Lesson 3 SIRS Discoverer and Issues Researcher

SIRS Discoverer

1.       I searched armadillo and found that the article did indeed have both a reading level and a picture. I was amazed at the amount of information that the article contained.

2.       The country I selected was The Bahamas. There was basic information listed with links to geographical and government information.  Also, there was a list of major historical events, a map, a picture of their flag, and links to click on for additional information.

The map I selected was Florida.  It’s quite detailed with major highways and interstates, cities, and lakes and rivers labeled. It would be wonderful for a geography class.  Also, when teaching literature, it would be a nice resource to show the kids where the setting of a story takes place.

The last link that I chose was Biographies.  I then searched “Michelle Obama” to see how current the information was.  The link gave a brief description and then had several links that could be chosen to find more information.  There were several photos of Mrs. Obama and her family, including a magazine cover.

SIRS Issues Researcher

1.        The topic I selected was “Cheerleading.” At first glance, I noticed that there was an article, several research tools – topic overview, timeline, global impact, statistics, my analysis, and note taker – that would really help a student organize his/her thoughts.  When I clicked on the link to read more, I was able to see a bit more of the article and also to read different perspectives on the topic.  In both spots, there was the pro/con chart with links to articles. There was also a link to a video sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America that encourages kids to get involved in activities.

2.       The subject I selected was “Fine Arts.” I was given course suggestions, research topics, and links for additional information.  When I clicked on “West Side Story,” I was given links to articles and media locations for more information.

Lesson 2

2.        I chose to take an 8^th grade reading diagnostic test in Learning Express. I found the experience to be positive.  The test gives an explanation for each correct answer when you click to view the answers.

3.       I picked the “Creating a Great Resume” link.  It was easy to understand.  The directions were clear and well-organized. I liked the way the survey helped to determine which format would be most effective for me.

4.       I selected an e-book entitled Becoming a Nurse. It was very informational and included the different types of nursing professions, the amount of education needed for different specialties, and the personal characteristics of those who would be well-suited to the nursing profession.  I felt that it gave a very thorough overview of the nursing field.

World Book School Edition

1.       World Book School Edition – Kids edition

"Elephant." World Book Kids World Book, 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

World Book articles contain citation information.  I really like this feature because it makes it easier for teachers at elementary school levels to teach kids to cite their sources.

This article listed information about Indian and African elephants.  It contained both pictures and videos.  There are several handy tools that kids can use.  They can have the article read to them, or they can have single words defined by double clicking on them.  The article can be translated into many different languages.  The article can be emailed, saved, and printed.  Another great feature is that there are links to outside sources.

2.       World Book School Edition – Student

MLA:

Moss, Cynthia. "Elephant." World Book Student. World Book, 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

APA:

Moss, C. (2013). Elephant. In World Book Student. Retrieved from
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar177700&st=elephant Harvard:

Moss, C 2013, 'Elephant', World Book Student, World Book, Chicago, viewed 28 February 2013,
<http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar177700&st=elephant>.

Three formatting options are given for citation.

The information is divided into quite a few more sections.  Each section gives the student the option of printing just that section.

There are links to article contents on the left side of the screen and “Related Information” as well as “Content Standards” on the right side of the screen.

The search box allows the students the option to search the student edition, the student edition + kids, and the media.

The tools expand on the kids edition by allowing them to view by section, highlight the text, and save their research.

3.       World Book Advanced

On the left side of the screen, the “Search Results” box gives the user the option of searching in different types of sources. They can search maps, charts, sounds, primary sources, encyclopedia articles, timelines, websites, research guides, and more. On the right side of the screen, links to the primary sources are listed.  Under that, there are links to E-books.

 When clicking on the country, the user can narrow his/her search by looking on the left side of the screen and choosing from the article contents.  The article is divided into the 5 themes of geography: people, way of life, the land, the climate, and the economy. Also listed is the citation information; again, the article lists the MLA, APA, and Harvard styles. On the right side of the screen, there are links to related information and related primary source information. There is also a link to show how the article aligns to the common core standards.

My links that take students to specific parts of the article would be valuable for my students so that they don’t have to look through the whole article for the information they are looking for.  Also, the related information links will be nice because they will be sent to other credible sources.

World Book Discover

The article about affirmative action contains several features that will those who struggle reading English.  On the left side of the screen, there is an option to translate the text into many different languages.  In the tool box at the top of the article, there is the option to have the article read aloud.  Lastly, one can double click on a word to have it defined.