I checked out the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. It would be a nice option for patrons who are looking for online health information. When I used the index, there was a nice overview available as well as additional health topics contained entries related to my health topic, jaundice.
Using the basic search feature, I found information on the Mayan calendar. There were only three entries available, but they all contained the information I wanted. The read-to-me option on the article had a pleasant voice. She was easier to listen to than some automated voices I have heard.
The option I appreciated most was the ability to download the article rather than having to email it to myself or print it out.
Friday, March 19, 2010
ProQuest
I've used ProQuest extensively over the past several years. It's always one of the first databases I search when I need information (excluding encyclopedic information). That said - the topic I looked up was "first time home buyer". Even with such a generic search phrase, I found appropriate articles, but after I filtered for location (United States), the results were better.
I especially like the option to browse publications when doing reference work. It has been helpful to bring up a specific issue and then sort by page number. It worked well again when I searched for American Libraries.
I especially like the option to browse publications when doing reference work. It has been helpful to bring up a specific issue and then sort by page number. It worked well again when I searched for American Libraries.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
SIRS Discover and Researcher
I found the results were fairly accurate in SIRS Discover. Of the twenty articles it found, fourteen actually mentioned Shaun White. Five of the seven magazines were about him also. However, if you are looking for photos of a person, don't try to use a phrase search unless you enter: "shaun white" or "white shaun". Although, that probably only affects librarians. I doubt the kids would try that. It was nice to see lexile numbers. Since the database covers such a wide age range, K-6, it is easier to figure out whether or not the student using the information would be able to understand it. The articles I found were geared toward higher reading levels.
The country facts presented were nicely featured. I liked the formatting and the information presented better that what I find in the CIA Factbook which is where I normall direct students. The maps under maps of the world printed well. I especially liked the pathfinders. I had not seen them before and most of the students I help need to narrow down their research topics. The subject headings could help them with that as well as providing new synonyms to search under.
SIRS Researcher would be great for debaters in addition to homework. It provides a nice overview, presents the pros and cons, and has links for further research. I especially like that if provides the terms to know with an explanation of concepts in the overview.
For my search in the curriculum pathfinders, I chose health as my topic. It had a fun interactive quiz on portion distorion which led to further information such as finding your BMI (body mass index) rating. Otherwise, it provided as list of topics that went to articles on the subject or if it was a leading issue, it would linked to the topic overview. The topics provided were all subejcts that would be easy to find research outside of SIRS as well if print resources were needed.
The country facts presented were nicely featured. I liked the formatting and the information presented better that what I find in the CIA Factbook which is where I normall direct students. The maps under maps of the world printed well. I especially liked the pathfinders. I had not seen them before and most of the students I help need to narrow down their research topics. The subject headings could help them with that as well as providing new synonyms to search under.
SIRS Researcher would be great for debaters in addition to homework. It provides a nice overview, presents the pros and cons, and has links for further research. I especially like that if provides the terms to know with an explanation of concepts in the overview.
For my search in the curriculum pathfinders, I chose health as my topic. It had a fun interactive quiz on portion distorion which led to further information such as finding your BMI (body mass index) rating. Otherwise, it provided as list of topics that went to articles on the subject or if it was a leading issue, it would linked to the topic overview. The topics provided were all subejcts that would be easy to find research outside of SIRS as well if print resources were needed.
Friday, March 5, 2010
World Book Foreign Languages Edition
I barely understand a word of Spanish since I took German in high school and college so this was an interesting experience. We do have some Spanish speaking patrons whose grasp of English or at least written English is not very good. From time to time they tell us how much they enjoy using our small sections of books written in Spanish and other resources in their native language. I think they would enjoy using this database with their children.
As for me, I was able to find my chipmunk by browsing in English, but I was only able to understand the information by clicking on the link to World Book Kids. It is a good thing that it has the visual dictionary. There is some guesswork involved as to what some of the pictures mean, but it took me less time to find the chipmunk through the visual dictionary. It then provided the Spanish word for chipmunk so I could look it up. I do wish, however, that when I finally found the chipmunk through the visual dictionary that it had linked to the encylopdia entry. That would have been so much simpler than having to go back and search for "ardilla listada". Either way, it is definately a good resource for either native Spanish speaking children or for kids who are trying to learn a new language. It allows the children to switch back and forth between the Spanish and English translations. Plus, those trying to learn Spanish can hear what the words are supposed to sound like by having the entries read aloud.
As for me, I was able to find my chipmunk by browsing in English, but I was only able to understand the information by clicking on the link to World Book Kids. It is a good thing that it has the visual dictionary. There is some guesswork involved as to what some of the pictures mean, but it took me less time to find the chipmunk through the visual dictionary. It then provided the Spanish word for chipmunk so I could look it up. I do wish, however, that when I finally found the chipmunk through the visual dictionary that it had linked to the encylopdia entry. That would have been so much simpler than having to go back and search for "ardilla listada". Either way, it is definately a good resource for either native Spanish speaking children or for kids who are trying to learn a new language. It allows the children to switch back and forth between the Spanish and English translations. Plus, those trying to learn Spanish can hear what the words are supposed to sound like by having the entries read aloud.
World Book Public Library Edition
World Book Online for Kids has different formatting, but provides the exact same options and information as World Book Kids. Even the wording is the same. The only difference I could find is that it links to Info Finder not the Student edition. Maybe I am missing something?
--Okay, so I just took a closer look. When I search for a chipmunk, the information was the same. It still provides the same activities, games, maps, ect., but the public edition has science projects which I could not find in the school edition. It also has a biographies link. The biographical information is available in both editions, but the link is not. The same goes for Info Finder except that the student edition has the link for biographies but not for virtual tours. I could not find the virtual tours in the student edition.
World Book Reference Center is geared towards the casual learner whereas World Book Advanced is aimed at students who know how to research. My search for Canada produced the same results as it did in World Book Advanced.
I guess my final conclusion is that my patrons could use either the student edition or the public libraries edition with same results unless they were looking for science projects or interactive tours/maps. However, if the person seeking information was not a conditioned student, he/she would have an easier time finding information in the public libraries edition instead of the school edition simply because the interface may be easier to navigate.
--Okay, so I just took a closer look. When I search for a chipmunk, the information was the same. It still provides the same activities, games, maps, ect., but the public edition has science projects which I could not find in the school edition. It also has a biographies link. The biographical information is available in both editions, but the link is not. The same goes for Info Finder except that the student edition has the link for biographies but not for virtual tours. I could not find the virtual tours in the student edition.
World Book Reference Center is geared towards the casual learner whereas World Book Advanced is aimed at students who know how to research. My search for Canada produced the same results as it did in World Book Advanced.
I guess my final conclusion is that my patrons could use either the student edition or the public libraries edition with same results unless they were looking for science projects or interactive tours/maps. However, if the person seeking information was not a conditioned student, he/she would have an easier time finding information in the public libraries edition instead of the school edition simply because the interface may be easier to navigate.
World Book School Edition
It is useful having two editions connect to each other. When I researched chipmunks, World Book Kids provided a link for related information that brought up an entry in World Book Student. The information provided in the student edition is more technical and detailed, but some of the children using the kids edition would still find it useful. If the younger kids do not understand the words, all they have to do is double click on them for a definition.
World Book Advanced provided a wealth of information compared to the kids and student editions. All of the information it contains would be valuable to students who have reports due. The introduction provides a nice overview, and from there they can figure out what section of the entry they need to look at. It was nice that the publishers included a link to suggested books. Most of the students I work with are not allowed to use electronic resources exclusively. They need print materials as well.
The images in World Book Discover are helpful, but the most useful feature would be its ability to translate the text into different languages. While the translations are useful for those whose english is not good, I think that it may get more use from students trying to learn a foreign language like German or Spanish. They can compare the original English with the translated text. I think the database is more likely to be used by people whose native language is English since those who do not understand English well would probably be hesitant to even use an online resourse like a database - at least without presuasion.
World Book Advanced provided a wealth of information compared to the kids and student editions. All of the information it contains would be valuable to students who have reports due. The introduction provides a nice overview, and from there they can figure out what section of the entry they need to look at. It was nice that the publishers included a link to suggested books. Most of the students I work with are not allowed to use electronic resources exclusively. They need print materials as well.
The images in World Book Discover are helpful, but the most useful feature would be its ability to translate the text into different languages. While the translations are useful for those whose english is not good, I think that it may get more use from students trying to learn a foreign language like German or Spanish. They can compare the original English with the translated text. I think the database is more likely to be used by people whose native language is English since those who do not understand English well would probably be hesitant to even use an online resourse like a database - at least without presuasion.
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