No Subject

[Mike Eisenberg <mike@ERICIR.SYR.EDU>]

Dear Ms. Sellers -

As someone who "lives" on the Internet, is committed to infusing the
Internet into K-12 education, and coordinates LM_NET, the school library
media listserv on the Internet (with over 2500 school library media
professionals working together), I am completely offended by the video:

"Global Quest: The Internet in the Classroom"

It's great that NASA is interested in K-12 education and promoting the
Internet, but this video will do much more harm than good.

This video totally misrepresents the state of school library media
programs and their involvement with technology and the Internet.  The
video is not subtle in promoting a "horse and buggy" image of school
library media programs while touting the Internet as a solution to all of
our educational information problems.  If that were so, be assured that
school library media professionals would be the first to embrace the
Internet and leave all else behind.

School librarians are leaders in the K-12 Internet community.  It's not an
"Internet" vs. "School Libraries" thing.  In fact, school librarians represent
the LARGEST group of educators using the Internet -- with over 2500
participating in LM_NET, the global library media community on the Internet.

School library media specialists are the ones infusing the net into schools.
School library media specialists are using the Internet to link students,
expand access to resources, and integrate the net into learning and teaching.
School library media specialists are frequently the ones training other
educators in telecommunications and the wonders of cyberspace.
And, most importantly, school librarians are the ones integrating technology
and network literacy into information skills instruction FULLY integrated
with classroom curriculum.

K-12 education needs positive promotions by NASA and others - not promotions
that take cheap shots at the very group taking leadership roles to bring
the Internet into schools.  The naive viewer could easily take away the
message that if we simply connect schools to the net all our information
needs and problems will be solved.  Heck, who needs those old fashioned
liberries anyway?

Please - I urge you and NASA to recall the video and updating its content to
reflect reality and truly help schools, students, and education in the
U.S.  We need to work together to infuse technology in our schools.

Sincerely,

Mike Eisenberg
Professor of Information Studies
Director, ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology
Co-coordinator of LM_NET, the school library media listserv

p.s. -

For you information, I am sharing this response with the entire school
library media electronic community.  I encourage them to view the video
and respond to you as well.





          *==========================================================*
          |       Mike Eisenberg   <mike@ericir.syr.edu>             |
          |      Professor, School of Information Studies            |
          | Director, ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology |
          |      Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244             |
          |      Phone: 315/443-4549   Fax: 315/443-5448             |
          *==========================================================*