Re: [LM_NET] AASL on National Education Technology Plan

[Sara Kelly Johns <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>]

The AASL Board did NOT endorse every word of the plan
but did decide to use what is in there to make the
connection between what we as library media
specialists do hold as important (information literacy
instruction, for instance) and the document (since the
writers did not. WE ARE the tech-savvy professionals
in the schools that students depend on daily to assist
them and it's time to point that out in a positive
statement to those who wrote that plan.

I see the tenets of our Information Power standards
throughout the plan and do wish they were labeled as
such. But WE know it and need to USE this plan and our
activism (not our whining) to help shape the state
plans that must be written, state by state. It is
important to know the shortcomings of the plan in
relation to the state of the libraries we work in and
the necessity to teach those "tech-savvy" students how
to use and manage that information they locate so
easily.

California libraries are in trouble, as are WAY too
many across the nation, but we cannot just throw up
our hands and give up, but use our passion (and I have
read lots of it in the reactions to the AASL statement
that have been posted) to get involved in the writing
of the state technology plans. They could actually
make a difference.

Maybe I am one of those eternal optimists (probably
am) but I am also stubborn and will not give up any
opportunity to advocate for students and our
profession. My life would be lots less stressful if I
could "let someone else do it" but somehow I can't and
hope that those who are passionate about this
technology plan will not be "too busy" to find inroads
to participation on their state level. Debate and
discussion are healthy to this and all issues that
matter to our students.

Best from the frigid Northeast, Sara Kelly Johns,
Region II Director, AASL Board
--- Peter Milbury <pmilbury@IIS.SYR.EDU> wrote:

> Dear LM_NET,
>
> The AASL statement says: "Well-stocked and
> well-staffed school library
> media programs are strategically poised to support
> the major action steps
> and recommendations identified in the plan."
>
> I would like to invite all who had a part in writing
> the National
> Education Technology Plan to come to California and
> see for themselves how
> the above statement is a ludicrous fantasy. (The
> AASL Board can come too!)
> It sounds like the writer is living in another world
> or another lifetime.
> Out here it is like an underdeveloped country with
> regards to school
> libraries. We have been decimated!
>
> The AASL wrote: "As the technology plan illustrates
> in its description of
> ideal information management, school libraries are
> an integral component
> in connecting all information and technologies."
>
> I tried and tried to find that statement in the
> Technology Plan, but it
> did not seem to appear. In fact, in the entire
> document I found no mention
> of "school libraries", and the word libraries only
> showed up four times.
> Try taking a look at it.
> See:
>
http://www.nationaledtechplan.org/theplan/NETP_Final.pdf
>
> Nor does the term "information literacy" show up.
> Only once does the term
> "computer literacy" appear. And the Plan makes the
> colossal mis-statement:
> "Todays students, of almost any age, are far ahead
> of their teachers in
> computer literacy. They prefer to access subject
> information on the
> Internet, where it is more abundant, more accessible
> and more up-to-date."
>
> Does the above statement imply "more up to date than
> their libraries"? Who
> in the world that works with students on a daily
> basis would ever agree to
> such a statement? What an absurdity!
>
> It is so sad to see the AASL's bland reaction to
> this mediocre document!
> Even worse for ISTE, who gloats over their
> participation in the creation
> of the plan. What a disappointment!
>
> Peter Milbury, LM_NET Co-Moderator
> pmilbury@iis.syr.edu
> School Librarian/CA TeleMentor, Chico HS, Chico, CA
>
............................................................
> LM_NET: The Voice of the Library Media Community
> Since 1992
> Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
> EL-Announce-LM_NET Select:
> http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
> LM_NET Supporters:
> http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
>
.........................................................
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
> All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
> To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to:
> listserv@listserv.syr.edu
> In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2)
> SET LM_NET NOMAIL
> 3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow
> for confirmation.
> LM_NET Help & Information:
> http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
> Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
> EL-Announce with LM_NET Select:
> http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
> LM_NET Supporters:
> http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
>


=====
Lake Placid Middle/Senior HS LMC
250 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
518-523-2474, ext. 4132
FAX: 518-523-4861
johns@northnet.org
SaraKJohns@aol.com

"Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------