Best Practices in School Library Media Programs

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Best Practices in School Library Media Programs

• Frances Bradburn
• Gerry Solomon
• NCDPI

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• Its all about the process
• Engaging students in research that has personal
  meaning
• How do we remove the barriers to reading?
• Dealing with thorny issues it all starts with
  selection policy

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How We Got Started

• Funded by 5-year Best Practices federal grant
• Provides Video and online modules
• Focuses on four roles of the school library media
  coordinator
• Teacher
• Instructional Partner
• Information Specialist
• Program Administrator

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Five Pilot LEAs (196 schools)

• Cabarrus
• Edenton-Chowan
• Harnett
• Haywood
• Wake

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Objectives of Best Practices

• Define the multiple roles of the SLMC and the
  impact on student achievement
• Highlight examples of best practices
• Use resources that promote the SLM program
• Access and complete online modules

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Three Online Courses

• 5 two-hour modules
• Self-paced
• Moderated
• Course One - Establishing Your Role as SLMC
• Course Two - Collaborating in Your Role as SLMC
• Course Three - Communicating Your Role as SLMC

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Each Course Explores

• The Big Picture
• Teaching and Learning
• Information Access and Delivery
• Program Administration
• Putting It into Practice

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Each Course Module Provides

• Overview
• Topics and Activities -
• Some activities submitted online for feedback
• All activities collected in a paper portfolio
• Evaluation

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Five Videos

• Workshop-in-a-box approach
• Stand-alone segments that can be pulled out
• Related resources online
• www.ncwiseowl.org/bp

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Video Episode 2 Thinking About Student Research

• Hornets Nest Elementary
• Charlotte, NC

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Episode 2 Thinking about Student Research

• Using a research process

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Questions

• Allow us to make sense of the world. They are the
  most powerful tools we have for making decisions
  and solving problems, for inventing, changing and
  improving our lives as well as the lives of
  others.
• Jamie McKenzie

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Episode 2

• Lessons learned
• Control the process
• Identify the questions ahead of time (lead
  students to create the questions for themselves)
• Monitor the process

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The Mystery Coat HangerAn example of how its
about process, not content

• What do I know?
• Name
• Services
• Location?
• Phone Number
• What do I want to know?
• Where is it located?
• How old is it?
• Is it still there?
• How do I find out?

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Video Episode 3Enriching Middle and High School
Student Research
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Engaging Students in Authentic Learning
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Project-Based Learning

• "Project-based learning (PBL) is a model for
  classroom activity that shifts away from the
  classroom practices of short, isolated,
  teacher-centered lessons and instead emphasizes
  learning activities that are long-term,
  interdisciplinary, student-centered, and
  integrated with real world issues and
  practices." 
• San Mateo County Office of Education

http//www.qesnrecit.qc.ca/reform/bestprac/pbl/ind
ex.php
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Project-Based Learning Focuses On

• Realistic challenge or puzzle to resolve
• Authentic tasks
• Student responsibility/teamwork

• In-depth exploration of topic
• Presentations
• Peer assessments

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What Are Some Benefits of PBL?

• Increased motivation
• Increased problem-solving ability
• Improved media research skills
• Increased collaboration
• Increased resource management skills

http//www.coe.uga.edu/epltt/LearningbyDesign.htm
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What is your role in project-based learning?
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It Begins with Planning

• Smith Middle School
• Chapel Hill, NC

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Know Understand Do (KUD)
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Video Episode 4 Creating a Climate and Culture
of Reading
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Creating a Climate and Culture for Reading

• The values we hold -
• The choices we make -
• The roads we take -

Rusty Taylor, Lead School Library Media
Coordinator WCPSS Library Media Services
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How do we promote reading in schools? How do we
get that message across?
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Hard question 2
What kinds of reading are important? Are some
more important than others?
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Hard question 3
Are we really providing access to reading
materials?
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Panel Discussion

• Three middle school library media coordinators in
  Wake County
• What happens when media coordinators ask the hard
  questions?
• What changes in programs, policies, and
  procedures can we make?

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Creating a Culture of Reading Starting Early

• Setting individual reading goals for each child
• Celebrating benchmarks throughout the year
• Flexible access for maximum access to reading
  materials

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Video Episode 5Dealing with Thorny Issues
Intellectual Freedom
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You do not make ideas safe for students you make
students safe for ideas.

• William Bennett

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A persons right to use a library should not be
denied or abridged because of origin, age,
background, or views

• Library Bill of Rights

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Ensuring Intellectual Freedom

• Why do you need a selection policy?
• Why does the policy need to be revised
  periodically?
• What is the role of the Media and Technology
  Advisory Committee?
• How do we handle challenges to resources?

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Best Practices Videos

• http//www.ncpublicschools.org/distancelearning/st
  arschools/bestpractices.html

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Best Practices Course Modules

• http//www.star-online/media/

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Questions

• Sue Scott
• sscott_at_dpi.state.nc.us