 |
 |
|
November 2002
|
| Have a newsworthy item? Comments? Questions? Contact Paula Byrne, editor |
By John Keenan
Library Media Specialist
Tantasqua Regional High School
Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge, Wales
MSLMA is now part of a collaborative that includes UMass Amherst, WGBY Public Television in Springfield, and MetroWest, one of regional library systems in Massachusetts. The collaborative is called VRROOM (Virtual Reference Room). The purpose of the collaborative is to provide information resources that support the Curriculum Frameworks. These resources are for librarians, teachers, students, and parents. A VRROOM home page is now on the web at http://ccbit.cs.umass.edu/vrroom/.
The UMass role in the collaborative is to connect learning standards to content. This is accomplished by identifying web links that directly correspond to specific learning standards. The UMass approach is especially useful to teachers who seek to learn content related to the Frameworks.
For its part, WGBY hosts a searchable database of videotapes that support the Frameworks. These videotapes are lent free of charge to schools in Western, Massachusetts. The tapes are also available for purchase by any school through the WGBH catalog.
MetroWest lists resources that are organized by Framework. These resources include books, web sites, and software.
The MSLMA approach is to provide in-depth lists of resources on commonly taught topics. We also list Best Web Sites that support the Frameworks, and we provide links to many selection aids, such as Booklist.
A number of the MSLMA lists were developed during the DOE Children's Literature Content Institute during the summer of 2001. The institute was held in Billerica and was taught by Nancy Anthony. MSLMA co-sponsored the institute. Marion DePierro, the institute manager, hopes to hold another institute in Billerica during the summer of 2002.
The Best Web Sites section of VRROOM was developed by MSLMA focus groups that began their work at Palmer High School in March 2001. Donna Guerin hosted this event.
Why a collaborative?
For the user, VRROOM provides an easy way to find resources that support the Frameworks.
VRROOM helps the participating organizations to work cooperatively and to bring attention to each other's work. As the collaborative develops over time, each member organization will strive to play a specific role and to avoid duplication of effort.
For MSLMA, the collaborative brings attention to our role in education reform. Library media programs and their resources are crucial for implementing the Curriculum Frameworks.
How you can contribute
Each one of our members is invited to contribute a list of resources to VRROOM. By contributing a list, you can earn up to 30 PDPs toward recertification. Just pick a topic related to the Frameworks and start selecting resources. For details, check the MSLMA portion of VRROOM.
New MSLMA focus groups will be formed to develop additional lists. The formation of these groups will be announced on the listserv.