Re: Web Content and Change in Teacher Practice

Suzanne Alejandre (salejan@e2.empirenet.com)
Sat, 29 Mar 1997 14:59:08 -0800 

>***I am not a teacher, but a librarian but also with very little time.
>   When I see exotic and apparently stupid sites, like the online
>   "Etch-A-Sketch" or a baseball site that replays games, I cannot
>   help but think about how to apply such a thing to presenting our
>   Department's local history and genealogical content.
>
>   I don't know if this applies to K-12 or not, but I have come to feel
>   that our automation department should be more than servicers or tenders
>   of machines.  Libraries and schools should have on-staff programmers
>   who can work with teachers and librarians to present content in interesting
>   ways and ways that are tailored to particular audiences.  It's this kind of
>   grass roots technology that, I think, means more than buying software from
>   vendors and becoming dependent on vendors.  The Web has taught me that
>   anyone can do this stuff.
>
>   From what I've been reading, it seems like the "Canyon" project has
>   behind it the technical competency to do implement such a home-grown and
>   original effort.
>bchad

Yes, Barry, I agree that the "Canyon" project is a good model. In fact,
I printed out Don Livermore's introduction with his description of his tasks
as the library media specialist for my site's library media specialist. He
was very excited to read about the Canyon project.

Unfortunately in California it is not the norm for schools to employ library
media specialists. My district has them but I know that nearby districts do
not and it is not always the case that these people have technology expertise.

I agree that on-staff programmers would be a wonderful resource. It is what
I attempt to provide at my site (which helps my district and also helps any
other people who are in touch with me and on the same wavelength). My work
on the Web for Frisbie Middle School is ALL volunteer and I do it because
I am interested in using the Web as a curricular tool. The Math Forum provides
me with some monetary support and TONS of moral support, encouragement and a
wonderful editor! So, the curriculum that I write for the Math Forum is
supported but again....I do it in my spare time and I concentrate on
mathematics
(or interdisciplinary with mathematics as the focus) because that is my love.

I agree that "anyone can do this stuff" but not everyone's stuff is useful.

Suzanne