DATABASE OR SEARCH
ENGINE?
HOW TO DECIDE
Margot Polley
Feb. 6, 2012
Learning Objectives and Action Plan
Search Engines vs. Database
Database Examples
Comparative Chart
Tips Before Starting Research
A Peek at What’s Ahead
References
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review Video
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
UPON COMPLETION THE STUDENT WILL
• Understand the difference between a web search
engine and a subscription database program
• Analyze a research query and know which resource
is best
• Identify challenges regarding web searching
• Identify challenges regarding database programs
Audience and Purpose
The audience will be ninth grade English I students of all academic levels: from special
education, ESL, on level, or gifted. The show will be part of a five-part library orientation
program. The challenge will be to create a show flexible enough to be useful to academically
challenged students without boring the more advanced learners. This lesson focuses on teaching
students to judge when it’s best to use a web search engine and when it’s best to us the InfoTrac
databases available from our library.
Presentation Method
This show will be a user-interactive one. Sometimes a teacher or I will be present to guide, other
times, not.
Delivery Method
The show will be a computer through PPT. However, a web version will be available from the
library web site.
Theme
I will choose a theme template but make modify it to fit my needs. It will be academic in feel, yet
“hip” enough to appeal to teenagers.
Content
The majority of the content is taken from the library skills curriculum we have developed over
the past few years. It is aligned closely with Louisiana Content Standards and the Parish
Guaranteed Curriculum.
Visual Images
Images will be consistent with the theme of the show and will include icons and pictures that will
elicit a positive response from the students.
Multimedia Effects
The show will contain background music on slide one, a few instructional videos and numerous
hyperlinks to additional web sites.
Handouts and Notes
I will include speaker notes but the PPT will allow the students to run the show without a
presenter, in the event they are absent and need additional practice.
Rehearsing the Presentation
The presentation will be sent to various faculty members to test prior to using with students.
Giving the Presentation
The presentation will be used in various classrooms and possibly from home. When I am guiding
the presentation in the library, I will consider lighting, chair arrangement, good speakers, and a
high definition projector.
Assessing Success and Refining
I will ask for feedback from teachers and students and will base the success on that information
and on a written assessment I will create as part of the whole lesson. Changes will be made
according to feedback and student success, or lack of.
ACCESSING
THE
DATABASES
Here is a video I created
for you in case you
forgot how to access the
databases.
Mr Gentry:
I will embed this video when I
actually use this ppt but I
linked it due to the size
constraints
I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES
ARE PLAYING AT MY LOCAL THEATER.
http://www.gale.cengage.com/press_room/logo_library/gale_logos.htm
http://www.google.com/
THE WWW IS A GREAT PLACE TO FIND CURRENT
INFORMATION AND A SEARCH ENGINE IS THE
RIGHT PLACE TO START.
www.fandango.com
I AM REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION. WHERE CAN I GO TO FIND SUBSTANTIVE, OBJECTIVE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES?
http://www.yahoo.com/
http://www.barackobama.com/
http://mittromney.com/jobs
WHILE THE WEB WILL HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT
THE CANDIDATES, INFORMATION FROM REPUTABLE
JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES IS A MUCH SAFER BET.
BUT, JOURNALS HAVE AGENDAS TOO!
Conservative
Liberal
http://www.nationalreview.com/
http://www.thenation.com/archive
I’M NOT SURE IF DRINKING COFFEE IS BAD
FOR MY HEALTH? WHERE DO I START?
http://www.dogpile.com/
THE WEB IS AWASH IN BAD MEDICAL INFORMATION.
PLAY IT SAFE AND USE ONE OF THE HEALTH
DATABASES THAT ARE PART OF OUR GALE
SUBSCRIPTION
HTTP://INFOTRAC.GALEGROUP.COM/ITWEB/LAP52MA
NHS
Remember the “card
number” is LAK12
I NEED TO GET SOME BASIC INFORMATION ON DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING AND I CAN’T GET TO THE LIBRARY TO GET A
BOOK. WHERE SHOULD I START?
Factoid: Bing is the
search engine that
drives YAHOO!
http://www.bing.com/
HERE IS A TABLE OF THE FOUR DATABASES THAT
YOU COULD USE FOR FINDING INFORMATION ON
DR. KING.
Biography in Context
Contains contextual information on
the world's most influential people.
Large amount of images and videos.
US History in Context
Contains contextual information on
hundreds of the most significant
people, events and topics in U.S.
History.
Student Resources in context
Contains contextual information on a
broad range of topics, people, places,
and events. Links to many websites.
General One File
A one-stop source for news and
periodical articles on a wide range of
topics: business, computers, current
events, economics, education,
environmental issues, health care,
hobbies, humanities, law, literature
and art, politics, science, social
science, sports, technology, and many
general interest topics.
THIS ONE WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO START SINCE IT
WILL FOCUS ON THIS LIFE AND WORKS AS A WHOLE.
•
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/lap52manhs
THERE WAS A HUGE EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH
AMERICA LAST NIGHT. WHERE DO I GO TO FIND
OUT THE EXACT MAGNITUDE?
http://www.msn.com/
WHILE THE DATABASES DO INCLUDE MANY NEWSPAPERS, THERE
CAN A BE A SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE THE LATEST EDITION IS
POSTED. THE NEWS PORTION OF THE MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES
WILL PROVIDE CONSTANTLY UPDATED INFORMATION.
http://www.msn.com/
WHAT IS TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORY?
Click the appropriate
button on the left to
find out!
http://www.google.com
HERE’S A SUMMARY TO KEEP IN MIND
Gale InfoTrac Databases
Web Search Engines
• Purchased by the
library
• Free to anyone with
computer access
• Content is reviewed by
professionals
• No review standards with
regard to content
• Information is
organized
• Information not always
organized
• Information is stable
• Location and content
constantly change
TAKE TIME AND THINK BEFORE YOU
START! IT SAVES TIME IN THE LONG RUN.
The
Question
The
Process
The Results
•Currently Happening?
•More Historical?
•Which Search Engine?
•Which Database?
•Is the info biased?
•Is the info accurate?
•Where is the info coming from?
•Is the info up to date?
•Is there an author?
NOW THAT YOU ARE READY TO GET STARTED, CHECK OUT THIS
CURRICULUM WEB THAT YOU WILL BE DOING FOR THE NEXT PART
OF YOUR LIBRARY ORIENTATION. TAKE THE PRE-ASSESSMENT AND
SEE HOW YOU DO!
References
Barack Obama Image. Retrieved February 4, 2012 from http://www.barackobama.com.
Bing Banner. Retrieved February 5, 2012 from http://www.bing.com.
Dogpile Banner. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.dogpile.com.
Duran Duran. (1980). Too Much Information, The Wedding Album. Downloaded from iTunes, October 10, 2011.
Fandango Advertisement. Retrieved February 3, 2012, from http://www.fandango.com.
Gale Cengage Banner. Retrieved February 2, 2012, from
http://www.gale.cengage.com/press_room/logo_library/gale_logoshtm.
Google Banner. Retrieved February 6, 2101, from http://www.google.com.
Mitt Romney Image. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from http://www.mittromney.com/jobs.
MSN Banner and New Screenshot. Retrieved February 1, 2012 from http://www.msn.com.
National Review Screenshot. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from http://www.nationalreview.com.
The Nation Screenshot. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from
http://www.thenation.com/archives.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library. (2010) How database and search engines differ. Retrieved
from http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/compare1.html.
Yahoo! Banner. Retrieved February 3, 2012, from http://yahoo.com.