Integrated Learning and Information Science (ILIS) hosts collaborative projects that allow students to engage in experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration and adaptability. We’re passionate about building and facilitating these projects to help students and teachers build connections among departments, grade levels and the community. 

Empowering Makers to Create Connections

Parker students learn to think, create, adapt and invent. Our Integrated Learning and Information Sciences Department (ILIS) curriculum is uniquely structured to enable students to follow interests and pursue passions while making connections from concepts to the classroom to the community. Through project-based learning, the foundation of our program, students engage in research and develop agility in accessing, discerning and applying information. Technology and media are thoughtfully integrated to ignite social awareness and launch their imaginations.

A focus on design thinking and maker empowerment encourages students to recognize designs and systems in the world around them and to tinker, remake and create. Our staff consists of librarians/media specialists and educational technology experts who work to empower students to not only use print and digital research materials, but also create new knowledge. The ILIS staff works in the Kovler Family Library, the ILIS Collaboration Lab space and the classroom.

Our in-house design studio, the TIDES (Technology, Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship for Society) Garage, provides students access to 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines and a variety of technological tools for learning, challenge and expression.

Working collaboratively with others across grade levels, building mastery year after year, students develop the skills and mindset to impact their school and the world as thinkers, doers and makers.

Kovler Family Library

The Kovler Family Library is the heart of the school. The library is a gathering space for students, a collaborative workspace, a research center, a classroom and a place where students can explore interests and develop a love of reading. The ILIS team seeks to create a curriculum that helps students develop research, communication and collaboration skills to be successful both in and out of the school environment.

The Kovler Family Library provides a balanced collection of print and digital resources. The collection aims to meet curricular needs as well encourage reading for pleasure. Helping students become lifelong readers is an essential goal of the library. The library provides materials that encourage a love of reading and a selection of popular reading materials. Students and the Parker community have access to digital resources to help them navigate the collection and find information. Resources include online encyclopedias, ebooks for research and pleasure reading and a web-based catalog with a downloadable app.
 
The Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Students, parents and faculty are welcome to come to the library to check out books, learn about resources, receive help with research needs or hang out in our comfortable welcoming space.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.