Curriculum Infused Cultural Heritage for School Media Specialists

Abstract

Cultural heritage research helps to create knowledge of the past. Many foundational components are easily presented to children and can support standards required in the school curriculum. The project seeks to inform cultural heritage research through surveys and interviews with school librarians who have experienced a workshop on incorporating cultural heritage into the curriculum. Short lectures will be offered with hands-on activities to be delivered at conference workshops focused on school media specialists’ professional development. The in-person workshops will allow school media specialists to apply common pedagogy  within the context of cultural heritage activities that teach simple, easy to use concepts that can be applied throughout the curriculum. The workshops will demonstrate how library instruction and program activities can support cultural and environmental heritage in the classroom for teachers. Participants will be able to implement cultural heritage education in their school’s curriculum that focuses on critical thinking, discovery, and creating context.

Paper/online surveys that address school librarians' experiences and perceptions relative to the workshop activity will be distributed to workshop attendees at the end of the session. Survey participants can indicate if they wish to be contacted for an interview. The information collected from this project will inform the field of library and information science. The project aims to show that school media specialists can help teachers utilize real world archaeological research and practice in fun ways that support the curriculum. School media specialists can also include library resources that speak to the importance of cultural and environmental heritage.