Re: [LM_NET] Take a lesson from the Eric Carle Museum!

[Emily Warner <nceslibrarian@HOTMAIL.COM>]

I would have to agree with Helen, in that there needs to be a balance in what you 
do.  I don't agree with the original posting of removing all the technology from my 
library because I believe that ALL children (yes, even my PreK students) need to be 
exposed to technology on some level.  However, I also believe that ALL children 
(yes, even my 8th graders) need to be exposed to quality literature and the 
opportunity to... well... play.  So to me, it's all about the balance and knowing 
when to use technology and when to turn to the "good old fashioned book".

Just my two cents,
Emily Warner

************************************************
Emily L Warner, Library Media Specialist
North Canaan Elementary School
90 Pease St
North Canaan, CT  06018
(860) 824-5149 x105
nceslibrarian@hotmail.com




> Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:20:01 -0400
> From: Boone@OSD.OH.GOV
> Subject: Re: Take a lesson from the Eric Carle Museum!
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> 
> Helen, I think you said the magic word: "balance." I work at a school for the 
>deaf, and our students are--obviously--very visual learners. I have seen 
>technology capture their interest so that they learn more than they might through 
>more traditional methods. However, I've also witnessed the wonder of a child 
>falling in love with a good, old-fashioned book. The students definitely need 
>direct interaction with each other, but again, technology can bolster their 
>communication skills. Especially in the case of our deaf students for whom English 
>is a second language--one which they must learn through print alone without 
>advantage of hearing it spoken--using computers helps motivate students to express 
>themselves in writing.
> 
> Yep, magic word: balance.
> 
> Nancy Boone, teacher-librarian
> Ohio School for the Deaf
> 500 Morse Road
> Columbus, OH 43214
> 614-728-1414
> boone@osd.oh.gov
> ________________________________________
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date:    Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:56:48 +0200
> From:    Helen Boelens <boelen1@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
> Subject: Re: Take a lesson from the Eric Carle Museum!
> 
> Dear David,
> I enjoyed reading your posting.  I remember the excellent work which you did
> last year at the IASL Conference in Abano Terme (Italy), when you helped
> with many of the technical aspects of the conference and once again wish to
> express the gratitude of the attendees.
> 
> Some years ago we had a beautiful exhibition in Haarlem (the Netherlands)
> about the work of Eric Carle, his illustrations and the way in which he put
> his collages together.  I remember the enthusiastic, positive reactions of
> the visitors to the exhibit (including many children) - they spoke about
> their love of Eric Carle's stories (especially the hungry caterpillar).
> There was also a space where children could make their own collages to
> illustrate a story.
> 
> I realise that there have been some discussion about the content of your
> original message to the list.  I would like to point out that school
> librarianship has many different faces - these faces include literacy,
> curriculum, advocacy, vision, collaborative instruction, technology etc.
> However, for me and I'm sure for many other school librarians, the basics
> are the enjoyment of the visit to the library, the stories which the school
> librarian reads, the help which pupils receive from this person in selecting
> books which they hope to enjoy -  these basic social aspects, in my opinion,
> form the beginning of a love of reading and literacy.  Of course, some toys
> which children can play with (with their friends) in the library are always
> welcome.  In some countries, carefully selected toys can also be borrowed
> from the library.
> 
> The vision of small children using a sterile digital library, or perhaps a
> library where books are only available on E-readers or in other digital form
> is abhorrent.  A respected Dutch academic and educator described small
> children sitting up straight behind PC's in the library, pressing buttons,
> glued to the screen - she said they looked like little soldiers, who had
> very little social contact with other children or adults.
> 
> My research has shown that here in many different countries in Europe some
> school libraries have very few technical facilities - the budget does not
> permit their purchase.  However, trained school librarians use the simple
> (perhaps old-fashioned) facilities to promote literacy and work to increase
> the quality of pupils' education.  The research clearly shows that the mere
> presence of technology does not increase academic achievement.
> 
> My message is therefore that whenever possible, there needs to be a balance
> between the old and the new.
> 
> Looking forward to more comments :-)
> 
> Best wishes,
> Helen Boelens
> ENSIL Foundation (European Network for School Libraries and Information
> Literacy).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "DiGregorio, David" <ddigregorio@TENAFLY.K12.NJ.US>
> To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 10:52 PM
> Subject: Take a lesson from the Eric Carle Museum!
> 
> 
> This morning I visited the Eric Carle museum in Amherst Massachusetts -
> they have a library within the facility and it is my strong opinion that
> every elementary library should use this library as a model.   NO
> computers, no piles of technological junk like smart boards and the
> like.  Just clean shelves, white walls-simplicity and elegance - great
> lighting!  A seating area for reading and one large work table.  And
> toys- yes tactile wooden toys.  So, as a person perhaps too well versed
> in technology, I say to all you elementary librarians, bring all of that
> technology trash to a dumpster, rid your libraries of all the junk you
> can and make them into places where the youngsters will truly look
> forward to visit.  Buy some nice wooden toys - let them play - let them
> read - read to them, get them away from keyboards and give them crayons
> and colored pencils - teach them to write beautifully with a nib pen -
> and for God's sake don't sit them in front of a so called wrongly named
> Smart board!!!  Also, make sure you visit the Eric Carle Museum!!
> 
> 
> 
> A word about the most laughable and entirely ridiculous phrase ever used
> in education . . .
> 
> "21st Century Skills" - if I hear it one more time I'll consider a jump
> from the George Washington Bridge!!  How about kindness, good will,
> usefulness, and all those really longed for human qualities.
> 
> David
> 
> 
> 
> David Di Gregorio
> 
> Supervisor of Library Media Services
> 
> www.librarymedia.net
> 
> Tenafly High School
> 
> 19 Columbus Drive
> 
> Tenafly NJ 07670
> 
> 
> 
> 
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