The School Web Expert: You
By Gail Junion-Metz -- School Library Journal, 2/1/1997
Most schools either just got an Internet connection or are in the process of planning for one. Teachers, librarians, adminstrators all are wondering how to use this new resource to improve education and better do their jobs.
The need for answers makes now the perfect time for you to familiarize yourself with the curricular, technological, and informational resources your teachers and administrators need on the Net.
With a little effort, you can become the information expert that teachers and administrators look to for answers.
Here are some of the best resources to help you help your school's staff.
Where to Start? The ICONnect site, sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians, has online courses on Net basics, a section on integrating the Net into the curriculum, and a section on mini-grants for developing Net-based curricula. It also has a Q & A section where kids (and you) can get questions answered by librarians who've "been there and done that." The History/Social Studies Web Site for K-12 Teachers, created by Dennis Boals, contains a huge section of curriculum resources, lesson plans, and other information for teachers. And Peter Milbury's School Librarian Web Pages is great for finding out what other librarians have done and are doing.
Lessons and Online Projects. The Net is a rich source for both traditional lessons and those that are Internet-based. Pitsco's Launch to Lesson Plans offers links to lesson plan archives, while Lesson Plans and Activities has links arranged by curricular subject. The Blue Web'n Library features lessons, activities, projects, and resources that you can search by audience, subject, or Dewey number.
There are lots of Internet-based classroom projects. Global SchoolNet's Projects Registry lists individual projects by month and date, as well as ongoing projects available any time. Another noteworthy site is Kidproj, for kids ages 1015. It contains a list of current and past projects and a neat idea file. There is also a great Canadian site sponsored by Queens University. Called K12 Classroom Projects, it's arranged by project type and has some uniquely Canadian projects.
Helping Administrators. As soon as they decide to connect to the Net, school administrators face two big challenges: how to plan for using it and how to pay for equipment and connectivity. Here are two sites that can help. The National Center for Technology Planning has links to full-text state and local planning documents. Check out the link entitled "Guidebook for Developing an Effective Instructional Technology Plan." Pitsco's Launch to Grants and Funding contains links to sites with information on grants as well as links to funding sources themselves.
Administrators also must create an Internet Use Policy (IUP) and decide whether to install blocking/filtering software. Pitsco's Launch to Acceptable Use Policies contains links to IUP archives, making it a one-stop source for sample policies. A Legal and Educational Analysis of K-12 Internet Acceptable Use Policies, by Nancy Willard, explains the legal principles governing an IUP. And Carolyn Caywood's Guiding Children Through Cyberspace has links relating to kids, parents, and controversial content. It also links to filter vendors and reviews.
Web Addresses
- ICONnect
http://www.ala.org/ICONN/ - History/Social Studies for K12 Teachers
http://www.execpc.com/~dboals/k-12.html - Peter Milbury's School Librarian Pages
http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/%7Epmilbury/lib.html - Pitsco's Launch to Lesson Plans
http://www.pitsco.com/pitsco/lesson.html - Lesson Plans & Activities
http://www.mcrel.org/connect/lesson.html - Blue Web'n Library
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/ - Global SchoolNet Projects
http://www.gsn.org/gsn/proj/index.html - Kidproj
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/ - K12 Classroom Projects
http://educ.queensu.ca/projects/projects.html - National Center for Technology Planning
http://www2.msstate.edu/~lsa1/nctp/ - Pitsco's Launch to Grants & Funding
http://www.pitsco.com/pitsco/grants.html - Pitsco's Launch to IUPs
http://www.pitsco.com/pitsco/accept.html - Legal & Educational Analysis of IUPs
http://www.erehwon.com/k12aup/legal_analysis.html - Guiding Children Through Cyberspace
http://duckdock.acic.com/carolyn/guide.htm
