Integrating Online Databases into your Curriculum

Shari Blohm, SupervisorOffice of Library Media Services

sblohm@pgcps.org

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Integrating Online Databases into your Curriculum

• Do you know that PGCPS offices subscribe to many online databases for use in your school or classroom?

• This presentation will bring those resources to light and provide you with some tips for connections with your curriculum.

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The beginning: MDK12 Digital Library.

• Entering 5th year of a four-year grant• Online subscriptions to pre-selected

articles and Web sites• Available to Maryland students in grades

K-12 and their teachers• Current and helpful information to support

learning• Access at school or at home

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Who provides the MDK12 Digital Library resources?

A partnership of:• Maryland State Department of Education • All 24 Maryland school districts• More than 100 nonpublic schools

Previously funded by a No Child Left Behind grant; this year counties paid $.20 per student

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Why subscribe to online resources instead of using

the free Internet? • Accurate, reliable information

selected by experts• Text at levels that students can read• Resources not available on the

Internet• Continual review so that websites are

appropriate and up-to-date

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Why do we need the MDK12 Digital Library and other

research databases?• Supports learning at school and at

home• Ensures equal access across the

districts and schools• Provides quality information• Reduces costs through statewide

purchase

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How can I access the MDK12 Digital Library?

SIRS Discoverer http://discoverer.sirs.com

SIRS Knowledge Source http://sks.sirs.com

• School AccessNo username or password is required; this may differ at some schools. If it asks for a login and password use the home access passwords.

• Home AccessUsername and password are required; available from your library media specialist

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What is available in the MDK12 Digital Library?

• Social Studies• Science• Government• Health • Arts and Humanities • MORE!

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How will these resources fit into our curriculum?

“What is in it for me” when considering the following:

• Time constraints• Learning a new technique• Accessibility issues• Technology access

We will see a natural fit within our state standards and the library media and technology integration skills

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Informational Text

• Standard 2.0 – Comprehension of Informational Text

• Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate informational text.

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Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5

Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text

1. Develop comprehension skills by reading a variety of self-selected and assigned informational texts

1. Develop comprehension skills by reading a variety

of self-selected and assigned print and electronic informational texts

1. Develop and apply comprehension skills by

reading a variety of self-selected and

assigned print and electronic informational texts

2. Identify and use text features to facilitate understanding of informational texts

2. Identify and use text features to facilitate understanding of informational texts

2. Identify and use text features to facilitate understanding of informational texts

3. Develop knowledge of organizational structure of informational text to understand what is read

3. Develop knowledge of organizational structure of informational text to understand what is read

3. Develop and apply knowledge of organizational structure of informational text to understand what is read

4. Determine important ideas and messages in informational texts

4. Determine important ideas and messages in informational texts

4. Determine and analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts

5. Identify and explain the author's use of language 5. Identify and explain the author's use of language 5. Identify and explain the author's use of language

6. Read critically to evaluate informational text 6. Read critically to evaluate informational text 6. Read critically to evaluate informational text

Using SIRS Discoverer to Teach Informational Text Indicators

http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/reading/standard2/grade_3_5_info.html

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Inside SIRS Discoverer

• Biographies• Country Facts• Careers• Fiction• Holidays• Photo Essays• Pictures• Maps of the World• Suggested Research

Topics

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SIRS Discoverer Homepage

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Inside SIRS Knowledge Source

• Leading Issues• Today’s News• Maps of the World• Country Profiles• Literary Corner• Notable People• Historic Documents• Government Reports• Citizenship Topics

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SIRS Decades

• http://ars.sirs.com/custlogin • Access requires a password which is available from your

library media specialist• Included in the SIRS package this year only

• Sources documenting life and events in 20th-century America

• SIRS Decades features more than 5,000 hand-selected primary and secondary source articles highlighting key events, movements, people, and places in 20th-century America.

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What other databases are available in our county?

• See handout that will soon appear on the new library media webpage.

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Maryland AskUsNow!

• http://www.askusnow.info/

• AskUsNow! is a 24/7 live online interactive service. It uses the expertise of librarians to provide answers to questions, research guidance, and help navigating the Internet. Expand your resources, connect with an information expert! FREE

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SAILOR©

Maryland’s Public Information Network

• http://www.sailor.lib.md.us/

• Sailor is a project of Maryland Public Libraries that leverages Internet technology to facilitate Maryland resident access to information anywhere and anytime. FREE

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Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

• http://www.pgcmls.info/

• Access requires a current library card.

• Some databases are restricted to use only in the public library; dozens available.

• The majority of the databases may be accessed at locations away from the library. FREE

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CultureGrams• http://www.culturegrams.com/ • Access requires a password which is available from your library

media specialist

• Each World Edition report is written by a native or long-term resident of the country in coordination with a CultureGrams editor. Writers are selected for their education, knowledge of a national language, experience with different regions and socioeconomic groups, recent residency in the country, and access to current information.

• The Kids Edition reports are written by CultureGrams editors, but with extensive input from reviewers. These contributors meet the same qualifications as the World Edition writers.

• The States Edition reports are also written by CultureGrams editors and submitted to state historical societies and tourist boards for review.

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Student Resource Center Gold

• http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/”username”

• Access requires a password which is available from your library media specialist.

• The Student Resource Center – Gold gives students the power of knowledge, which helps them excel in the arts/humanities, computers/technology, government, health/sports, interdisciplinary/multicultural studies, language arts/English, math/business, science and social studies/history.

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Literature Resource Center

• http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/”username”

• Access requires a password which is available from your library media specialist

• Thomson Gale's Literature Resource Center is the most comprehensive literary collection available online.

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Science Resource Center

• http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/”username”• Access requires a password which is available from your

library media specialist

• Part of Thomson Gale's growing science product line, Science Resource Center is an in-depth, curriculum-oriented science database that provides a one-stop resource for all science-related research needs. This 24/7 resource reflects curriculum trends and focuses on key concepts taught in school classrooms such as earth science, science history, life science, physical science, science and technology, space and much more.

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Grolier Online

• http://go.grolier.com • Access requires a password which is available

from your library media specialist• Grolier Online is published by Scholastic Library

Publishing, Inc., a division of Scholastic Inc.

• Elementary: America the Beautiful, Lands and People, New Book of Knowledge

• Secondary: Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, New Book of Popular Science

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World Book Online

• http://www.worldbookonline.com• Access requires a password which is available

from your library media specialist

• Has Spanish language encyclopedia• Authored and edited by 3,700 experts• Checked and rechecked• Updated more than any other reference source• Straightforward and understandable to students

of all ages and levels.

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TeachingBooks.net

• http://www.teachingbooks.net/ • Access requires a password which is available

from your library media specialist

• TeachingBooks' mission is to generate enthusiasm for books and reading by bringing authors, illustrators and engaging resources about books for children and teens to every school, library and home.

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May I download or print articles from these

resources?

• Yes, users may download or print content for educational use.

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How can I learn how to use these resources?

 Use the help topics and tutorials available on the web sites

• Keep brochure readily available• Bookmark sites inside firewall Contact your school library media

specialist for help and more information

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Will these databases be available every year?

Factors to consider:

• Funding must be reapplied for every FY.

• Federal grants for ED TECH come under close scrutiny every calendar year.

• Costs must be shared between departments; what will this look like for our county?

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What can I do to keep these resources for our students?

• USAGE STATISTICS

• Train new teachers every year

• Revisit databases regularly at staff meetings

• Consciously integrate them into the curriculum

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Questions??

Tell everyone you know about these resources and thank you for coming to this session

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Your Contact in Prince George’s County:

Shari Blohm, SupervisorOffice of Library Media Services

Bonnie F. Johns Educational Media Center8437 Landover RoadLandover, MD 20785

T: 301-386-8208F: 301-386-1601

sblohm@pgcps.org