Lesson 4 -- SIRS Issues Researcher and Discoverer

SIRS Discoverer
1. In the advanced search options, I entered solar systems as the subject matter, then the "Easy" reading levels. This resulted in locating 4 newspaper articles, 31 magazine articles and 7 references. As I explored the other options available, I learned the "Lexile arrows" will help to find better appropriate reading materials for the 3rd graders abilities. I set it to the lowest arrow possible and the results remained the same.

2. My first method of searching was by using the Keyword/Natural Language search feature. I entered the phrase "maps of volcanoes" and discovered 239 articles, total. There were only 16 graphics, mostly of maps, but there are several Newspapers (15), Magazines (122), and Reference (74) materials which contain images of the volcanoes around the world.

My second method was using the basic search feature. I typed in "volcano" and got 1000 articles, total. 151 Newspapers, 492 Magazines, 238 References, 151 Graphics. Once again, many of the various results contain one or more images of the subject volcanoes.



SIRS Issue Researcher
1. This was a tough one for me. I searched the SIRS Issue Researcher, but only came up with 2 results via WebSelect Sites. If I did a simpler search for just Suicide Prevention, the results were a total of 4. However, using Google resulted in just a couple thousand more than 2 million results. Bear in mind, however, via the SIRS Issue Researcher, there are a total of 243 results in a number of different sources (newspapers, magazines, viewpoints, reference, graphics/multimedia, and WebSelect Sites.  I didn't have the time to check out all of the "hits" on the Google search, but would venture a fairly safe guess that many of those results are also links to magazine/newspaper articles and other sources, much like those found in the SIRS Issue Researcher. I would think if one had the time to view the many results which stem from the SIRS Issue Researcher, one might find more good websites on suicide prevention for teens.

2.  For this lesson, I used Topic Browse >  Earth Science > Contents = which led me to 1K+ results in Newspapers (543), Magazines (332), Reference (0), and Graphics (399). This offers many choices for the researcher, but I wondered if there were a better way to find the answers...

This time, I chose Subject Index instead of Contents. This led me to a more condensed search tool, where I was able to enter the keywords, "drought or water restrictions" into the Subject Heading Search window. Eureka! Here, there is a list of subject headings, nice and neat, where I chose the following subjects to use for my research on this topic:
Crops, Effect of drought on
Drought relief
Livestock, Effect of drought on
Plants, Effect of drought on
Droughts
Drought Relief

There are a few more condensed subjects, mostly related to droughts & their effects on other countries. so I didn't feel it necessary to include them in my answer. :)

Lesson 3 - Learning Express Library

1. I will show him how to locate the User Guides for the LearningExpress Library, as well as help him through the sign up process if he hasn't already done so. After that, I would show him how to find the Center which would be most beneficial to meet his needs. From the School Center, I would lead him to the appropriate school level (elementary, in his case) and from there I would guide him to the Reading Comprehension Skills Improvement. He would be able to partake in many different practice sets, under a variety of types: Informational Reading, Narrative Reading, Persuasive Reading, Poetry Reading & General Reading.

2. The best place in LearningExpress Library for her to start would be in the Career Center. She could begin by exploring Build Your Workplace Skills. In this center, she would be able to ascertain which skills she might need to improve upon prior to seeking employment. She would be able to strengthen her business writing skills and also do research on how to Succeed on the Job (public speaking).

Following the research she does on these topics, I would recommend she investigate the "Improve your Job Search, Interviewing, and Networking Skills to find more helpful information under the sections included there.

3. I would start this student out in the Career Center. He could explore the Careers in Allied Health, for starters, to learn more about the job market, training programs, financial options, exams, certifications and more. It may be valuable for him to also peruse the Healthcare Essentials: A Glossary & Study Guide, since the guide contains nearly 1K key terms and easy definitions within one's grasp.  Following his exploration of these areas, I'd suggest he enter the term "nurse" &/or "pharmacist" into the search window on LearningExpress Library to discover the plethora of information that is his for the reviewing. :)

Lesson 2 -- ChiltonLibrary, Mango Languages and TumblebookLibrary

Chilton Library - 

1. First, I make sure my neighbor signs up for his own SDSL e-card, so he can take advantage of the great online resources available online!  Then, I show him how to navigate the SDSL website, to find the online resources & lead him to the Chilton's library. The sight is really easy to maneuver around, with the search features which aid in researching a large number of assorted automobiles.

It's so simple to use - simply enter the vehicle make, year and model to discover a plethora of related repair topics. We'd type in his info, pull up the 1982 Jeep Cherokee (easy-peasy, since I have a Jeep & use this frequently to determine whether I can do the repair or the job requires a mechanic) and search the left side menu for the specific repair he's seeking. I show him how much faster it is to find the part & open up all the topics covered under the little "+" box to the left of each subject. From there, we'd open up the Removal & Installation link to find the available animations, tech tips and videos. Following these instructions, he can determine if it is a task he wishes to pursue. There is also a print option for some of the information, which might be helpful to the neighbor.

2. The A131L transaxle is a 3-speed automatic, developed specifically for transversely mounted engines. The wide gear ratios and efficient torque converter combine with the built-in locking clutches to operate quietly and efficiently.

Mango Languages -
1. I would introduce the student to Mango languages. I'd give the student a quick navigation lesson, so they'd understand how to do searches on the Mango site and then suggest they try the following languages to see if they meet the needs of the student: Biblical Hebrew & Ancient Greek.

Tumblebook Library -
1. Using the Tumblesearch feature, we first select Reading Level/1-3. Since Alex is a voracious reader, given by his gobbling up every available mystery in the library, we then choose Chapter Books from the menu links provided.  There are three titles which he may not have read yet, so I suggest he explore the Max-a-Million books and the Zibby Payne book. These titles are: Max-a-Million: Max the Magnificent, Max-a-Million: Max the Mighty Superhero, and Zibby Payne and the Party Problem.  I might also recommend the Blast to the Past series, as those titles involve historic subjects, but have a fun spin on them to keep the young reader captivated. (I found some books I really want to read this weekend, now!) Thanks!! :)

2. Using the search option on Tumblebooks, I entered the keyword, "science" and found several listings show up. I went through the listings, weeding out the non-fiction titles & videos, to focus on fiction titles only. The titles I found which may be beneficial to the students are:

Clever Trevor by Sarah Albee
Gotcha! by Jennifer Dussling
Our Seasons by Grace Lin
A Moldy Mystery by Michelle Knudsen

ERC 2015 - Lesson 1/World Book Online

Lesson 1a: Reaquainting with World Book Public Library Edition
It was nice to go back and explore the WBO Public Library Edition, again. I realized there was much I'd forgotten about these sites, so had some pleasant moments rediscovering the plethora of helpful information and resources provided via the WBO-PLE. :)

Lesson 1b: World Book Public Library Edition - Advanced Challenge

1. Since I am still trying to come up with a good activity to present at the Jump Start Workshop in a couple of weeks, I thought I'd venture into the Activities section for some ideas to get my brain going. I explored several of the various activities, within the 4 different categories (Think It!, Be it!, Make it!, and Teach It!) and found some activities that could be customized to apply to my needs. Then, I did some further searching, under the classification "Important People", thinking perhaps I could find inspiration in that area. I love how this WBO for kids is so thorough and offers so many options for the person wanting to research. Within minutes, I'd discovered a lot of heroes and information related to each one, simply by doing a search. The videos provided are a very nice touch, also. :)

2. I love WB-InfoFinder! The Virtual Tours are terrific and so fun to watch! I did notice the following broken links under the "Unusual Places" videos: The Spam Museum, Elvis Presley's Graceland, Mutter Museum, International UFO Museum and Outreach Center, and the Spy Museum. It has always been fun (for me) to visit museums and interesting locations, the weirder the better. Given the virtual tours available in this category and the others, I spent more time exploring that probably necessary for this lesson. Let's call it an investment, shall we?

As far as how to use these with patrons, I can think of several ways to do so.  Perhaps a student comes to me, challenged with writing a report on someplace they'd like to visit. I could suggest they view the various videos for inspiration/ideas of places to visit. Another suggestion I could offer them would be for them to explore the research tools feature, to see if any of the information provided might aid them in their quest. This is a terrific resource, especially given the many ways one can locate information - via the A-Z, By Subject, Images/Videos, etc. In the past year, I've shared with a lot of parents and kids about the WB-Online via the SDSL website, encouraging them to get their E-card from the state library. It's really nice when a patron returns to the library and extends thanks for learning about the SDSL website and the terrific resources that are free to the public. 

3. My search for Jane Austen's Emma produced several tools which may prove beneficial to my patrons. Those patrons with visual or reading challenges might appreciate the ability to hear the text read aloud. Patrons might find the ability to save projects, print, translate (lots of languages!!) the text and email sections very helpful in their research.

Under Related Information, the websites & Back In Time Articles are interesting to check out. I glanced through a couple of the articles (out of 13 related) to learn more and also discovered a lovely website related to Jane Austen and her home in Hampshire, England. That's a really nice resource, for anyone wishing to learn more about her.

The Related Encyclopedia Content section has 22 items, including articles on Parody, Book Collecting, other books by the same author, information about film directors (creating films from novels), and so much more.  Each of those links, once clicked, takes the reader to a page about that subject & even more research tools. This can be a tremendous resource for the curious patron! :)