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Maine's Informational Skills Guide
and the new National Standards

        In 1990 an ad hoc Maine Educational Media Association committee was formed to publish a non-mandated guide to the development of individual school information skills curricula.  It marked a major conceptual change—from isolated, access-oriented skills to emphasis on the entire research process within the context of core curriculum and collaboration with classroom teachers.  It includes David Loertscher's Taxonomy for school librarians and one for teachers to indicate the extensive continuum of program and collaboration potential.  The INFORMATION SKILLS GUIDE FOR MAINE EDUCATORS, 1990,  is available in print from the Maine State Library.  It is free to MEMA members.  Call Media Services at 1 207 287 5620.  E-mail Felicia Kennedy

       In response to requests for implementation activities, four SAMPLERS have been published. Model information skills activities are primarily integrated with Language Arts. Yet each set includes other subject areas. They also stress higher level thinking skills and include charts of Bloom's taxonomy paired with enabling ideas. Non-print and electronic literacies are seamlessly incorporated when relevant. The fourth SAMPLER includes an introduction to alternative assessment of how individual students are developing skills within the research process. It includes numerous examples and tools. SAMPLERS are available in print from Maine State Library Media Services as above, and online.

         The INFORMATION SKILLS GUIDE FOR MAINE EDUCATORS is being revised. New emphases will be given to

  1. individual student achievement, needs, and choices,
  2. strategies for collaboration (both student and teacher/library media specialist), and
  3. the expanding use of non-print as resource and as product.

It will relate to Maine's Learning Results as well as the AASL 1998 standards and ISTE's 1998 technology standards. 

Milo Schools draft curriculum (technology is located at the bottom of the page)  http://www.sad41.k12.me.us/distcurr/curr.htm   (One district's starting draft for linking
Learning Results, technology skills, and some Information Literacy skills.)

         The 1990 GUIDE and the companion SAMPLERS remain valuable resources for librarians and teachers designing curriculum that incorporates information literacy.

Back |Maine's Learning Results and the NEW Information Power

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