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Bardonia Elementary School
New York State Middle Level Indicators for Library Media Programs The goal should be to train teachers not to master specific
technologies, but instead to design learning environments in which
technology helps children learn. Our vision at Bardonia Elementary School is to provide a learning community for students and teachers to become independent and fearless learners, regardless of the technology needed or task involved. Strategy to accomplish our vision: Students and teachers will collaborate to use technology tools and research skills within a learning community where they can build creative learning projects and accomplish learning tasks efficiently. Collaboration between the media specialist, teacher and teaching assistants is a key in this strategy. By collaboration we mean to work jointly with others or together in an intellectual endeavor. The focus is not on technology rather it is on student learning. Assumption: Collaboration is nothing new at Bardonia. Bardonia students and staff have already teamed to produce over 20 such collaborative projects in the last five years. They are on display on our web page at http://www.ccsd.edu/bardonia/Library/classpro.htm Six of those projects have received award grants. Specific goals for 2007/2008 Goal #1: All Clarkstown CSD schools will use a common research technique. In order for students and teachers to build an effective learning community, we need to share a common research language. Implementation: Our district has adopted the "Big6(tm) Skills Curriculum.” The library media specialist is a resource for the “Big6 Research Skills.” Scheduling: Staff will receive review and training in Big6 research skills. Students will be trained in these research techniques within the classroom as well as within the library. Goal #2: We will enhance student learning through collaborative learning projects within the curriculum where students can create and publish their work using the latest available technologies. Implementation: The library media specialist will serve as a resource for ideas and possibilities of projects. There are numerous collaborative projects available to our school. These could include such things as the GVC challenge that the 5th grade did this year, or smaller projects. Other possibilities can be found on Alan November's web page at http://www.anovember.com/communities/index.html Scheduling: Blocks will be set aside in library and computer lab where the support team of teacher, librarian, and teaching assistants will be available to assist student research. These blocks can be up to 90 minutes. Scheduling for research projects will be flexible, depending on the task involved. Some projects such as a Thinkquest or Global Virtual Challenge will take more time than others. Many of these projects last a month, others last the entire year. Currently, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades use the computer lab every other week during library special and once a week with the classroom teacher. Kindergarten through 2nd grade uses the computer lab at least once a week with the classroom teacher. This will continue. Goal #3: Library media and technology specialists will collaborate with the classroom teacher within the context of the curriculum. This includes support for students in preparation for state standardized testing, particularly the 5th grade social studies test. Recent successes will be analyzed and improved, such as the Civil War Project in Mr. Pisano's 5th grade. Implementation: The library media specialist will meet at least periodically with grade level teachers to team with grade levels in curriculum planning. The Grant: The Bardonia Library Media center is part of a multimedia authoring grant received from the U.S. Department of Education in 2005. The grant was obtained through the assistance of Congresswoman Nita M. Lowie.
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