MCHENRY, ILLINOIS -- September 14, 1994 -- A new study guide, prepared by the American Association of School Librarians, helps school library media specialists and their colleagues prepare dynamic and interactive presentations for use with the Kaleidoscope: New Visions for School Library Media Programs video. Now a number of interested and concerned audiences, including education professionals, school board members, parents, and the community, can better understand the educational potential of school libraries and find out how their local programs can develop.
Kaleidoscope was produced by the American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association, in conjunction with Follett Software Company and Follett Library Book Company. The video's goal is to provide library media specialists with a unique way to share the possibilities available to their library programs. The producers use the kaleidoscope as a metaphor for the enormous variety of learning experiences that can take place in school library media programs. The real students shown in the video are engaged in activities that make the most of the resources and technology readily available to libraries today.
The study guide, Using Kaleidoscope, suggests appropriate presentations for both the 6-minute and 23-minute versions of Kaleidoscope. As a valuable public relations tool for schools, Kaleidoscope helps the general public envision effective library media programs. As a compelling lesson for professionals, Kaleidoscope provides educators the opportunity to watch students and focus on the learning that is taking place in innovative school library media programs. Kaleidoscope positions the library media center as the nucleus of the school and encourages school staffs to work together to create an interdisciplinary, interactive approach to learning; the study guide also emphasizes teacher and librarian teamwork in cooperative curriculum planning.
Each study guide unit provides a comprehensive outline to direct presentation and discussion of the Kaleidoscope video to specific audiences: pre-service and in-service classroom teachers, pre-service and in-service school library media specialists, school board members, administrators, parent and community groups, and local television outlets. The outlines guide discussion after the video screening, and help presenters anticipate typical audience questions. Transparency masters and extensive bibliographies are included.
The nine study guide scenarios were written by well-known leaders in the school library media field: Daniel Callison (University of Indiana), Ken Haycock (University of British Columbia), Patricia Pickard, (School library media specialist in Doraville, Georgia), Dan Barron (University of South Carolina), Judy M. Pitts (Emporia State University), Irene Sterling (Executive Director of the Paterson, New Jersey, Education Fund), and Jackie Mancall (Drexel University and 1994-95 AASL President).
A key learning element mentioned frequently in the video is "active learning." Using Kaleidoscope makes many suggestions to foster audience-presenter interaction, encouraging all of the video's audiences to become active learners about the library and to grasp the importance of student inquiry and learning outside of textbooks.
Offering access to many sources of information, and new structures for learning activities, school library media programs play a central role in the future of education. Kaleidoscope and its new study guide communicate this important message.
Both the study guide and the video Kaleidoscope: New Visions for School Library Media Programs, can be purchased from Follett Software Company, 1391 Corporate Drive, McHenry, fllinois 60050-7041, or by calling toll-free (800) 323-3397.
A Follett Corporation Company located in McHenry, Illinois, Follett Software Company is the leading supplier of library microcomputer software systems in America, with more than 20,000 installations of its flagship product, Circulation Plus.