This report summarizes some Austin Independent School District (AISD) activities to support parent and community involvement during the 2005-2006 school year.

Six articles present information on issues and trends affecting public employees and developments in collective bargaining specific to education, guidelines for supervisors (and others) involved in the negotiations process, suggestions for effective use of interpersonal communication in negotiating, and a description of the unique role of women in…

Discusses student research, information literacy and research skills, and the role of inquiry in the research process. Presents a case study of a middle school science fair project that examined what students should accomplish in their research and what the role of stakeholders is, including teachers, parents, and school library media specialists.…

Describes Brock's Information Intermediary Process Model, which focuses on the role of the library media specialist as information intermediary. Highlights include information seeking and use; use of the model by teachers and librarians as well as their collaborative roles; guidelines for use of the model; and problem solving and use of time. (LRW)

Discusses results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in U.S. History and what may have influenced them, including use of computers and use of primary source materials. Includes an annotated bibliography of Web sites regarding the concept of peace as an alternative to perpetuating the historical realities of war. (LRW)

Considers how school library media specialists can collaborate with teachers to transform conventional topical units into problem-based projects and gives examples from classrooms in Hawaii. Highlights include focusing on real-life problems; seeking and using information for the projects; hands-on learning; student roles in making decisions; and…

Explores trends in learning and learning environments, and makes projections regarding the future role of teachers and school library media specialists. Discusses nonlinear environments, student-centered instruction, school Intranets, the Internet, curriculum design, learning facilitation, teachers as coaches, collaboration, information literacy,…

Discusses the role of instructional media specialists in elementary and secondary schools. Topics include educational background, including technical skills, curriculum planning, and instructional design; classroom teachers; library media specialists and the change from teaching library skills to facilitating information literacy; the role of…

Provides a review of school library media research published from 2000-2002. Includes reports from ERIC and dissertations and thesis papers that discuss media specialists, information literacy, student achievement, electronic resources, first amendment rights, Internet use, standards, teacher collaboration, job competencies, mentoring, principals'…

Discusses recommendations on how social studies concepts should be presented to elementary and secondary school students so that broad understandings and problem-solving skills emerge. Intervention strategies that might be useful to library media specialists as they help teachers and students with resource-based units of instruction are described.…

Discusses the emerging interest in media education, or media literacy, and its impact on the role of the school library media specialist. Highlights include the school reform and restructuring movement; the impact of technology on literacy; the role in civic education and in health education; and media education support organizations. (Contains 17…

Discusses results of a national survey of school library media specialists and children's librarians in public libraries about reactions to their library facilities. Complaints are addressed, including lack of space, poor design, and shelving; the most heavily used areas are ranked; accommodations for technology are examined; and further research…

Suggests school library media specialists should be responsible for promoting the integration of technology into education. Topics include resource allocation in the past; school library funding; the political climate and educational planning; technology teachers; library policies; and librarian and teacher cooperation. Provides a list of…

Presents issues about school networking: how network administrators differ from technology directors; what administrators, technology directors, teachers, and students need to know; whether school library media specialists should serve as network administrators; why basic networking knowledge is advantageous; causes of problems affecting networks;…

Presents the "big six," problem solving strategies of highly effective students in all grade levels and subject areas. Outlines steps parents and media specialists can follow to help students with their homework. Sidebars present the big six skills and information seeking activities and a big six assignment organizer for grades three…