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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Budget crunch? Teamwork makes resources do double duty

Fairfield High School

A list of the materials and technological tools in the Fairfield High School library media center would not do justice to the program there: Solid partnerships between the library media teacher and the teaching staff have resulted in activities and projects that require the use of all these materials and tools. Beneficiaries of these partnerships are the students.

For example, a Huckleberry Finn scavenger hunt results in the use of all kinds of reference materials. A "That Was the Week That Was" unit helps students learn how to use microfiche readers and printers effectively. Sophomores use electronic and print resources to research such topics as world issues, the Elizabethan era, food additives,

Phil Borge, World Civilizations teacher, and Betty Silva, library media teacher.

cultural oddities (popular products and their appeal), and environmental concerns. The latter has been expanded upon by the chemistry teacher requiring students trios to create small magazines on the environment --- including cover designs Juniors now create letters, posters, cartoons, newspapers, or firsthand accounts of periods in American history.

The Child Care and Guidance Program uses a specially selected children's book collection for high school students working directly with 46 preschool children. Others use this collection, too. ESL students find the books helpful for beginning reading and writing. English classes use them for quick identification of plot, characterization, and literary techniques (allegory, etc.). Art students find a great deal to learn in these beautiful books about style, color, and use of medium.

Among the tools offered are nine computer stations with CD ROM programs and software, an open mini-lab, a variety of computers, a laser disk player, eight microfiche readers, two reader/printers, and a portable computer with liquid crystal projector. But it's how these tools are used that counts!

• Fairfield High School (Grades 9-12, enrollment 2,500)
  205 East Atlantic, Fairfield 94533; (707) 422-8672
  Reed McLaughlin, Principal
  Betty Silva, Library Media Teacher
  Fairfield Suisun Unified School District