Standard 2:

Teaching and Learning

My Mission: "To inspire in each student a lifelong quest for knowledge and literature, instilling the tools needed for success in an ever-evolving academic world.”

My Reflection on Information Literacy Curriculum

Genscope, Be A Book B.R.A.T, Curriculum Chart

A media specialist must be able to merge the curriculum with the information literacy standards by collaborating with teachers to develop student's multiple intelligence skills. To more effectively integrate these standards I developed the Curriculum Chart artifact that identifies the curriculum objectives within the literacy standards. For students to become effective users of information and literature, access to resources is paramount. The more accustomed they are to using their media skills, the more successful they will become. Technology is one way to reach students within their curriculum and engage them in real life activities. The media specialist can bridge this technology access to the student within the classroom. Computers offer a wide variety of experiences that can enhance the learning process. When these activities are coordinated with the classroom teachers, students become more effective learners. The artifact Genscope is an excellent example of this process. This is an activity that can be used in the middle or high school with the Genetics curriculum. Genetics is a difficult concept when students have minimal access to observing and manipulating DNA. This program allows students to study dragons and their offspring. The students can view the different alleles on the dragon's genes. The dragons can be crossed and offspring are produced. Students can then predict and analyze the DNA of the offspring within the program. They can also critically apply their knowledge to pedigrees, mutations and sex-linked traits. Student driven literacy programs to promote reading are also essential to build lifelong readers. My Be A Book B.R.A.T. develops critical thinking and evaluation of books through student recommendation for different genres. It is through activities like these that the media specialist becomes an invaluable tool for teachers to enrich and enhance the learning process within the classroom.