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INFOhio's Legislative Action
Plan 2007
Supporting 21st Century Learning by Providing 21st Century Learning Tools
Message from Theresa M. Fredericka
April 10, 2007What Is INFOhio and What Do We Do?
INFOhio is the state’s virtual library and information network for K-12
schools. We strive to provide equal access to resources for all Ohio
students and teachers – effectively and efficiently.
If we want students to master 21st century learning skills, we must teach
our students not only how to read and how to do math, we must also teach
them how to access and retrieve data, how to interpret, sort and analyze
information and how to use information.
Working each and every day with school librarians across the state, INFOhio
ensures that all schools have the tools necessary to help all students
develop the skills they need as consumers in this information economy and to
be ready for the world of work in a global society.
| INFOhio provides: |
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Electronic resources to support Ohio's Academic
Content Standards |
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Software to automate school library card catalogs |
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Professional development for educators |
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Parental support for using INFOhio resources |
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What Has INFOhio Accomplished? |
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INFOhio has grown into one of the largest
school library networks in the nation, yet remains to this day a grassroots
initiative. Educators from every level – local, regional and
state – are involved in program direction, product development and
evaluation. But most importantly, the school librarian still
provides the critical voice that sets the direction for
INFOhio products and services. |
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INFOhio’s electronic resources are one of the most
widely used, cost-effective and equalizing services. Access to these
resources is provided to all of Ohio's
1.8 million students, plus all K-12 educators and all parents. Since 2001,
usage of these resources has increased by 635%. In fact, 9.9 million
articles were retrieved and printed last year. |
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Since 1994, INFOhio has successfully automated
almost 2,400 school libraries, so that now more than 1.1 million
students can fully access the resources available in their building,
in their district, their public library and across the state. |
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INFOhio nurtures and relies on strong relationships,
partnerships and collaborations with the library community and other
K-12 content providers to make this all possible. Our success is a
tribute to our ability to work with others to achieve goals that are
in the best interests of our students and fellow educators. Our past
is a testament to our partnerships; our future depends on them. |
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Where Do We Want to Go?
To achieve our potential and make our vision a reality, INFOhio by 2010
will:
a) Complete the critical task of automating our schools. With
computers, the Internet and electronic databases being such as integral part
of today's education process, knowing how to access information through an
online catalog is one of the most important skills a students can learn.
This skill ultimately creates the basis for lifelong learning. That's why
this effort is so important. Currently, of the state’s
614 public school districts, 378 are completely automated with INFOhio.
Another 83 districts are automated using part of the INFOhio system and part
of another system, while another 139 are automated with other systems. And, 1,258
school buildings either are not automated at all or only partially
automated.
b) Deliver SchoolRooms® to all Ohio schools. Students today expect to use technology in every facet of their lives.
That's why INFOhio is helping school districts provide information to
students in the way they will most readily accept it. And with the
introduction of SchoolRooms –
a new multimedia online portal or electronic door like Google
– INFOhio will bring the next generation of information delivery
to Ohio's K-12 school libraries.
Teams of Ohio school librarians, teachers and parents (more than 150) worked
with our automation vendor (SirsiDynix) to select, design and test the
SchoolRooms content, which features more than 25,000 Web sites that
match Ohio's Academic Content Standards. In addition to these “Best of the Web”
resources, a search of SchoolRooms also retrieves materials in
the school library's catalog, the local public library, an array of online
databases, e-content from publishers and other search engines
– all in one "smart search."
Given successful results of a pilot study in 2006 and usability testing by
Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science in 2006
and the success of the Ohio-developed SchoolRooms in other states, INFOhio
will deploy SchoolRooms statewide next year.
How Do We Get There?
Step One - INFOhio is prepared to be part of the solution for helping
all students become 21st century learners through our electronic
resources, automation project, connection to parents, professional
development for teachers and 24/7 access. How can we better position
ourselves with new state initiatives?
Step Two - INFOhio is a proven part of the solution for helping
all schools have equitable access to learning resources regardless of
school size, location or fiscal resources. How can we better communicate
this message?
Step Three - INFOhio is poised to be part of the solution for helping
all schools libraries become 21st century centers of learning. Ohio needs a
thorough audit of its school libraries to assess their readiness to
implement the recommendations from the Ohio Research Study, Student
Learning Through Ohio School Libraries, recently conducted by OELMA and
Rutgers. We propose creating a special task force with business
representatives, educators and grassroots stakeholders to articulate the essential role libraries play in today’s education. How do
we begin?
Theresa M. Fredericka
INFOhio Executive Director |
