The National Science Education Standards set broad content goals for teaching grades K-12. For science teaching programs to achieve these goalsâ€"indeed, for science teaching to be most effectiveâ€"teachers and students need textbooks, lab kits, videos, and other materials that are clear, accurate, and help students achieve the goals set by the standards. Selecting Instructional Materials provides a rigorously field-tested procedure to help education decisionmakers evaluate and choose materials for the science classroom. The recommended procedure is unique, adaptable to local needs, and realistic given the time and money limitations typical to school districts. This volume includes a guide outlining the entire process for school district facilitators, and provides review instruments for each step. It critically reviews the current selection process for science teaching materialsâ€"in the 20 states where the state board of education sets forth a recommended list and in the 30 states where materials are selected entirely by local decisionmakers. Selecting Instructional Materials explores how purchasing decisions are influenced by parent attitudes, political considerations, and the marketing skills of those who produce and sell science teaching materials. It will be indispensable to state and local education decisionmakers, science program administrators and teachers, and science education advocates.

Adapt traditional library techniques to the task of indexing, cataloging, and metadata creation for Internet resources! The rapid shift toward digital resources in K-6, higher education, adult education, and other learning communities, has greatly increased the demand on the information professionals to manage this new technology. Metadata and Organizing Educational Resources on the Internet, the first book of its kind, helps clarify the process of cataloging and indexing the vast quantities of data available in digital form, so that users can readily access the information they need. This comprehensive volume documents the experiences of metadata creators (both catalogers and indexers), library administrators, and educators who are actively engaged in projects that organize Internet resources for educational purposes. Metadata and Organizing Educational Resources on the Internet shares the problems the authors encountered in the far-reaching project of creating metadata for a new class of resource, as well as the solutions and options they found. Tackling the salient issues of cataloging and indexing, Metadata and Organizing Educational Resources on the Internet: examines the status quo of cataloging Internet resources explores the relationship between traditional cataloging practices and Internet cataloging introduces a number of educationally focused metadata schemes, including ARIADNE, GEM, and IMS examines theoretical and practice aspects of metadata in relation to today's evolving Internet-based educational terrain discusses specific projects, including ALADIN, PEN-DOR, the Schomburg Research Library, and a catalog of Greek sculpture fragments for the Perseus Project offers charts, figures, screen shots, and Web addresses for initiatives using metadata to facilitate access This is an exciting time to be involved with information services. Metadata and Organizing Educational Resources on the Internet presents the ideas and experiences of the pioneering librarians who are mapping the intricacies of the World Wide Web. Catalogers, indexers, content creators, librarians, and educators will profit from the information in this fascinating volume.

Examines the value & essential ideas in arts education & presents the elements of a comprehensive arts program for students in K-12 -- from planning, delivery, assessment, & community resources to technology in the service of the arts. Programs for dance, music, theater, & visual arts are detailed with discussion on the components of education in each of the disciplines as well as curriculum; assessment; technology; special needs students; teacher preparation & professional development; resources, materials & equipment; & goals. Glossary of terms. Examples of careers in the visual & performing arts. Photos, references & resources.