Learning in the library should present opportunities to enrich student learning activities to address concerns of interest and cognitive complexity, but these must be tasks that call for in-depth analysis--not merely gathering facts. Library learning experiences need to demand enough of students to keep them interested and also need to be…

There has been a significant spike among school librarians in talk about the process of learning since the 2007 release of the "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" by the American Association of School Librarians. How do children really learn best? The AASL Standards make it clear that 21st-century school librarianship is not just about…

It is no secret that learning has a social context. As library media specialists work with students nearly every day, they take for granted their pedagogical roots in social learning theory based on the premise that students need modeling and observation to learn from one another. Information gathering becomes a key activity, and social…

Electronic communication technologies continue to change the landscape of reference services. For many users, virtual communication is the preferred means of conversing. Synchronous virtual reference, similar to other synchronous means of communication, is an important method for reaching students and for providing teaching and learning…

Describes efforts by the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) to develop a professional community for library media specialists through ALA (American Library Association) Annual Conference programs and the construction of an AASL Web site devoted to issues and topics related to effective teaching and learning behaviors. (Author/LRW)

Describes inquiry learning and inquiry learning environments, and presents appropriate management strategies. Highlights include access to resources and information; teacher and media specialist cooperation; the role of teachers; gathering and using information; questioning and reflection; cooperative and collaborative groups; planning; and self…

Discusses the results of a survey of school principles that investigated how they perceive the role of librarians and the library media center. Shows a general lack of knowledge about the role of school libraries and their ability to improve student learning, and the need for librarians to communicate their role more clearly. (LRW)

Discussion of library media specialists and technological change focuses on the use of the World Wide Web. Highlights include teaching and learning issues; roles of the library media specialist, including teacher and instructional partner; designing Web sites; and student-created Web pages. (LRW)

The school media center should be considered as the center of the curriculum wheel with librarians working together with teachers to assist in providing appropriate instructional materials. Media to be utilized in teaching-learning situations must follow accepted criteria from the psychology of learning, but school librarians have an important…

Describes a study that investigated the competencies or skills in six major professional areas that library media specialists should have as perceived by Arizona library media specialists and school principals. Areas highlighted include professional matters, library materials, management, human behavior, planning and evaluation, and learning.…

Discusses the changing role of the school library media specialist based on guidelines and recommendations in "Information Power." Topics discussed include empowerment; current training and education for librarians; continuing professional growth and development; facilitating student learning by working with teachers; information…

Considers the changing roles of library media specialists in elementary and secondary education in light of rapidly changing information technology. Topics include the use of information; the use of technology in schools; integrating information and technology skills with the Big 6 approach; and information literacy standards for student learning.…

The purpose of this practicum was to increase homework productivity and reinforce basic skills in a third-grade class. Other objectives were to relieve the burden of parents who were unable to help their children with homework and to improve communication between parent, teacher, and child. Homework assignments were made daily by the teacher.…

Discusses the role of the school library media specialist in standards-based learning. Topics include standards-based assessment; information literacy standards; collaboration with classroom teachers; benchmarks and indicators for student performance; leadership in a standards-based climate; and the use of technology to support curriculum and…

This book provides the tools for school library media specialists to make a significant and positive impact on the children and young adults in schools. The goals of this work are to delineate a realistic role structure for the school media specialist; to present the role of instructional consultant as obtainable and desirable; and to provide the…