I am having all kinds of interesting computer experiences this last couple of months. I tried to work on this assignment on my school computer and it wouldn't let me actually view an ebook. I could see the cover and click on a revelant page but it wouldn't show me the whole book. Frustrating! So, here I am trying again.
I was really looking forward to exploring the ebooks and what was available. I still can't get over the information available out there. If only these resources were around when I was in school!
My first attempt at searching was pretty frustrating. I was able to search and find but not actually see. However, it was easy to search. The search screen is very self explanatory and nothing fancy but gets the job done. I checked out the advanced search and can see that you could do a very specific search if required. This would come in handy for research. I like that there is a photo of the cover. If I knew the book I was looking for this would be useful. The search results can be refined by source type, subject and category among other filters. There is also an option to choose the database that you would like to search. I was able to finally view an ebook on aromatherapy. I had the option to download the book as well.
While searching for constitution day, I couldn't find anything specific to that topic. There were many books having to do with the constitution including Representing Popular Sovereignty : The Constitution in American Political Culture and the Illustrated Dictionary of Constitutional Concepts. I did end up googling Constitution day and learned that it is also called Citizenship Day but I found nothing on that topic either. The illustrated dictionary had some interesting info and photo that could easily be used by students.
When using advanced search for Nebraska, the results listed books published by the University of Nebraska. There were all different topics. I see how you could use this search to select a specific publisher instead of or as well as a topic.
This resource was very interesting but quite frustrating. However, I see it's usefulness. Especially for those of us that live in "the middle of nowhere."
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Can you believe how far we've come? Seriously, I stand in awe of the availability of information and technology. I'm sitting at home, in the "Middle of Nowhere, SD", on a computer that is pulling information from thin air and posting my writing on and in a place that others from all over the world can read and comment on. Wow!
I used the GVRL to look at The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. I am interested in essential oils and aromatherapy so I searched for that in the appropriate volume. I have the options to print, email, download or even listen to this article. The article can also be translated.
We use goggle often in our home when topics of discussion come up. I think that I will try to use this resource and some of the others instead. In music class, I often challenge my students to research something that they ask questions about. I will encourage them to use GVRL.
I searched gluten sensitivity. There were 10 results that were related in some way. The results were found in various references that may help to narrow down your search. I looked at the Food Allergies article in the Encyclopedia of Medicine. The article actually didn't mention gluten sensitivity but was interesting. I wasn't looking forward to using the listen feature because I've used some that were very hard to understand. I was pleasantly surprised. The voice was very clear.
Hopefully, I remember to use this resource when an opportunity presents itself.
I used the GVRL to look at The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. I am interested in essential oils and aromatherapy so I searched for that in the appropriate volume. I have the options to print, email, download or even listen to this article. The article can also be translated.
We use goggle often in our home when topics of discussion come up. I think that I will try to use this resource and some of the others instead. In music class, I often challenge my students to research something that they ask questions about. I will encourage them to use GVRL.
I searched gluten sensitivity. There were 10 results that were related in some way. The results were found in various references that may help to narrow down your search. I looked at the Food Allergies article in the Encyclopedia of Medicine. The article actually didn't mention gluten sensitivity but was interesting. I wasn't looking forward to using the listen feature because I've used some that were very hard to understand. I was pleasantly surprised. The voice was very clear.
Hopefully, I remember to use this resource when an opportunity presents itself.
Proquest
I did a Proquest search for music education. There were 181021 results coming from scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, trade journals, other sources, wirefeeds, books, reports and conference papers and proceedings. LOTS! Before the full text articles, there was an abstract of the article. It is amazing that you can find full text articles online.
I am noticing that many of my cohorts are affiliated with the library in some way. I am a parent and part-time music teacher. Even so, I am finding all these resources VERY useful.
I searched for a music publication and found The American Music Teacher. I chose to browse the current issue. It listed all 34 articles in order of occurance in the magazine. I also had the option to reverse order. You could mouse-over the preview icon and view an abstract of the article.
Right this very moment, I'm not sure if I personally will use Proquest as much as the other resources.
I am noticing that many of my cohorts are affiliated with the library in some way. I am a parent and part-time music teacher. Even so, I am finding all these resources VERY useful.
I searched for a music publication and found The American Music Teacher. I chose to browse the current issue. It listed all 34 articles in order of occurance in the magazine. I also had the option to reverse order. You could mouse-over the preview icon and view an abstract of the article.
Right this very moment, I'm not sure if I personally will use Proquest as much as the other resources.
SIRS
SIRS stands for "Social Issues Resources Series." I searched for Armadillos.Wow! I am loving how everything is organized! There are tabs showing how many articles in different resources (newspaper, magazine, reference, graphics and websites. There are icons that tell me what reading level the articles is, the lexile level and if there's a photo. There is an article summary as well as the date and source.
The Database feature is pretty neat. In the Country facts, there is a list of many countries that you can chose from. The list shows the difficulty of reading and a camera icon if there is a photo. When chosing a country, the article is organized and easy to collect information. Population, Geography and Weather, History and Economy are just some of the topics covered in the article.
The Maps of the World are very cool. I am often involved in conversations where these would be useful. Whether it's where Uncle Keith was in Afghanistan to what's going on in the news to where Auntie Lisa is in Thailand, this resource will be very useful.
The Science Fair Explorer is very handy. There are lots of relatively quick and easy experiments with explanations. I love making everything a learning opportunty (sometimes to my kids' groaning) and this resource will be very useful.
SIRS Issues Researcher is for older students. When looking up leading issues, SIRS gives you an issue overview, pros and cons (as well as examples and links to specifics of each), timeline, global impact and statistics. You can also write your own analysis. There is a link to an organizational tool for note taking.
The Curriculum Pathfinder provides various topics listed under curriculum subjects. Within a sub-topic, there are many articles. I looked under Music to New Age and found an interesting article on Ambient Music. I may have to use the Curriculum Pathfinder in my music class.
I am glad to be taking this challenge and learning MORE about all these resourses available to us.
The Database feature is pretty neat. In the Country facts, there is a list of many countries that you can chose from. The list shows the difficulty of reading and a camera icon if there is a photo. When chosing a country, the article is organized and easy to collect information. Population, Geography and Weather, History and Economy are just some of the topics covered in the article.
The Maps of the World are very cool. I am often involved in conversations where these would be useful. Whether it's where Uncle Keith was in Afghanistan to what's going on in the news to where Auntie Lisa is in Thailand, this resource will be very useful.
The Science Fair Explorer is very handy. There are lots of relatively quick and easy experiments with explanations. I love making everything a learning opportunty (sometimes to my kids' groaning) and this resource will be very useful.
SIRS Issues Researcher is for older students. When looking up leading issues, SIRS gives you an issue overview, pros and cons (as well as examples and links to specifics of each), timeline, global impact and statistics. You can also write your own analysis. There is a link to an organizational tool for note taking.
The Curriculum Pathfinder provides various topics listed under curriculum subjects. Within a sub-topic, there are many articles. I looked under Music to New Age and found an interesting article on Ambient Music. I may have to use the Curriculum Pathfinder in my music class.
I am glad to be taking this challenge and learning MORE about all these resourses available to us.
Learning Express
I am really excited to check out this resource!!!
It was very simple to set up an account, but it helps if your computer is working properly. The home screen if fairly self explanatory but gets a little overwhelming once you chose a section. At least it did for me.
I chose the look at the Praxis Earlychildhood Exam. There were results for tests, courses and e-books. It was very easy to take a pre-test and see your score. It showed you the answers to all the questions and explanations of each. Very simple to navigate through this portion of Learning Express.
I explored the resume course. There was a course overview that explained everything that would be covered in the course. I thought this was very useful. It gave me an idea of what information I would need and what was to come. The course provided alot of thing to think about such as questions that an employer will want to be answered and variouse format suggestions. There are even resume templates.
It was very easy to search and download e-books.
I am looking forward to using Learning Express myself and sharing it with others.
It was very simple to set up an account, but it helps if your computer is working properly. The home screen if fairly self explanatory but gets a little overwhelming once you chose a section. At least it did for me.
I chose the look at the Praxis Earlychildhood Exam. There were results for tests, courses and e-books. It was very easy to take a pre-test and see your score. It showed you the answers to all the questions and explanations of each. Very simple to navigate through this portion of Learning Express.
I explored the resume course. There was a course overview that explained everything that would be covered in the course. I thought this was very useful. It gave me an idea of what information I would need and what was to come. The course provided alot of thing to think about such as questions that an employer will want to be answered and variouse format suggestions. There are even resume templates.
It was very easy to search and download e-books.
I am looking forward to using Learning Express myself and sharing it with others.
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