About Mary Scroggs Elementary School: Media and Technology Overview

  1. Expectations of Staff and Students
    1. utilize the media center resources as part of regular class instruction
    2. regularly use technology with all students in a meaningful way
    3. collaborate with media and technology staff for integrated instruction
    4. check mail twice a day
    5. maintain an updated web page

  1. How the Media Coordinator and Tech Specialist will work with Staff and Students
    1. At the Beginning Stage
      You've got all this stuff, and all these kids, and this standard course of study to cover, but how do you fit it all together?...
      We'll help you.
    2. At the Brainstorming Stage
      You're pondering ideas for a lesson or unit or longer, and you need some more ideas or clarification ...
      We'll help you.
    3. At the nitty-gritty Planning Stage
      You've identified the topics, concepts, and tasks. You're fitting it all together with resources and into a timeframe...
      We'll help you.
    4. With Instruction
      There you are, in the classroom, in the media center, in the Pollywog Pavilion, outside...
      We'll help you.
    5. If you don't find us, we'll find you.

 

  1. The Media Center, the Bookroom and their Resources
    1. Hours: Monday - Friday 7:25 - 2:30
    2. The Collection -- Our collection is planned and developed around the curriculum.
      1. Print / AV resources
        It contains fiction and nonfiction books for various reading abilities; professional books; magazines; videocassettes; CD-ROM's; recorded books; kits; and a reference collection. Materials are purchased on an ongoing basis and suggestions are always welcome.
      2. AV Equipment
        Some equipment such as overhead projectors, tape recorders and tape players, will be checked out to teachers on a long term basis. Items such as as slide projectors, video cameras and camcorders, tripods and digital cameras are checked out on a short term basis. All equipment must be checked out through Media Center staff.
      3. Web Based Resources
        Visit http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us/scroggs/media to see the extent of the web collection - includes a collection of curriculum related links (send your suggestions along -- we'll post 'em), online encyclopedias, online periodicals and kid-friendly search engines.
      4. THE Bookroom
        It's not in the library -- it's room 105. That's where you'll find the entire collection of book sets that are to be used for guided reading, literature circles and small group instruction. A fabulous collection to meet your reading instruction needs. Please attend a bookroom training. ALL BOOKSETS are to be checked out through the bookroom computer and RETURNED TO THE MEDIA CENTER.
    3. Flexible Access
      The Mary Scroggs Elementary Media Center operates on a flexible access schedule. This means the Media Center is available to students and staff for reading, working in small groups, researching, studying, and checking out books at all times during the school day. Additionally, flexible access means that information skills are taught in classes planned jointly by the Media Coordinator and the classroom teachers so that these skills are incorporated into the content areas of the curriculum. Flexible scheduling of Media Center allows teachers the opportunity to use the Media Center to support and enhance classroom instruction. Teachers wanting to use the media center for their own instruction may do so at any time, provided there is space available in the media center.

      The goals of flexible access are to teach children to seek and use information sources at the time of need and to become independent information users and lifelong readers. As the need arises to seek information, students should be encouraged to come to the Media Center to locate sources to help them. Students are always welcome, with teacher permission to come and read, browse the shelves or work independently. Students coming to the Media Center are treated seriously and respectfully. Likewise, the behavior exhibited in the Media Center will be the same as that expected in the classroom, halls or any other part of the school building. Students are always expected to act responsibly but this is most important when the Media Coordinator is involved with another class or group or when there is no staff member present in the Media Center.
    4. Circulation:
      Flexible access allows staff and students to exchange books at anytime during the school day, as well as before and after school when the Media Center is open.

      Children may visit the media center on their own or in pairs to select books. Some teachers prefer to bring their entire class to the Media Center to circulate books. The teacher or assistant may be the responsible adult assisting students with book selection and checking materials out to students during these circulation times. Groups larger than 4 or 5 must have an adult accompany them to the Media Center, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Media Coordinator.

      All items must be checked out before leaving the Media Center. Materials will be checked out to the person presenting them at the circulation desk. Please do not ask to check materials out in another patron's name. If the circulation desk is not staffed, books may be left with the child's patron card indicating who they are to be checked out to. The classroom will be notified or the materials will be delivered when they are checked out. Teachers needing materials immediately may leave a note with the bar code number and the borrower's name on the designated place on the circulation desk. If the teacher has been trained on the Alexandria Circulation System, she/he may check the item out the their patron account.
    5. The Curriculum
      1. Standard Course of Study - Information Skills
        http://www.learnnc.org
      2. Video Policy
        See the attached sheet.
      3. Copyright Policy
        All teachers and students must abide by copyright laws. Resources used in all projects / reports / etc must be cited by students.
        See attached copy of district policy.
    6. Instruction:
      Individual, small group and whole class instruction by the Media Coordinator is planned jointly by the Media Coordinator and the classroom teacher. Teachers are encouraged to request instruction at anytime for their classes. The Media Coordinator can attend house and grade level meetings to facilitate this planning. She can also help plan with individual teachers research projects and to offer activities and instruction in subject areas. Some examples of these activities are:
      introduction to genres of literature
      listening and comprehension skills
      literature tie-ins for math, science, social studies, art, music and physical education
      use of various materials for specific projects
      collaboration on multimedia projects
      support for small group reading
      evaluating picture books such as Caldecott Awards and North Carolina Picture Book Awards
      note taking
      subject area research including: formulating research questions; identifying and using sources; writing and synthesizing the information; production and evaluation
      1. Orientation: Orientations at the beginning of the year are scheduled for each class by the Media Coordinator and the classroom teacher. Students are instructed in library organization and introduced to the circulation procedures. The objective of orientation is to make the student, teacher and teacher assistant comfortable using the Media Center.
    7. Special Programs
      1. Lunch Bunch

 

  1. The Technology Program and it's Resources
    1. The Network
      1. Completely Networked Environment
        All computers are networked. Everything we do relies on the internal local area network functioning.
        1. Servers control our access to the data...
        2. Teachers and Students use Macintosh Manager to access applications and documents.
          different grades have access to different applications
      2. Specifications
        100 Megabit Switched Ethernet to every port, with a 2 gigabit backbone and a T1 connection to the Internet. Part of CHCCS district wide area network. Internet services through BellSouth.
    2. The Collection
      1. Classroom Hardware --
        All equipment is cataloged through the media center.
        1. K-1 classrooms have 4 computers, one hooked up to the TV and a VCR
        2. 2-5 classrooms have 5 computers, one hooked up to the TV and a VCR
        3. Printers are shared -- located throughout the building.
        4. Overhead Projectors, Boomboxes and Tuffy Carts
      2. Loaned Hardware and AV (from the media center)
        1. Wireless iBook lab - can get 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
          use email calendars to sign up
        2. Alphasmarts -- simple word processing devices.
          Have the kids type their work in the Alphasmart, then use a dump cable to download it to the computer.
        3. Keyboard Wizard -- typing tutor devices
          Take 4 or 5 for your classroom and set it up as a rotating center.
        4. Cassette Recorders and Jackboxes
          Put together a listening center.
        5. Video Cameras and Tripods
          We have a number of VHS-C cameras and digital video cameras.
        6. Data Projector
          hook your computer to this for fancier presentations.
        7. Scanners and Digital Cameras
          3 scanners for classroom checkout; one permanent in media center, one in art room.
        8. Rechargeable Batteries
          get them at the media center and BRING THEM BACK! :)
      3. Video Duplication Station
        available on the Ribbit News set (stage). Sue can teach you how to do it.
      4. Software
        see the software list
      5. Cable TV
        Only a few stations are available.
      6. And you still want more?
        Purchasing / Donations Policy for Hardware and Software -- Please don't go out and purchase any software or hardware on your own (not with your own money, not with PTA money, not with instructional supply money). Please don't accept donations. Speak with the media specialist or tech specialist for more information.
    3. The Curriculum
      1. Standard Course of Study
        http://www.learnnc.org
      2. Internet Use Policy
        http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us --> School Board ---> Policies then search for Internet
    4. Special Programs
      1. Ribbit News
        A student run news program that airs daily at 7:53 and lasts 5-7 minutes, providing news, announcements, birthdays, and other interesting tidbits. Not always of the highest quality, but a thrilling experience for the kids nevertheless. Please sign up for a week when YOUR class can do the news. Talk to the tech specialist for more information.
      2. Bell South Power to Teach Grant and Tech@Home
        We have a grant (thanks to the Bell South Foundation) through which we will, over the next two years, explore ways that technology and the Internet can help create a meaningful school-to-home experience for all students. Approximately 20% of our students do not have computers in their homes; we need to figure out a way to get them computers and Internet access from home. As we do this, we need to determine ways that we can use technology and apply the Principles of the Science of Learning to technology use so that the learning experiences we develop are meaningful, provocative and of high quality.
    5. Staff Development
      1. Tech Tuesdays and Thursdays
        More emails to come about that. Usually from 3-4pm.
      2. Summer Camps
        District sponsors a summer tech camp during June.
        Teacher Academy sponsors a tech camp in June.
        Lots of other summer tech camps available.
      3. Local Universities and Online Courses
        Need more info? Talk to the tech specialist.

 

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