Above all other books, this is the school librarian's bible. It is a wealth of information and theory about credentialed library media teachers at schools. The information contained in this book should be read, read, and read again - then followed. Any library media center without one is missing the mark.
This article was a very biased opinion about computers not really helping much to raise test scores in our schools. The author of the article is a huge proponent of the arts and feels the arts are the way to raise scores as they foster creativity and thus thinking skills. This article is against the program in Canada that Athena Corp. wants to put into schools - gives the school $150,000 worth of technology if the students there watch 10 minutes of their own private television program with advertising and propaganda.
This is an interesting editorial written by an eighteen year old student in high school. He is a proponent of books and feels like computers are threatening the very existence of books. He states "I found an intruding armada of computers had replaced a venerable bookcase of reference materials. These machines were to provide ... and access to the world's trash heap, the Internet." He also states "I've never had to call tech support to operate a novel." This eighteen year old believes in the power of a book and is scared of what computers could do to libraries. What a wonderful change of pace from the majority of students who don't see the value of a good book!
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McKenzie writes about problems some people come across when trying to implement new technologies into schools. He speaks of the mistakes made which led to the problems and the networking disasters. This article has importance because it makes the reader realize how much technology a person needs to know to set up a new network. It is invaluable as it points out some disasters in planning and the results.
Laptops are breaking into the classrooms as far back as the 90's. New York has a Superintendent who believes in their power and is willing to use funding to purchase laptops that the students rent. They started small but after they saw the results they wanted more. One teacher felt this style of learning improved her sixth graders by making them more "mature and articulate." Some critics of laptop programs say they are a fad and that there is no proof of how they can create better learners. As this is becoming a trend, this article does a nice job of showing both sides of the argument. It would be helpful to a school or district considering a laptop program.
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This is an editorial about a 6th grade laptop program in the bay area of California. The first year the program was in place the laptops (ibooks) were given to 50 families and it was very successful. Teachers felt the laptops made "students more organized and motivated." Now the school wants the parents to purchase the $2000 ibooks and when they sent out the letters regarding the requirements, they made no mention of what a family could do if they could not afford one. It seems to be stirring jealousy and anger and is becoming an issue of the haves vs. the have nots. The district has halted the program to "sort out" problems.
This article covers the fact that the Internet must be seen as a tool to enhance education, not the lesson in itself. Educators must understand that the Internet is a source and is not always the best way to have students find information. The Internet is a good thing for schools though because it can provide students with expanded resources (ones they can't always find at their schools), dynamic resources (interactive ones), and allows for reduced time and location dependency (students can use it at home and at any time they need). So, for these reasons the Internet can be useful to your classroom.
