Learning through Books, Media and Technology

ARTICLES THIS ISSUE:

Information literate? These Students have information power!

"We're learning, but we don't mind!"

Lots of little kids --- lots of things going on!

Building a collaborative network --- from university to local community

Shared vision, shared teaching

Budget crunch? Teamwork makes resources do double duty

Collaboration, participation, and technology

Partners for change

Redefining the library media center

Happy collaborations based on research as a process

Success through independence, integration, and interruptions

A Good Ideas encore!

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Good Ideas! is published by CSLA

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Shared vision, shared teaching

Westlake Elementary Schoo

Does a vision of educational excellence created in 1974 have relevance for students in 1992? When the Westlake staff developed a Title II Phase II proposal in 1974, they described their vision of a model library media center that would be integral to all areas of the curriculum and would serve both staff and students in a variety of ways. There were art, science, photography, and cooking centers, and an impressive array of materials. Now, in 1992, West-lake's students are still served by a well-stocked, active library media center, but it has continued to change, and plans are afoot to keep changing and growing This process involves the entire staff.

Sharon Carno, fifth grade teacher, with Sylvia Ellefsen, library media teacher, student Michael Haughey, and Principal Don Iglesias.

Sylvia Ellefsen, library media teacher, has been deeply involved with her staff in making changes, especially as they respond to evolving curriculum needs and to new educational technologies. In fact, she won one of CMLEA's first Information Power awards. She has worked successfully with teachers in applying for grants to add computers to classrooms, has established a computer lab in the library media center, and has helped to integrate word processing into the language arts curriculum.

An innovative telecommunications-based science and geography curriculum at Westlake allows the library media teacher, classroom teacher, and students to learn together. Students act as real scientists as they practice word processing, graphing, and database skills in a global perspective. Flexible scheduling allows teachers to work with an entire group or with a few students in the computer lab. Lessons can be altered or augmented to fit student needs.

Sylvia defines the role of the library media teacher broadly: helping classroom teachers to implement curriculum frameworks effectively, providing school-wide focus activities, and collaborating with teachers to create and present thematic units in all curricular areas and across the curriculum.

As a result of this type of collaboration, the library media center continues to be an essential part of the Westlake vision for educational excellence. In fact, this is true for all six elementary schools in Santa Cruz, where library media teachers are involved in providing intellectual and physical access to Information for all students and staff.

• Westlake Elementary School (Grades K-6, enrollment 6,300)
  1000 High Street, Santa Cruz 98060; (408) 429-3804
  Don Iglesias, Principal
  Sylvia Ellefsen, Library media Teacher
  Santa Cruz City Schools