Learning through Books, Media and Technology

ARTICLES THIS ISSUE:

1993 Administrative Leadership Awards

Accentuating the positive

1993 President's Award Winner

The energy of synergy

This is my country --- an my school

We are the world: our success is yours

Social sciences and technology --- a natural combination

No question of relevance

Inspiring students to speak out

Big ideas prepare students for the future

Open doors, open minds

Good Ideas! Home Page

Good Ideas! is published by CSLA

1499 Old Bayshore Hwy.

Burlingame

California

94010

(415) 692-2350

No question of relevance

International Studies Academy

The name tells it all: International Studies Academy emphasizes the study of foreign languages and the social sciences, particularly international relations. How this emphasis is carried out for an ethnically diverse population of students, who have been selected for their interest in the program rather than for their grade-point averages, is a fascinating story.

Consider these factors:

• Classes are scheduled in two-hour time blocks.
• Staff members work interdepartmentally.
• The library media teacher serves with a team of five staff members as advisors for the Model United Nations program.
• The art produced within a country is studied as an important means of gaining insight into the history and culture of that country.
• All freshmen are required to enroll in a geography class.
• Due to the need for current information, there is a heavy stress on periodical usage, both In print and microform.

Model United Nations student Ruth Johannes with advisor Pat Fahey.

There is a keen sense of relevance about every aspect of this school's curriculum: information must be up-to-date; a variety of means for communicating data are used by students; work that students do becomes part of the total resource bank; the process of obtaining and evaluating facts from a variety of resources becomes of prime importance; pursuing a line of inquiry is not limited to the artificial time limit of 50 minutes; and each staff member is of essential importance to other staff members in building an integrated curriculum.

Pressure to stay ahead of the students' "need to know" has resulted in the' purchase of special computer programs, additional phone lines, and modems. The pressure appears to enliven rather than burden this staff, however. Linda Guitron's secondary teaching credentials in both English and social studies, as well as her librarianship credential, appear to serve her, the staff, and the students exceedingly well.

• International Studies Academy (Grades 9-12, enrollment 540)
  693 Vermont Street ,San Francisco 94107; (415) 695-5866
  Steve Hirabayashi, Principal
  Linda I. Guitron, Library Media Teacher
  San Francisco Unified School District