Dominican University

Graduate School of Library and Information Science

 

LIS 725--02:  Curriculum and School Libraries

Spring 2008

Mondays, 6:00-9:00 pm

 

Donald C. Adcock               Lecturer and Director, School Library Media Program

dadcock@dom.edu              Room 311

Ph:  708-524-6598  Office Hours:  Monday 1:00pm-4:00pm; Thursday 10:00 am-12:00noon

Fx:  708-524-6657 and by appointment

 

Bulletin Description:  Introduction to the history, current trends and integration of curriculum as it relates to the school library media program serving students in elementary, middle, and secondary schools.  Emphasis is on collaborative planning and teaching between the library media specialist and teachers.

 

Learning Objectives:  Based on principles found “Collaboration, Leadership, and Technology”, Chapter 3 of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning and the objectives of the MLIS degree program library information candidates will:

  • Explore how the Information Literacy Standards for Learning (Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning) relate to learning how to learn, the cross-disciplinary abilities identified in the Illinois Learning Standards and the information search process.
  • Examine the design of inquiry-based curriculum and the role of the school library media specialist in fostering the integration of information seeking behaviors into the curriculum.
  • Explore curriculum issues associated with implementing standards-based education.  Concepts that will be discussed throughout the course include information literacy, educator collaboration, learning standards, best practices. Topics covered include learning and instructional theories, curriculum mapping, assessment, academically talented and academically challenged students, grant writing, and social responsibility.

 

Required Texts:

 

Donham, Jean.  Enhancing Teaching and Learning. 2nd ed. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2005.

                               

 

School Library Media Program Texts:

 

American Association of School Librarians/Association for Educational Communications and Technology.  Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning.  Chicago: American Library Association, 1998

 

Illinois School Library Media Association.  Linking for Learning:  The Illinois School Library Media Program Guidelines. 2nd Ed. Canton, IL: Illinois School Library Media Association, 2005.

 

 

Additional required readings will be available in class.  Any materials placed on reserve for LIS 725 will be available at the Circulation Desk on the first floor of Crown Library.

 

Assignments and Course Requirements:

Assignment rubrics will be distributed and discussed in class.

 

Learning Community Participation (10 points)

This course is taught with the understanding active participation in the learning process during class time is required of all students.  Enrich your colleagues with additional materials, relevant prior knowledge, and professional experiences.  Share questions and concerns that you identify in small groups and class discussions.  We all learn and we all teach in this class.

 

Article Response  (10 points)

Students will select articles published in a professional journal (from a reading list distributed in class). Article response will be a two-pager paper that will include a citation of the work and a description, analysis, and reflection of the article based on rubric to be distributed in class.

 

Professional Development Workshop (20 points)

Working with collaborative partners, students will prepare a 45-60 minute professional development workshop that might be presented for a faculty in-service. Topics include differentiated instruction, multiple intelligences, reading strategies (fiction/nonfiction), authentic assessment, intellectual property (copyright/plagiarism), and problem-based learning. The workshop will be prepared with a focus on educator collaboration with the school library media specialist.  Emphasis will be placed on instructional strategies and interactive activities used to engage participants.

 

Curriculum Map (10 points)

Provided a curriculum map of one grade level for one school year, students will prepare a one to two page paper.  The focus the paper will be (1) the selection of units of study from two disciplines from the curriculum map for an interdisciplinary unit of instruction, (2) an appropriate state learner goal for each discipline, and (3) an overarching information literacy standard that connects the two curricular disciplines.  Students will explain how these two curricular units are connected and why the information literacy standard was selected for this interdisciplinary unit of instruction.

 

Interdisciplinary Unit (20 points)

Information and technology skills are most meaningful when learned within a subject area, within an interdisciplinary unit, or a real-life need or problem.  Each student will design an interdisciplinary unit involving two or more disciplines.  In addition to appropriate content objectives, the unit must include an information literacy lesson plan detailing information seeking behaviors required by students, and these are to be included in the unit design.  Authentic learning activities and authentic assessment are also to be included, as well, as ways to accommodate academically challenged and talented students.  Students will use their class assigned “planning team” as a sounding board in designing the unit.  The units will include collaborative planning sheets, lesson plans, instructional strategies, product descriptors, and recommended educational resources.  Each student will present the essence of the unit to the class as well as submitting fully developed units to the instructor.

 

 

LSTA Grant Proposal (20 points)

Students will complete an LSTA grant application with a focus on the narrative portions of the application.  This proposal format is the one used by the Illinois State Library to administer federal grant funds to school and public libraries.  This grant proposal could fund a project or activity included in the student’s interdisciplinary unit.

 

Curriculum Educator Interview (5 points)

Each student will prepare a 4-5 page summary report, highlighting the information gathered from an interview of an individual in supervising or administering the development of curriculum in a district or building (K-12, any level) to determine: 

  • describe the process developing curriculum in this district/building
  • what are the major influences on the development of curriculum in this district/building
  • what process is used to assess student outcomes
  • what role do national/state standards play

In addition to the summary of information gathered from the questions above, the paper will contain a personal reaction and assessment of the process described.  Discussion will compare and contrast the approaches described.

 

Library Information Specialist Standards Self-Reflective Essay (5 points)

The Illinois State Board of Education Library Information Specialist standards will be explored.  Each standard has knowledge and performance indicators.  Students will review these standards and write a self-evaluation (2-3 pages) identifying perceived strengths and weaknesses and develop goals for improvement.

 

Portfolio

The Illinois State Board of Education has a portfolio requirement for all teaching certification programs.  The LIS 725 portfolio continues the process of compiling a professional portfolio for school library media program students:

Interdisciplinary Unit

Professional Development Presentation

LSTA Grant Proposal

LIS Standards Self-Evaluation

 

Assessment

Since this is a gradate course, candidates are expected to attend each class, be punctual, and produce work of professional quality (including citations when appropriate).  It is the responsibility of the student to obtain any material covered or assignments missed due to absence.  Missing a significant amount of class time—more than a single class—may result in a grade reduction.  According to university policy, students are expected to “conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.   Failure to maintain academic integrity will not be tolerated.”  (Dominican University Student Handbook and Planner, 2007-2008, p.20).  Definitions of plagiarism, cheating, and academic dishonesty can also be found in the Student Handbook.

All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period.  Late assignments may result in a grade reduction.  Graded assignments will be handed out at the end of class.  For questions concerning these assignments, make an appointment to see the instructor outside of class

 

Understanding Performances

 

A   =  100 to 94                                                      B-   =  81 to 78

A-  =  93 to 90                                                       C+  =  77 to 74

B+  =  89 to 86                                                       C    = 73 to70        

B    =  85 to 82                                                       C-   = 65 and below

 

Assigned readings are to support and supplement class topics.  They may or may not be discussed in class in depth.  Discussion depends on the class schedule.  Classes may vary from the class calendar.            

 

 


Course Calendar LIS 725-02

 

January 14, 2008        Curriculum and School Libraries Overview

Introduction to the course content and expectations of the learning community, and the Illinois State Board of Education Standards for Library Information Specialists.

LIS Self Evaluation.

 

January 21, 2008        Curriculum Resources

Demonstration of “Titlewave”, an on-line resource that provides lists of books related to curricular topics.

*LIS Self Evaluation Due

 

January 28, 2008  LSTA Grant Proposal

Revue materials for developing an “Emerging Grant Writer” proposal.  Can be based on needs for inter disciplinary unit

 “Curriculum Mapping” in Hughes-Hassell, p65-73

 

February 4 LSTA Grant Proposal

Panel presentation from School Library Media Sprecialists

Compare information literacy models in use by schools.

*2 Reviews of journal articles from “Collaboration Reading List”

 

February 11, 2008 Curriculum and Instruction

Enhancing Teaching and Learning, p25-38.

*Curriculum Map Due

 

February 18, 2008 Student Performance Assessment

Information Power, pp. 173-182

Enhancing Teaching and Learning, pp249-275.

 

February 25, 2008  Motivation for Learning

Enhancing Teaching and Learning, pp14-24.

*Curriculum Educator Interview Due

 

March 3, 2008  Spring Break

 

March 10, 2008 Collaboration with Educator Partners

Collaborative Partners will work together to evaluate, critique progress of each other’s workshop preparation and make suggestions for clarifications and improvements.

 

March 17, 2008          Authentic Assessment

Authentic Assessment Workshop

*Grant Proposal due

 

March 24, 2008 Copyright/Intellectual Property

Copyright/Intellectual Property Workshop

March 31, 2008 Reading Strategies

Reading Strategies (Fiction/Non Fiction)Workshop

 

April 7, 2008 Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences Workshop

 

April 14, 2008 Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction Workshop

 

April 21, 2008 Problem Based Learning

Problem-Based Learning Workshop

 

April 28, 2008 Evaluation

* Interdisciplinary Unit due