Learning through Books, Media and Technology

ARTICLES THIS ISSUE:

1995 Administrative Leadership Award for Library Media Services

1994 President's Award Winners Ruby Ling-Louie and Dale Buboltz

Restructuring Science – Pyner High School

Colaboration to the nth degree – Alvarado Middle School

The keyword is science – Newmark Memorial High School

Giving research a practical twist – Rancho Cotate High School

A Good Ideas Encore! – De Portola Middle School

A fair opportunity for students – Challenger Junior High School

From petri dishes to publishing – Rialto High School

Resource-based learning in science – Reedley High School

The web of learning – Sierra Vista Elementary School

Buying a piece of hte rain forest – George C. Marshall Elementary School

Too Good To Miss! Eisenhower High School, Florin High School

Good Ideas! Home Page

Good Ideas! is published by CSLA

1499 Old Bayshore Hwy.

Burlingame

California

94010

(415) 692-2350

Restructuring science

Piner High School

This demonstration school's emphasis on "student as worker" has been particularly successful in the science curriculum; collaborative efforts have been well under way for several years. As Gail Ellestad explains, "The content lends itself to research... and we have a group of enthusiastic and flexible science teachers.

Gail Ellestad makes sure that teachers have the resources needed to plan the science curriculum

About six years ago, reluctant students were cap-to red by computerized information sources on science issues of current interest. This led to that broadened the information base but continued to focus on student-selected, high-interest topics (personal grooming, genetics, infectious diseases, addiction, etc.). Later, teachers generated a "template" to standardize assignment requirements and lead students through the steps to achieve "information literacy."

Restructuring (Piner is in its second year) has led to thematic exhibitions, resources keyed to diverse populations and individualized use of a broader variety of print and media resources. Student products range from transparencies created with felt pens to sophisticated computer network communication with projects being evaluated on-line.

• Piner High School (Grades 10-12; enrollment 1,600)
  1700 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa 95404
  Joe Sewell, Principal
  Gali Ellestad, Library Media Teacher
  Santa Rosa City Schools