Workshop Material
This page contains information and resources to support district development of policy, process and practice for the evaluation, selection and acquisition of learning resources for use in the classroom. Click on the hyperlinks or images below to open the document/URL.
Policy
Schools and individual educators are responsible for selecting and acquiring resources in accordance with: Ministry policy; local Board policy and/or procedures/guidelines.
* Refer to School Act: Changes to Learning Resource Policy July 2017
* Summary of Board Responsibilities.
* A Guide for Developing District Learning Resource Policy
– includes sample language for policy, procedures and challenge of a learning resource
Process: Identifying Information Sources
External
K-12 Evaluated Resource Collection
– Click link above and log in for full evaluation review
– Curated Website List – for direct access to evaluated sites with curriculum match
– Health curriculum Evaluated resources
Indigenous Education Resources
– K-12 Evaluated Resource Collection – Indigenous/Aboriginal
– Ministry of Education Indigenous Resources Link
App References
– App Privacy Reference Guide – example of considerations for app use
Local
- Licensed digital resources
– BC Digital Classroom collection (Licensed by 59 districts and many independent schools)
- District selected and licensed digital resources/print resources
Process: Tools for Local Resource Consideration
The purpose of this information is to support selection of resources for classroom use. Teacher-librarians may refer to these resources, but their role, and the function of resources within a library collection or learning commons is broader than for classroom instruction.
Reviewing a Resource For Classroom Use
Refer to these 5 points as guidelines of best practice in the selection of resources.
Use this template when reviewing digital or print resources: Criteria Template
Social Considerations
How to Apply Social Considerations in the Review Process
Social Considerations Explanation: Rationale/What to Look for
Understanding Your Learners’ Needs
BC Healthlinks information – search Growth and Development Milestones (Physical growth, cognitive development, emotional and social development, language development, and sensory and motor development)
Considerations for Students with Special Needs
Lexile – Understanding Reading Levels. Levelling Comparison Chart
Universal Design for Learning considerations: ARC BC site and UDL Site developed by SETBC
Process: Building Awareness and Understanding of Review Processes
– Take the introductory Moodle 1-hour course * on Selecting Learning Resources for the Classroom
– Learn to Use the Copyright Fair Decision Making Tool
– Develop Awareness of Privacy Practices for Educators
Note: * the Moodle course is available now. A revised version will be available Spring 2020.
Acquisition: Planning
Assessing Needs
Establish Priorities (example of prioritization list below)
New/Revised Curriculum
District initiatives
School Initiatives
Goals/activities
Internal changes
New grades or class configurations
New programs
Acquisition: Budgets
Identifying funding sources
Allocating budgets to priorities
Establishing acquisition guidelines and procedures
Collaborative process
Proactive, not reactive
Communication to staff
