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ECIS iSkoodle
Who has what....
1) A Google Doc was started
2) Bookmarks of some international school libraries which display their database lists on their library/catalog home pages
Directory of Open Access Journals - http://www.doaj.org/
Remember: most database providers will give you a free trial.
Comments extracted from the ECIS iSkoodle forum contributions:
For Science we find Global Newsbank useful as it contains NewsBank ScienceSource Collection (1987-Current) Articles, biographies, and digests explore science topics including diseases, mammals, the environment, and physics. Learn about biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, health, oceanography, and applied sciences.
We also use Questia including the professional collection and find that great for E-books, journals etc. for both students and staff.
JSTOR works well for the Humanities, EBSCO's Literary Reference Center for English, and both of them are used extensively for EE work. Last year our Science department asked for a subscription to physicsonline.com and that has been useful - but I'm still looking for a good general science database. ELibrary Science gets used by but not as much as I would like, probably because the interface isn't very user friendly.
Not found either JRIE or ISJ on databases, but it would be nice to know if that has changed. For JRIE, Sage has its own journal database, so the sub. to the printed issue includes electronic access, but that may be/is difficult to establish, but can be done! ISJ seems to be a very trad. published journal, from a small publisher (John Catt Educational, isn't it?), and perhaps below the radar as far as picking up on databases goes. I saw a cumulative index for ISJ some time ago (think it was on the ECIS website), but that's about it.
It is so helpful to hear your insight as this is a new field for me. Thank you for sharing. The Gale loss of love is due more to teacher feedback than personal experience. It seems to be a question of comfort, sources, and service. As of now, teachers tell me that their students prefer using Ebsco--this might be a case of familiarity on their part. Additionally, grade 11 & 12 teachers are not so pleased with the sources in Gale--particularly the Literature Resource Center. As someone dealing with the administration of these resources, I have also been more impressed with the customer service offered by Ebsco, especially their training webinars.
In addition to our current subscription, we are trying out the following Ebsco databases to compare with those in Gale:
Ebsco History Reference Center vs. Gale World History in Context
Ebsco Science Reference Center vs. Gale Science in Context
I am going to respond to your question as well. I have used the SIRS products for years (20, in fact) and I have always loved it. I feel it is sometimes easier to use than EBSCO and I like the descriptors or subject headings it provides. I usually start my searches with SIRS for that reason---once I find related subjects, topics and key words from their descriptors, I move on to EBSCO and other databases or a Google search. I particularly like using SIRS Discoverer for elementary/middle students as it is easier to access and the searches are easier as well. These students also get good coverage on topics for research.
While SIRS coverage is not the whole periodical, the articles are carefully selected for appropriateness, authenticity, usability, etc. The graphics are right there and often useful to the researcher. Another feature I really like is the Pro/Con aspect which gives students information on both sides of an issue, plus useful introductions to the issues.
I subscribed to SIRS Knowledge Source (Researcher, Renaissance, Government Reporter) and Discoverer. I did not find students or teachers using Decades, so dropped it.
Perhaps a main focus of the argument in support of retaining Follett could be the work you have done with students and teachers - perhaps links with ICT teachers and support for units - and how the sophistication of the present system helps with curriculum planning and student skill development, and which might not be exactly replicated or built on with an alternative system.
Furthermore, as Jill rightly suggests, there is the important PR issue that it is being used by the school community after promotion and encouragement.
Also, the potential (perhaps you already have it) of making it easy for students to effectively use databases and other ICT products, all available perhaps through the one entry point of the library computer management system.
I have worked with Follett, but whatever the system, like to look at the enquiry screen first and foremost. If it is easy and effective in use by students and others, then that is my main criteria.
Possibly purely library/technical factors should be secondary arguments because, with the best will in the world, people aren't really going to be interested in them. But if you can identify what the alternative system can't do (and the knock-on effect of that, i.e. a staff cost, which would be ongoing) then that could be interesting.
Perhaps there is a study waiting to be done (it may already have) about generic school admin computer systems and the effectiveness of their library modules, as opposed to dedicated lib. systems. (Perhaps Follett could help with a list of things their system and support offers, which, as far as they know, other products don't?)
At Vientiane International School with 310 students we subscribe to
Britannica online
Grolier
Questia
Enchanted Learning
We also purchase electronic subscriptions to the New Internationalist and to The Ecologist.
At this point I feel teachers need to continue using these resources more before I consider purchasing any similar type databases.
I ditched Oxford reference online and Ebsco because of the lack of use and cost.
ve streamlined our online subscriptions for this year. I match specific research projects with appropriate databases so they'll get plenty of use and have a direct impact on student learning. Our library serves approx. 850 students Grades 6 -12. Here's what we subscribe to this year:
elibrary
elibrary Science
Proquest Platinum
Teen Health and Wellness
Opposing Viewpoints
JSTOR
EBSCO Literary Ref Center
WorldBook Online
Oxford Reference Online
OED Online
NoodleTools
I replaced EBSCO (except the lit ref center) with elibrary and Proquest Platinum for half the amount I was paying for EBSCO. The elibrary interface is great and I find the results to be about the same. I also got rid of Newsbank last year - in my opinion the database is obsolete with sites like Newstin available for free!
I am presently working in Turkey and use the following databases Noodletools, Nettrekker, Grolier on line, Worldbook online, Proquest, Facts on File, SIRS and Visual Thesaurus. I have used Nettrekker since its beginning and would not be without it. The statistics have proved that it has been successful since its inception this year. Grolier on Line is a fabulous addition from Scholastic and your kids will love it. Statistics for use are also excellent. All of the above databases are used alot and we are fortunate to have so many. Visual Thesaurus is a fabulous dictionary and I hope that more use is made of it next year.
I have been impressed with TumbleBooks and have tried to trial it, but for some reason we have not been able to access it here in China. (I did not not know they had middle school-suited books until I revisited their site, thanks.) Instead we have used One More Story with good success with our elementary students.
As for favorite databases--This year, we have had a good response from our teachers and students with ABC-CLIO; we have subscribed to World Geography, World History: The Modern Era, World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras,
Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. It's a good database for middle school students and older. Teachers like it because they can create reading lists and students are easily directed to them by a click. I like it because teachers are encouraging it, students find it easy to use, and once students are comfortable with this one, they seem more open to more difficult databases like Proquest and Gale's Student Resource Center.
We encourage MLA so Noodletools has been helpful and user-friendly for our students.
Please feel free to add your database collections to the on-going google docs.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pr5mijZv9_l6flQLX0cX8NQ
--beth gourley
International School of Tianjin
I, just wanted to put my two cents in for TumbleReadables. We use it in the Middle Years Program for SEN and EAL classes. It's very versatile, students can also access from home.
In addition we subscribe to BrainPop, Encyclopedia Britannica, EBSCO, Access World News, Opposing Viewpoints, Noodle Tools.
We have EBSCO, but actively thinking of exchanging to ProQuest + Questia or Newsbank next year. Reasons: not good follow-up to my enquiries from the company, expense, limited use and over-complex first screen.
After several enthusiastic comments about Noodletools (which I have been thinking about for a while now), perhaps the time has come though we have supported Harvard style, which may be a problem. I contacted Noodletools about it, and this is what they said:
We do not currently have support for the other bibliographic styles (besides MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian). Other styles may be added to NoodleBib in future releases if there is demand for them.
Best, Damon Abilock NoodleTools
Quote: "
I'm interested in subscribing to Noodletools, but we do have a heritage of promoting the Harvard Style, which used to be the preferred style of the IBO, though they now say that any system may be used, so long as it is used consistently. However, we have done some teaching about the Harvard Style, so it would be good to be consistent. Can you help?
If anyone else is in a similar position, perhaps you would care to express an opinion to Noodletools.
Thanks, Anthony Tilke, Bangkok Patana School, Thailand
Here at French American International School and International High School we subscribe to a variety of databases.
Prek-5th grade:
-Tumblebooks (talking books in French, English & Spanish)
-Britannica Online
-Tout l'univers
6th -8th Grade:
-Science Center Online (Facts on File)
-Edumedia/ Science in French (pending approval)
-Encyclopedie Hachette
International High School
- Encyclopedie Universalis
-OED
-JSTOR
-Questia
-GALE (may be dropping this year)
-Discovery Channel UNited Streaming
-lesite.tv
We are looking at EBScohost
Thanks
Catherine Sullivan
catherinesul@frenchamericansf.org
French American International School
International High School
San Francisco, CA
We subscribe to EBSCO host, ABC-CLIO, Oxford Music Online, Oxford Art Online, and JSTOR.
The DP teachers are very excited about JSTOR - yes, it was hard to get a reply from JSTOR for a while, but when they did, they were very nice and accomodating with the fee negotiations. The higher the number of students enrolling in universities from your school, the higher the fee.
ABC-CLIO and Oxford ones are mostly used by the Humanities and Arts departments in their classes.
I just received a request to subscribe to WDI online (from World Bank), but it is a bit expensive, so I have to get the budget approved first.
Urania Beyer
Copenhagen International Schoo
Hello everyone,
As a public high school, we live on a tight budget. Through the public library we have a "hang on" subscription for EBSCO, and the databases included (Master File Elite a.a.) are chosen for their needs, not ours. Students on IBDP program constitutes a small proportion of all students, but we still subscribe for some sources for their needs.
We have Gales databases: Science/Literature/Biography Resource center, and Lit Finder. The price is around $400, special offer through municipality cooperation.
Following we have own subscribtions:
NoodleTool is new for this semester. It costs us $360, based on number of students (1 400).
BOLSE, Britannica Online School Edition
Statesman´s Yearbook Online
Facts on Files´Science on Line
We had trial periods for some of their other databases too, much appreciated by the teachers, but then came the budget cut down...
Else-Britt Hellstrom
Aranasgymnasiets bibliotek
Kungsbacka
Sweden
We subscribe to Britannica Online, which I like as a first reference access point, and offers different modules for junior middle school and high school.
I like Student Resource Center by Gale, so am contemplating that as an addition to Ebscohost. I think both are good for IB students, and SRC offers results by level, so also good for middle school students.
I found JSTOR terrible in their communication, and frankly that is the only reason so far why I haven't got it, they just didn't get back to me after several tries. Some teachers said they loved it for their IB students, and others claime dit was way over their heads.
I use NoodleBib Express at the moment. It is free and instantly usable. I shall contemplate buying NoodleTools later.
I have a free trial going at the moment for Worldbook Online and netTrekker, has anyone experience with the latter? Free Trial details on http://dcs-libraries.wikispaces.com Feel free to try it out.
My all-time favorite is SIRS Knowledge Source and Discoverer because I like the searches and the summaries that are given for each article. Plus it has some Internet links that are good and reliable.
I also have EBSCOhost with a bunch of add-ons, but I like the Professional Development module that comes with the basic package--this has been very good for the IB extended essay. I also have the History, Science and AP databases which are good.
The most recent addition has been Newsbank to increase the international coverage of news and the price was very, very reasonable.
I have dealt with all 3 of these companies and databases for about 20 years (except EBSCO) and the service and dependability have always been excellent.
We also have JSTOR, but only because it is free to schools in Africa for the time being. Students appreciate the availability of that.
Overall, I am very satisfied with my online collection of databases and don't think it is too much as each serves a different purpose and reaches a variety of users and their needs as we are using some of them K-12.
Carolyn Kitterer
American Cooperative School of Tunis
Tunis, Tunisia
"Opening doors, hearts and minds"
We subscribe to EBSCOhost, Noodletools, and Newsbank. I have to say that I like all three very much. EBSCO just seems to be everywhere and some friends who teach university comment that kids who use EBSCO before they get to Uni are just that much more fluent in their navigation of the site. It seems most North American universities subscribe to EBSCO. It is expensive, but as we have a tiny HS library, the access to so much is invaluable.
I have used Noodletools at my last two schools and have seen it evolve. It is so user friendly. The note-taking and organization functions are wonderful! We introduce Noodletools in Grade 5 and require it for all research projects for grade 7-12.
Newsbank is a new addition for us, but we wanted the access to more global news than we had with EBSCO for our DP students. Students have really liked the option that allows them to search by region. Newsbank is very reasonable for the amount and variety of information and the flexibility. Also, the company has been great to deal with! They have been very accomodating!
Lisa Patton
Canadian International School (Singapore)
Ebsco (Ultra Online Package, Science Reference Collection, World History Collection), and I'm just starting with NoodleTools and it's really taking off.
Greetings,
I'm analyzing our online database subscriptions and wondering what your favorites are and why. Are there any databases that you're particularly impressed by?
We started a subscription to Teen Health and Wellness this year and it has been a great resource for the Health Fair that the Grade 10s put on. It's also very affordable - around $500 for a year's subscription. Comes with MARC records, too.
I'll put together a list of everyone's favorites and post it here.
Besides the questions Ingrid has asked what are your population numbers?
From other comments mentioned--Ebsco has some nice bundled packages, but I have never found a lot of substance in the MAS Ultra, and will your teachers use the Professional Development? As Carolyn mentions JSTOR is terrific, but their pricing (out of Africa) is based on the percent of graduates who go to college. It may be better to purchase articles individually if need be.
Other databases to look at are the Gale online -- maybe start with the Opposing Viewpoints. There is also Oxford Online. Proqest also has some nice packages.
We have also subscribed to Britannica's Global Reference Center which offers a version of the encyclopedia in Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
QUERY: Does anyone know of a German encyclopedia online (affordable and not a CDROM version)?
Remember all these databases have trials for you to sample, and if your members of your library are new to online databases it takes about three years to get them on board.
--beth gourley
International School of Tianjin