News+You+Can+Use

=Check out this Site!= //Karen's Educational Mashups// (http://www.k12handhelds.com/mashups/?p=14) is a compilation of podcasts on educational topics. This show features podcasts for library media specialists. = = =VEMA Board Report, January 27, 2007=

Professional Development Planned for Library Media Professionals
The following professional development activities have been developed for the school librarian. However, media specialists, ITRTs, and classroom teachers can benefit from viewing the programs since collaboration is a major theme in both.


 * IMPACT**

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) conducted a research study on school libraries and the impact on instruction. Based on the results of the research, NCDPI developed an impact model; it was revised in 2005. "IMPACT continues to be a part of the overall vision of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. It recognizes that an effective school library media and technology program is the infrastructure that supports both teaching and learning. This program is the key to making education relevant to a knowledge-based society and its economy. IMPACT is aligned to __Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning__, the national standards for media and technology programs, the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards, and a growing body of school library media and instructional technology research. Also reflecting the recommendations of the 2005-2009 North Carolina Educational Technology Plan, IMPACT acknowledges the importance of staffing each school in North Carolina with both a school library media coordinator and a technology facilitator. It also reflects a commitment to provide a roadmap for an integrated media and technology program once these positions are in place. It offers assessment instruments to assist in the evaluation of the media and technology program designed to move us toward the State Board of Education goals of rigor, relevance, and relationships, the foundation of a 21st Century educational and economic environment.

The revision of IMPACT reflects the reality that the media and technology program and its resources are not static. In fact, they are constantly evolving, mandating on-going update and revision. A model school program was established in 2003, and a series of summer workshops and video on Project Impact are in place.

A VDOE series of online and video presentations on the development, implementation, assessment, and results of Project Impact will be presented by Frances Bryant Bradburn, Director Division of Instructional Technologies and Jerri Soloman of NCDPI. Virginia librarians and media specialists can view this VDOE series and discover ways to assess and invigorate their library and media programs to increase their library's impact on education. The series is currently in production, and dates for sessions will be announced in March.


 * Collaboration**

The Hampton City Schools Library and Media Services Division will present a series of webinars and video broadcast on their model for development and support of collaboration among librarians, media specialists, ITRT, and classroom teachers. This series will take viewers behind the scenes to see how the program was developed and implemented. We will learn how Hampton supports and advances this program of collaboration. The results of the Hampton program will be discussed. The series is currently in production, and dates for sessions will be announced in March.