The IU 13 IMS provides a cost-effective and convenient program for educators to obtain high-quality instructional aids. Using the Medianet program, all instructional staff can electronically search a large collection of available media in every curriculum area across all instructional levels from anywhere at anytime via the Internet.
CultureGrams
CultureGrams is a searchable database containing concise, reliable, and up-to-date cultural information on more than 200 countries, all 13 Canadian provinces and territories, and each U.S. state. This database provides online resources including a worldwide photo gallery, slideshows, video clips, famous people collection, recipe collection, and sortable, create-your-own data tales of selected information.
Desktop Web Conferencing/Webinars
IU 13 can provide training and support for use of systems to enable desktop web conferencing. Any teacher or administrator within the IU 13 service area can request that a virtual room be created for distance learning experiences.
Discovery Education Streaming
Discovery Education Streaming is a high-quality digital video-on-demand library that provides over 8,000 full videos and teacher resources that are aligned to Pennsylvania's academic standards.
Distance Learning
The IU 13 IMS program provides numerous teleconferences each year via videoconference and conducts training for school district teachers and curriculum staff in the development and implementation of effective distance education in the classroom.
Hardware Loans
Schools occasionally need hardware systems that exceed local inventory for use during special projects or events. The IMS program provides short or long-term loans of equipment for school districts. Digital cameras, webcams, iPods, projectors for use with computer systems, interactive response systems, portable whiteboard systems, etc., are examples of the equipment available to schools from IMS.
Interlibrary Delivery Service (IDS)
School districts can request to borrow books from any other school district in Pennsylvania. When schools in Lancaster and Lebanon counties are finished with the materials, they are sent to IMS and IMS ships the materials back to the originating schools via UPS. The IMS program also provides all the nylon, zippered shipping bags used by IU 13 area schools for this IDS program.
Literacy Bookbags
In a continued effort to support literacy in the school and in the home, the IMS provides “literacy book bag” kits to every public elementary school within its service area. Each of the bags contains a storybook and a DVD or tape of that story that brings the story to life on the television screen. Many of the kits also include some interactive activities that parents can do with their child before and after reading the stories. Each collection includes approximately 90 titles.
Media Consultation
IU 13 can provide districts with consultation regarding the selection and use of media. Workshops and other presentations are available on many topics, some of which include the following: Medianet: The Resource Selection Tool for Teachers, Using Digital Video in the Classroom, Copyright, and netTrekker.
Safari Montage
Safari Montage provides districts with access to streaming digital media tied to the curriculum from publishers that include Schlessinger Media, PBS, The History Channel, National Geographic, Disney Education, BBC, Sesame Street, WGHB, and more. In addition to the high-quality digital content, teacher’s guides are supplied, as are quizzes, which can also be created by teachers. Most video titles are closed-captioned, and integration with SMART Board, Promethean interactive whiteboards, and other interactive whiteboards is also supported. All videos are segmented into chapters and key concepts. Each title is aligned to Pennsylvania Standards.
Special Events
The IU 13 IMS program develops programs to meet districts' needs for specialized information or training. The IMS program develops full-day workshops and contracts with experts to conduct programs beneficial to school district staff. IMS provides follow-up training and services for district librarians, media coordinators, technology specialists, etc.
Staff Development and Idea Interchange Meetings
Meetings are held on a monthly basis at IU 13 and facilitated by IMS staff for school district technology and media coordinators. These meetings provide a valuable forum for learning and information exchange among these district staff. Valuable demonstrations and hands-on training are conducted by IMS staff and invited experts to meet the information needs of school district technology and media coordinators with respect to emerging technology and media uses in education. Discussions are held that assist districts in developing policies and procedures related to the uses of technology and media in the schools.
StarLab Systems
The IU 13 IMS program has four of the popular Starlab portable planetarium systems. The systems circulate among schools to be used in science, language arts and other curriculum areas. IU 13 holds basic and advanced training for educators in the use of these highly motivating systems.
Technology and Media Integration Professional Development
IU 13 can provide districts with professional development regarding the selection and integration of technology and media into the curriculum.
For more information, please call 717-606-1664 or email instructional@iu13.org.