Learning through Books, Media and Technology

ARTICLES THIS ISSUE:

Chico High School: Uning the library media center and its tools to push out the walls of the classroom

What do you do with 4,000 students? A Great library media center helps!

Library as learning laboratory — for students and teachers

From local access systems to global dialog

Helping students and staff connect

Restructuring: getting to the heart of the learning process

Making the most of learning resources, from human to technological

Winning combinations — kids, technologies, teaching partnership

A "logical place" for applications of information technology

The "Dream Team" at work: changing ideas of how we prepare students for the future

From library to "Discovery Center" — a marriage of tradition and technology

Good Ideas! Briefs

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From local access systems to global dialog

John Adams Middle School
Santa Monica

From left to right: Suzanne Peterson, student, Jerry Kantor.

John Adams Middle School (JAMS) has lots in common with other schools in California --- very limited funds; many student needs In the JAMS library media center, these challenges are being met through the leadership and collaboration of library media teacher Suzanne Peterson, principal Jerry Kantor, and creative partnerships with faculty and community. Suzanne knows what is needed to make students and teachers effective users of ideas and information, and Jerry encourages her to work around the lack of funding. He explains it quite simply: "You can't let the library die." So together they seek the funding that will keep the library media center alive. And alive it is!

At one work station, students have access to PEN, the Public Electronic Network that is an information system for the city of Santa Monica. The local PEN project manager, Sharon Manell, in collaboration with Suzanne, has students excitedly involved in global dialog as they communicate with students throughout the world. They can also access SAM, the online catalog of the Santa Monica Public Library, send messages to City Hall, or check on sports and recreation schedules.

Using A.B. 1470 funds, Suzanne purchased varied research tools. The list includes:

• 2 encyclopedias on CD-ROM
• 6 computers and 3 printers for word processing
• 2 microfiche readers and a reader/printer
• instructional software.

The JAMS library media center already had an established print collection, a periodical index on CD-ROM, periodical back issues on microfiche, a work station with modem, and basic software for student use.

To be sure that students develop the essential thinking and information skills, Suzanne collaborates with teachers in teaching. "Research as a Process." She intends to continue to work with teachers in "Exploring new ways t6 Integrate the new technological capabilities with classroom lessons."

• John Adams Middle School (Grades 6-8, enrollment 700)
  2425 16th Street, Santa Monica 90405; (213) 452-2326
  Jerry Kantor, Principal
  Suzanne Peterson, Library Media Teacher
  Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District