Integrating Online Databases into your Curriculum
Shari Blohm, Supervisor
Office of Library Media Services
sblohm@pgcps.org
Integrating Online Databases
into your Curriculum
• Do you know that PGCPS offices
subscribe to many online databases for
use in your school or classroom?
• This presentation will bring those
resources to light and provide you with
some tips for connections with your
curriculum.
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The beginning:
MDK12 Digital Library.
• Entering 5th year of a four-year grant
• Online subscriptions to pre-selected
articles and Web sites
• Available to Maryland students in grades
K-12 and their teachers
• Current and helpful information to support
learning
• Access at school or at home
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Who provides the MDK12
Digital Library resources?
A partnership of:
• Maryland State Department of Education
• All 24 Maryland school districts
• More than 100 nonpublic schools
Previously funded by a No Child Left Behind
grant; this year counties paid $.20 per
student
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Why subscribe to online
resources instead of using
the free Internet?
• Accurate, reliable information
selected by experts
• Text at levels that students can read
• Resources not available on the
Internet
• Continual review so that websites are
appropriate and up-to-date
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Why do we need the MDK12
Digital Library and other
research databases?
• Supports learning at school and at
home
• Ensures equal access across the
districts and schools
• Provides quality information
• Reduces costs through statewide
purchase
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How can I access the MDK12
Digital Library?
SIRS Discoverer http://discoverer.sirs.com
SIRS Knowledge Source http://sks.sirs.com
• School Access
No username or password is required; this may
differ at some schools. If it asks for a login and
password use the home access passwords.
• Home Access
Username and password are required; available
from your library media specialist
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What is available in the
MDK12 Digital Library?
• Social Studies
• Science
• Government
• Health
• Arts and Humanities
• MORE!
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How will these resources fit
into our curriculum?
“What is in it for me” when considering the
following:
• Time constraints
• Learning a new technique
• Accessibility issues
• Technology access
We will see a natural fit within our state
standards and the library media and technology
integration skills
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Informational Text
• Standard 2.0
– Comprehension of Informational Text
• Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze,
and evaluate informational text.
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Using SIRS Discoverer to Teach
Informational Text Indicators
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text
Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text
Topic A. Comprehension of Informational Text
1. Develop comprehension skills by reading a variety
of self-selected and assigned informational
texts
1. Develop comprehension skills by reading a variety
1. Develop and apply comprehension skills by
of self-selected and assigned print and
electronic informational texts
reading a variety of
2. Identify and use text features to facilitate
understanding of informational texts
2. Identify and use text features to facilitate
understanding of informational texts
2. Identify and use text features to facilitate
understanding of informational texts
3. Develop knowledge of organizational structure of
informational text to understand what is read
3. Develop knowledge of organizational structure of
informational text to understand what is read
3. Develop and apply knowledge of organizational
structure of informational text to understand what is
read
4. Determine important ideas and messages in
informational texts
4. Determine important ideas and messages in
informational texts
4. Determine and analyze important ideas and
messages in informational texts
5. Identify and explain the author's use of language
5. Identify and explain the author's use of language
5. Identify and explain the author's use of language
6. Read critically to evaluate informational text
6. Read critically to evaluate informational text
6. Read critically to evaluate informational text
self-selected and
assigned print and electronic informational texts
http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/reading/standard2/grade_3_5_info.html
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Inside SIRS Discoverer
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Biographies
Country Facts
Careers
Fiction
Holidays
Photo Essays
Pictures
Maps of the World
Suggested Research
Topics
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SIRS Discoverer Homepage
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Inside SIRS Knowledge Source
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Leading Issues
Today’s News
Maps of the World
Country Profiles
Literary Corner
Notable People
Historic Documents
Government Reports
Citizenship Topics
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SIRS Decades
• http://ars.sirs.com/custlogin
• Access requires a password which is available from your
library media specialist
• Included in the SIRS package this year only
• Sources documenting life and events in 20th-century
America
• SIRS Decades features more than 5,000 hand-selected
primary and secondary source articles highlighting key
events, movements, people, and places in 20th-century
America.
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What other databases are
available in our county?
• See handout that will soon appear on the
new library media webpage.
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Maryland AskUsNow!
• http://www.askusnow.info/
• AskUsNow! is a 24/7 live online interactive
service. It uses the expertise of librarians
to provide answers to questions, research
guidance, and help navigating the Internet.
Expand your resources, connect with an
information expert! FREE
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SAILOR©
Maryland’s Public Information Network
• http://www.sailor.lib.md.us/
• Sailor is a project of Maryland Public
Libraries that leverages Internet
technology to facilitate Maryland resident
access to information anywhere and
anytime. FREE
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Prince George’s County
Memorial Library System
• http://www.pgcmls.info/
• Access requires a current library card.
• Some databases are restricted to use only
in the public library; dozens available.
• The majority of the databases may be
accessed at locations away from the
library. FREE
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CultureGrams
• http://www.culturegrams.com/
• Access requires a password which is available from your library
media specialist
• Each World Edition report is written by a native or long-term resident
of the country in coordination with a CultureGrams editor. Writers
are selected for their education, knowledge of a national language,
experience with different regions and socioeconomic groups, recent
residency in the country, and access to current information.
• The Kids Edition reports are written by CultureGrams editors, but
with extensive input from reviewers. These contributors meet the
same qualifications as the World Edition writers.
• The States Edition reports are also written by CultureGrams editors
and submitted to state historical societies and tourist boards for
review.
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Student Resource Center Gold
• http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/”userna
me”
• Access requires a password which is available
from your library media specialist.
• The Student Resource Center – Gold gives
students the power of knowledge, which helps
them excel in the arts/humanities,
computers/technology, government,
health/sports, interdisciplinary/multicultural
studies, language arts/English, math/business,
science and social studies/history.
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Literature Resource Center
• http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/”us
ername”
• Access requires a password which is
available from your library media specialist
• Thomson Gale's Literature Resource
Center is the most comprehensive literary
collection available online.
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Science Resource Center
• http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/”username”
• Access requires a password which is available from your
library media specialist
• Part of Thomson Gale's growing science product line,
Science Resource Center is an in-depth, curriculumoriented science database that provides a one-stop
resource for all science-related research needs. This
24/7 resource reflects curriculum trends and focuses on
key concepts taught in school classrooms such as earth
science, science history, life science, physical science,
science and technology, space and much more.
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Grolier Online
• http://go.grolier.com
• Access requires a password which is available
from your library media specialist
• Grolier Online is published by Scholastic Library
Publishing, Inc., a division of Scholastic Inc.
• Elementary: America the Beautiful, Lands and
People, New Book of Knowledge
• Secondary: Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia,
New Book of Popular Science
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World Book Online
• http://www.worldbookonline.com
• Access requires a password which is available
from your library media specialist
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Has Spanish language encyclopedia
Authored and edited by 3,700 experts
Checked and rechecked
Updated more than any other reference source
Straightforward and understandable to students
of all ages and levels.
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TeachingBooks.net
• http://www.teachingbooks.net/
• Access requires a password which is available
from your library media specialist
• TeachingBooks' mission is to generate
enthusiasm for books and reading by bringing
authors, illustrators and engaging resources
about books for children and teens to every
school, library and home.
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May I download or print
articles from these
resources?
• Yes, users may download or print
content for educational use.
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How can I learn how to
use these resources?
 Use the help topics and tutorials
available on the web sites
• Keep brochure readily available
• Bookmark sites inside firewall
 Contact your school library media
specialist for help and more
information
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Will these databases be
available every year?
Factors to consider:
• Funding must be reapplied for every FY.
• Federal grants for ED TECH come under
close scrutiny every calendar year.
• Costs must be shared between
departments; what will this look like for our
county?
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What can I do to keep these
resources for our students?
• USAGE STATISTICS
• Train new teachers every year
• Revisit databases regularly at staff
meetings
• Consciously integrate them into
the curriculum
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Questions??
Tell everyone you know about
these resources and thank you
for coming to this session
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Your Contact in Prince George’s County:
Shari Blohm, Supervisor
Office of Library Media Services
Bonnie F. Johns Educational Media Center
8437 Landover Road
Landover, MD 20785
T: 301-386-8208
F: 301-386-1601
sblohm@pgcps.org
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