processed and shipped with the MARC records. Neither your library or the Media Processing Center has staff to devote to this task. In the long run, commercial cataloging is less expensive ($.50 -$..79 per item) than the salary and time for the library staff to do the same.
New Look
onLINE : The Librarians' Network for the Essential Curriculum has a new look. Check it out at http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/curric/
New Online Resources
for Students, Faculty, and Parents
ELibrary
for Middle/High School Students (promotion
flyer)
ELibrary
for Elementary Students (promotion
flyer)
GaleNet
(promotion flyer)
Market these new outstanding resources to your school community.
To save you time, a promotion flyer has been designed for you.
Just click the link above to access them. Send home the ready-made
flyer to parents and guardians. Showcase this new resource at
a faculty meeting and give teachers the ready-made flyer. Remember
to type in the school's password before duplicating the flyer.
Staff Development
Resources (Breakout Session Handouts) Available from Professional
Study Day
Since our Professional Study Day offered more than 50 breakout
sessions and we knew that you would not have time to participate
in all that interested you, Della Curtis and Kay Jones decided
to use technology in a way that has never been done before in
Baltimore County.....convert the presenter's handouts into html
format and distribute them to you via the Internet. There are
outstanding resources available to you and classroom teachers....webpages
for high school literature studies, reading instruction information,
PowerPoint presentations on ALA's Information Literacy Standards
for Student Learning, and much more! Access these resources at
http://www.bcpl.net/~dcurtis/psd/breaksum.html
Navigate the breakout session index webpage to access handouts
for all 3 breakout sessions. Share this information with your
teachers at a faculty meeting. It's great PR for the library!
Free Color Printer
Offer (Tektronix Phaser 840)
Tektronix is offering its highest-performance color printer ever
- the Phaser 840 - FREE to large numbers of selected
offices. Here's how it works:
Important Professional
Reading: Library Power Executive Summary
http://www.wallacefunds.org/dewittframesetpub.htm
Library Power is the largest private investment in public school
libraries in nearly 40 years. Funded by the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's
Digest fund, the program helped to transform run-down library
facilities into modern, up-to-date media centers. The purpose
of the program was to demonstrate that libraries can help young
people develop reading, writing, higher-order thinking and critical
analysis skills they will need in today's information-driven society.
Library Power is a program that helped improve teaching and learning
in schools by:
Library Power helped schools create new opportunities for students to:
According to researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Library and Information Studies and School of Education, Library Power has enabled schools to amplify and strengthen instruction, teach students how to effectively research and analyze information, and create communities of teachers and library media specialists committed to delivering high-quality education. Over the course of the 10-year program, Library Power resulted in improved print and electronic collections that were better matched to subjects being studied in class, refurbished library facilities, higher student traffic to the library, greater instructional collaboration among teachers and librarians, and expanded professional skills that were reflected in changes in teaching and learning activities in schools.
Best Practices:
What We Have Learned about Good Instruction
http://www.mdk12.org/practices/good_instruction/index.html
The Maryland State Department of Education has an outstanding
website with essential information for all educators. Learn more
about constructivism, multiple intelligence, brain research, and
standards based education. Also, all the Project Better
documents (originally published in print format and sent to schools
in a 3-ring binder), are now available on this website. Of particular
importance to library media specialists is the Project Better
document on Information Literacy at http://www.mdk12.org/practices/good_instruction/projectbetter/information_literacy/index.html
SNEAKS Summer Reading
Winners
Congratulations to the students and their library media specialists
who won the SNEAKS Summer Reading Award! This year SNEAKS trophies
were given to elementary schools in each geographic area of Baltimore
County. Students in the following schools read the most books
in their area:
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Let us know about activities, programs, special events, tips, awards...anything to share or brag about! Send information to Della Curtis at dcurtis@bcpl.net or send via station wagon to Maggie at LIT. |
New AMS Budget
Numbers
Please verify with your school bookkeeper your school library
media center budget numbers with the handout provided to you at
the October 1, 1999 staff development meeting. There have been
some changes and an additional budget number for Subscriptions-
Online for items such as Electric Library, GaleNET, and other
online resources. We need to monitor expenditures for such items
and keep them separate from expenditures for books and media.
Your Library Media
Center Program 1999-2000 Goals - Due October 29
Please send your library goals to the Office of Library Information
Services. Use the Office of Library Information
Services goals along with your school's goals to construct
the library goals. Include with your goals statements the strategies
you will use to address the specific goal(s).
Your Library Media
Center Budget for 2000-01 - Due by November 30, 1999
Please send your library budget to the Office of Library Information
Services. A revised Library Media Center Budget Planning Guide
will be sent to you the week of October 4, 1999. This guide will
help you plan your budget based on goals, define budget categories,
and give you a template in which to justify your budget to the
site-based team. Both Della and Doris wish to review your budgets
in advance of your presentation to your site-based team.
Model Library Media
Center Technology Plan
At the Computer Liaison meetings held recently, a notebook containing
information on planning the school's technology plan was distributed
by the Department of Information Technology. In the notebook was
a "model library media center" which listed various
technology components. Please note this model does not address
our vision for student use of information technologies in the
library media center. The Office of Library Information Services
will revise the model library media center technology plan and
it will be distributed to schools by Bill Rust within the next
two weeks.
Webpage Design
Competition
The following email message was sent to Della Curtis. The text
of the message is as follows:
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Please help us identify qualified competitors for the Second National High School American Government World Wide Web design contest. Students in grades 10-12 may compete. For the Year 2000 contest (deadline: Feb.1, 2000) we have one $20,000 college scholarship, two $10,000 scholarship second prizes, six merit certificates, $100 prizes for the high school teacher-mentors and other awards. Scholarships may be taken in any field of study. Contestants are asked to design a web site that is targeted at other high school students. The site must be creative, attractive, substantive, and informative. It should help young people better understand and appreciate the importance of political participation and community engagement. It should also show how the web is a powerful tool for communicating important information. Finally, the site should encourage computer/web use by students. Please help us find qualified high school students for this exciting competition. We want at least one entry from each of the 50 states. You may be our crucial link to a student from your state! Forward this to a teacher, student, friend, or local newspaper. The contest site and the 1999 winners can be seen at: http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/contest/ Cordially, Steffen W. Schmidt, Ph.D., Project Director |
What's
Happening in School Libraries
From Beth Shapiro, Library Media Specialist at Overlea High School....
Wow, I got lots of ideas at our meeting yesterday. I had to write
it down on a TO Do list. One of the items was to tell you how
my library media center is being used. We installed an SAT study
guide on the computers. For about 3 weeks before every SAT test
a group of students come to the
library 3 days a week afterschool to practice for the SAT. This
was our first group and we have 24 students (started last week
and will end next week). Also on Oct 12, Overlea will be closed
to students for a profesional study day. I am one of the people
coordinating the activities for the
faculty which will include introducing all departments to the
BCPLonline web page, Research Modules and also the MSDE pages
for high school. I'll have 1 hour sessions for groups of about
25 teachers throughout the day- until they all are exposed. Please
stop by that day if you want to.