EdCamp 2024
Using Digital Research Resources
Description of Workshop:
Participants will learn navigation and accessibility options for a variety of research resources: Gale databases, Encyclopedia Britannica database, Destiny, SORA, and transparent language. Participants will also learn how to use digital research resources to provide choice offerings as well as additional support for students to prove comprehension of curriculum topics. This is an interactive presentation where participants can try out all of the databases and ask questions pertaining to their curriculum.
Best for: Everyone
Research Databases
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners provide access to many databases including Britannica, Capstone/PebbleGo, Gale, ProQuest, and Transparent Languages free to any school that empoys a licensed librarian. Schools that do not have a licensed librarian on staff will need to purchase these databases individually.
Accessibility Features: leveled articles, easy citation generation, listen to articles (audio function), adjustable font size, dictionary function, translation of articles, images with citaitons, videos with transcriptions and citaitons, etc.
Citation Styles: articles, images, & videos have auto-generated citations in MLA, APA, Chicago, & Harvard
Additional Encyclopedia Britannica resources from the Massachusetts Library System.
General Resources: Handouts, videos, webinars, logos, etc. from Britannica Education.
Britannica Fundamentals can be accessed through Gale Database portal & is a tool for K-2 to explore.
High School: articles, images, & videos have auto-generated citation in MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard
Activities using Encyclopedia Britannica:
Home page of each level:
Explore: Images & Videos (to cite click on "Sharing Options" > "Cite"), Biographies, Articles
Compare Countries
World Atlas
Resource Packs - Librarians & teachers can create a pack of articles they want to direct students to for an assignment/project. Resource packs can be shared via web link, Google Classroom, or email.
Example - Gr. 6 Social Studies: Mr. Garvin's Pharaoh Project
Example - Gr. 7 ELA: Ms. Downey Greek Mythology
Curated Resource Packs from Britannica School Monthly Newsletter. To save the curated packs scroll down the page to "Literacy Resource Packs" click on level button for the pack you want > click on "Save Resource Pack."
Britannica Education resources - scavenger hunts, graphic organizers, etc.
Gale Databases
Activities using Databases:
Gale Databases Activities - trading cards, graphic organizers, scavenger hunts, escape rooms, etc.
Digital Version of Gale's Ancient Civilizations Escape Game
Gale's Hidden Figures Scavenger Hunt
Gale's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month "Jeopardy"
Using Citation Tool in Google Docs
Book Databases
Walpole Public Schools uses Follett Destiny Discover as the OPAC (online public access book catalog).
Schools in the district that have a licensed librarian may also participate in a program called Commonwealth eBook Collection to make more eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines available to students and teachers. This program is available through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) and cost is based on number of students enrolled in the school. Patrons can access these eBooks and audiobooks through SORA.
Destiny Discover Book Database
SORA
Click on the link below to check out the SORA e-books, audiobooks, and magazines:
https://soraapp.com/library/masslibma
Click on the link above.
A new webpage will open. Under sign into your school choose "Bird Middle" from the drop-down bar.
Click on the Green "Sign into Bird Middle" button.
Click on your school Google account.
Find yourself a good book!
Accessibiltiy Features: Increase font size, change lighting, OpenDyslexic font, built-in dictionary, search within book, highlight tool, save vocabulary words with definitions & quotes highlighted with notes to Google Drive, etc.
Tips:Find an ELA book in a different language such as Night by Elie Wiesel in Portuguese. Frist translate the title into Portuguese. Night = Noite. Search "Noite."
Books for World Lanugage class: Use filter select language and find books in that language.
Ask your librarian about simultaneous class reads paid for by MBLC.
Watch video to learn what you can do with Sora
Titlewave
It is free to register for an account. This web link provides more information https://www.titlewave.com/main/classroom-why-tw
If you wish to register, please click on this link to create an account: https://www.titlewave.com/register
Titlewave started tagging books with DEI and SEL codes which may be helpful if you are trying to choose titles you want for literature circles. Another benefit are teacher guides and reading group guides which are attached as PDFs to the title pages. Titlewave also provides: lexile level,
page count, reading level and interest level, learning focus, library classification, genre & topics tags, awards & starred reviews, and summaries of the book.
An OER (open education resources) platform with both public and private collections of books, websites, articles, videos, etc. on various topics.
