ERIC Number: EJ720780
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Apr
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0889-9371
EISSN: N/A
Reach for Reference. BrainPOP--A Teaching Tool Library Media Specialists Should Know
Safford, Barbara Ripp
School Library Media Activities Monthly, v21 n8 p29, 32 Apr 2005
This column describes a new teaching tool, BrainPOP, which is a database that blurs the distinction between classroom and library media center. This collection of more than 300 short, concept-based, animated movies is intended primarily for use by teachers in classroom instruction. It is reminiscent of the single-concept film cartridges that used to be purchased, cataloged, and circulated from the middle school library media center; and BrainPOP certainly might be purchased by and used in a school library media center or computer lab (for instruction, review, and interest), with the individual videos even added to the catalog as a reminder to both teachers and students that they are available. For the first few years, the clips were limited to health, science, and technology for middle level students, but by 2002 math and English animations had been added, and now social studies animations are being produced as well. New movies are added weekly. Accessible by user name and password, the homepage lists the six categories of movies and highlights a specific movie. There are links for teachers, with lesson plans and standards connections, and for parents, as well as information about the site. For most movies, there are special related features for each video: comic strips, experiments, activity pages, how-to extensions, timelines, and a place for kids to ask follow-up questions. Each film has a quiz to use as a pre- and/or post-viewing exercise.
Descriptors: School Libraries, Media Specialists, Library Services, Films, Databases, Elementary Secondary Education
Libraries Unlimited, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881. Tel: 800-225-5800 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Media Staff; Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A