Issue 29

Different Dreams Years 7 and 8
(Integrated Units Collection)
Level: Upper primary -lower secondary
Publisher: Curriculum Corporation
ISBN: 1 86366 426 2
RRP: $34.95
SCIS order no: 925727

Intended for the middle school as an extension of the Integrated Units Collection, Different Dreams presents twelve units of learning experiences for integrated teaching and learning. All learning areas with the exception of LOTE are covered. Students can demonstrate outcomes from three or four learning areas in any one unit. Particularly valuable are the assessment guides on the right-hand side of each page. Covering a diverse range of topics and featuring clear layout, this title is a practical, teacher-friendly reference. Highly recommended.

Themes/topics: advertising, ecology, crime and punishment, Australian heroes, developments in science and technology.

Related learning areas: across all learning areas.

Reviewed by Phillipa Ryan, Education Department of WA, first published in Primary Focus Nonfiction 1999, p2.

This product is available from:
Curriculum Corporation
Tel: (03) 9207 9600
Fax: (03) 96391616
Email: [email protected]

Snapshots of Asia
6 big books, 1 teacher guide
Level: Lower primary-lower secondary
Publisher: Curriculum Corporation
ISBN: 1 86366 413 0
RRP: $149.95 kit
SCIS order no: 954653

This package provides an introduction to the countries of Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. It includes six big books and a teacher guide that includes blackline masters. This is an excellent presentation in a sturdy vinyl satchel. The layout of text and illustrations is balanced and ii is easy to access the information, which is up-to-date. The maps are clear and the photographs are superb. Traditional and contemporary perspectives are shown through the photographs. Glossaries are included in English and the appropriate language. This is a good cross-curricular package, which allows teachers to select either a country or a theme (eg music, sport) as a starting point. Competent year 3 students upward will find the material enticing, and it can be used with lower secondary students who are less able readers. Highly recommended.

Themes/topics: Asian countries, celebrations, literacy and numeracy

Related learning areas: LOTE

Reviewed by Chris McMulkin, Curriculum Support Officer Society and Environment, Education Department of WA , first published in Primary Focus Nonfiction 1999, p 80.

This product is available from:
Curriculum Corporation
Tel: (03) 9207 9600
Fax: (03) 9639 1616
Email: [email protected]

Barber, A 'Managing a specialist collection: Newtown High School of Performing Arts' in Scan 17(4), November 1998, 37-39

In 1990, Sydney's Newtown High School of Performing Arts was formed, in part, by combining Newtown Boys High and Petersham Girls High. What is distinctive about this school is that most students are admitted via audition in dance, drama or music. (There is a proportion of local area students.) Although the school supports syllabuses found in other government schools, there is naturally a greater emphasis on creative arts. The library has built up a specialist collection of materials including screenplays, dance periodicals, professional theatre programs and opera biographies. Managing such a collection has its own challenges which the school's teacher librarian. Andrew Barber. outlines. Of particular importance is the close relationship the school has with the NSW SCIS cataloguing team, who catalogue the specialist resources that are not found on the SCIS database.

Reviewed by Nigel Paull, Editor Connections

Desmond, M & Conroy, A 'Your PC in the new millennium' in Australian PC World, March 1999, 48-58

Trying to predict trends in the field of technology is always fraught with danger. Indeed, most schools would have some software or hardware that didn't fulfil its promise and quickly became obsolete. In this article the author doesn't make wild predictions but rather looks at emerging trends that are taking place with PCs. These trends include: faster chips, cheaper notebooks, smaller and lighter desktops, flat panel monitors, integrated styling of the type pioneered by the Mac, and CO-Rewritable storage. An interesting innovation we may see is the multimodal interface, which brings together 'the keyboard, the pen, the camera and speech.'

Reviewed by Nigel Paull, Editor Connections

Stephens, C 'I'll take the intranet' in Australian PC@uthority(16), March 1999, 122-127

If you don't know what an intranet is, or you are thinking of initiating one in your school, this article clearly explains the concept of the intranet and the extensive benefits of its application. Basically, an intranet is a 'secure information-sharing system in which Web client software accesses data over an internal TCP/IP network.' Although aimed at business users, the article is just as applicable to schools, and looks at the variety of uses an organisation can have for an intranet and some of the pitfalls to avoid in setting one up.

Reviewed by Nigel Paull, Editor Connections

'Reading sport' in Viewpoint6(4), Summer 1998, 6-11

Here is a collection of reviews for the ardent. and the not so ardent, sports fan. The contents of the books reviewed include: introductions to various sports. biographies of well-known sports personalities. anecdotes, a behind-the-scenes analysis, statistics. strategies for improving skills, and exposure to the politics of sport. Sports covered include soccer, AFL, basketball, athletics. golf, cricket, boxing and rugby league. Teacher librarians who are contemplating enlivening their collection of sports publications should peruse the reviews on offer in this article, and indeed the other articles in this journal.

Reviewed by Nigel Paull, Editor Connections

Ferretter G and Manning M Skilling Up: Developing a professional portfolio for teacher librarians
Publisher: SLAV
RRP: $22.00 incl. postage

As the title suggests, this document presents a framework for examining the role and performance of teacher librarians in the context of an educational environment -certainly a necessary tool in a time of appraisal and accountability. The presentation provides logically organised chapters on role descriptions, and proformas for policies and procedures and the devising of professional development plans. The document demonstrates strategies to evaluate performance according to the school's educational outcomes and to gather evidence for the shaping of a professional portfolio. I t is indeed a valuable professional development tool.

Reviewed by Mary Manning, SLAV

This product is available from:
SLAV, 217-25 Church Street, 
Richmond Vic 3121
Tel: (03) 9428 4173
http://www.srl.rmit.edu.au/slav/ 

Issues and Information: Selected papers for the school information professional (Volumes 1 and 2 available)
Publisher: SLAV
RRP: $25.00 each incl. postage

Initially published as a result of requests from members who attended SLAV conferences and those who heard about how valuable the presentations were, these documents contain useful and enlightening material written by practising teacher librarians. The emphasis is unashamedly focused on information literacy, technology and the role and profile of the teacher librarian within this context. The range of topics covered and situations described provide stimulating food for thought as we tackle our planning and organisational tasks.

Reviewed by Mary Manning, SLAV

This product is available from:
SLAV, 217-25 Church Street,
Richmond Vic 3121
Tel: (03) 9428 4173
http://www.srl.rmit.edu.au/slav/

Using the CSF to Teach Information Skills: Strategies for the key learning areas
Publisher: SLAV
RRP: $20.00 each incl. postage

The need for a document that provides schools with a means of auditing the teaching of information skills across all key learning areas has become v ital with the implementation of the Curriculum and Standards Framework (CSF) within in Victoria. The concepts in this document can easily be applied to any curriculum context. The guide has two major components. The first is a workshop that aims to develop greater awareness of the steps and skills in the information process. The second is a planning and auditing process that encourages the integration of information literacy across all key learning areas. This is definitely a document that deserves the attention of all teaching staff.

Reviewed by Mary Manning, SLAV

This product is available from:
SLAV, 217-25 Church Street,
Richmond Vic 3121
Tel: (03) 9428 4173
http://www.srl.rmit.edu.au/slav/