The Library of Congress has assembled a group of teachers and experts from all areas of the country and grade levels in an effort to develop a new professional-development curriculum for K-12 educators. The Library’s Educational Outreach division convened the first meeting of this national review committee in October in Washington, D.C.
The panel includes Diane Allen of Southeastern Louisiana University, MaryAlice Anderson of the Winona (Minn.) Area Public Schools, Jim Barstow of the Lincoln (Neb.) Public Schools, Shelia Felber of Rohr Elementary School (Chula Vista, Calif.), Megan Fix of the School District of Philadelphia, Marcia Foster of PBS, Jerry Hostetler of Southern Illinois University, Melissa Johnston of the Forsyth County Schools (Atlanta, Ga.), Kathy Lehman of Thomas Dale High School (Chester, Va.), David Miller of the Ketchikan (Alaska) School District, Janice Newsum of the Houston (Texas) Independent School District, Kelly Schrum of George Mason University, Carol Stapp of George Washington University and Karyn Wright of the Clark County (Nev.) Schools.
The professional-development curriculum will be a primary-source-based program that will be delivered at the Library of Congress, in the community through its partners and online at the Library’s website. Participants in the program will become familiar with the breadth and organization of the Library’s digital primary sources, understand the value of using primary sources in instruction and create basic inquiry-based learning experiences. The curriculum will be designed to meet standards set by the National Staff Development Council, the American Association of School Librarians and the International Society of Technology in Education.
The national review panel members were selected for their expertise and knowledge, as well as in an effort to assemble representatives from urban, suburban and rural areas and elementary, middle-school and high-school teaching specialties. The Library will formally release the professional development curriculum and online modules at the 2009 National Education Computing Conference in Washington, D.C., in June.
