How to Promote and Use the Databases

High School

www.destiny.dadeschools.net

IN THE SUMMER

STUDY THE DATABASESLEARN ALL THE “LINKS”

AND AS YOU READTHINK ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL

AND ITS POPULATION

TEACHING FOR SUCCESS

TIPS TO PROMOTE DATABASESIN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

Send out a survey to all teachers for collaborationGo to various department meetings to set-up a time

to teach the databases to the department or individual teachers

Meet with all new teachers and familiarize them with the databases

Schedule a meeting with the PD liaison person to find the best dates to teach a PD to the faculty

Create your homepage Make hand-outs for teachers and students delineating

the databases best for your teachers and school

Special Promotions• TEACHER CONTEST - Send out a database quiz via email and offer a breakfast, movie tickets or free books to the participants•DATABASE CONTEST FOR STUDENTS - with prizes•DATABASE WALL CONTEST- for students who find a new fact inside the databases•BREAKSFAST FOR NEW TEACHERS•CLASS DATABASE TREASURE HUNT and give them your hand-outs with your home page and databases by subject

DATABASE TRAINING1. HAVE YOUR HAND-OUTS HANDY: a. Copy of your home page for your patrons to follow along in your lesson

b. Your individual database page by subject- English, History, Science, Math, Health etc.

2. Write all the addresses on the board including the databases you will be teaching

3. Go over the county password and username and let your

students and teachers know that they can e-mail all articles from Facts on File, Gale and Sirs.

HOW I INTRODUCE THE DATABASES TO THE CLASSES

1) START WITH FACTS ON FILE- TO DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT DATABASES OFFERED AND HOW THEY ARE BEST USED AS A TEXTBOOK OR BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2) THEN GO TO SIRS TO SHOW THE STUDENTS THE DIFFERENT TOPICS IN “OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS”

3) THEN LAST, GALE TO SHOW THAT THIS DATABASE IS BEST USED AFTER PICKING A TOPIC. IT OFFERS THE MOST INFORMATION ON ONE SUBJECT

Target Group: 9th Grade English:Introduction to the Research Paper

FRIST DATABASE: FACTS ON FILE“Textbook Information”

HISTORY: American , Women, African American , Modern World Ancient, and Native American . Provides timelines, biographies, special events. Each history database is mostly for facts when researching materials.

BEST FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION BEFORE DEVELOPING

RESEARCH TOPIC OR THESIS FERGUSON CAREER GUIDE - a separate

lesson for all ninth grade or seniors. This link gives you timelines, career opportunities and lets students see what they need to take in school . It also offers a timeline for the 4 years in high school.

Geography - All Countries and facts including people and cultures and maps.

Blooms Literary Criticism – Best for English- authors and all books and characters

Science and Mathematics- All textbook subjects with diagrams, experiments and lesson plans.

Health- This database is different from Science- diseases, nutrition and great diagrams. Teen related issues.

General Reference 1) Curriculum Resource Center- teacher handouts 2) The World Almanac for Kids Online- homework, reports and projects

KNOWLEDGE RESOURCE SIRSThis website is the best for “HIGH INTEREST

TOPICS”OVER 500 TOPICSThis is the second database I show in my

research lessonI pick one topic: varies per periodFor example: cell phones In Sirs- The topic: Should cell phones be

allowed in schoolPros and the cons

SIRSI then expand on the topic: A) What are the pros and cons of “cell phones” and have them

start thinking about their topic.B) I show them two opposing articles. We discuss the two sides

of the issue C) I then ask them: What is the difference between a book

report and research paper?D) We discuss the various thesis ‘s concerning cell phones. E) After discussing the different topics I give an example: Such

as: Cell phones have many positive uses in the society such as being used for emergencies, communication and in classrooms; however, they have many negative aspects such as texting while driving, sexting, and can cause distractions and most of all, they are creating a society that cannot concentrate.

GALEGale is best used after a student has found

their topic. Most comprehensive offering: a) Academic journals f) Magazines b) Statistics g) Audio and

Video clips c) Additional Websites h) Viewpoints d) Images i) Reference e) News k) Primary

Sources

WWW Databases (Outside the Miami-Dade County Databases)

DogpileGoogleWikipediaYahooI show the difference by typing in “cell

phones” and they can see that most of the links are not research friendly and are mostly for advertisements for buying cell phones.

AND NOW YOU ARE A...