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The Use of Databases in
the Instructional Program
Increasing Rigor and Inquiry Throughout the
Curriculum
Donna Dick, Jacob Gerding, and Michelle Phillips
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In-Service Objective
Participants will utilize the
SIRS database in order to
find and evaluate resources
related to their curriculum.
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Warm-Up
What
kinds of resources
should students be using
for research and how do
they compare to what they
are currently using?
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What search engines or websites
do you use when you do research?
Do these look familiar?
Databases…..hmmmmm
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THE BASIC DEFINITION OF
A LIBRARY DATABASE:
is an electronic catalog or
index, often containing information
about published items, and is
searchable.
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Why use
Databases?
Databases are vetted,
quality sources of
information.
1) Trustworthy
2) Sourced
3) Editorially
Scholarly
reviewed
and
TYPES OF MATERIAL FOUND
USING LIBRARY DATABASES
ARE:
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Articles from Journals and Magazines
 Electronic Books
 Newspapers
 Images
 Reference Sources

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Databases vs. Open Web
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SIRS Content Tools for Students &
Teachers for 21st Century
Teaching and Learning
 Why do so many teachers and
students rely on Google and other
Internet surfing when their ProQuest
Library digital solutions are custom
designed to support K-12 teaching
and learning?
¨Don’t they know that …..
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Google and Web Surfing for
Content and tools for Inquiry-Based
Learning
 Do professionals such as doctors,
lawyers, and engineers Google for
information to service clients?
 Don’t these professionals rely on
CUSTOM databases and publications
to keep them current, and help
analyze and solve client problems?
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Databases vs. Open Web
SIRS Database
Open Web

100% of SIRS teaching and
learning resources are
curriculum-relevant,
standards-based, and
provide access to a variety of
editorially selected,
copyrighted, publisher-quality
media types.
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Less than 10% of Google is k12 curriculum-relevant, and
limited to websites; most are
consumer oriented,
distracting to students, and
many are from sources that are
questionable or even
inappropriate.
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Teachers can access a variety
of free SIRS-specific inquirybased learning activities that
integrate 21st Century Skills
and critical thinking.
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Google can access lesson plan
websites, but busy teachers
will have to do the necessary
selection, adaptation, and
correlation to state standards.
+ Let’s Explore SIRS
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Everyone should go to this website: http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hstportal-display?id=SMD83868-0-2356
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Click on “SIRS Discoverer”
SIRS Databases
The SIRS Knowledge Source Databases,
including SIRS Researcher, SIRS
Government Reporter, and SIRS
Renaissance, feature significant
information covering topics of general
reference, social issues, health, science,
business, directories, almanacs, leading
issues, historic and government
documents, and current perspectives
(pros and cons)
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SIRS Top 10’
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When the SIRS search
screen displays, you
may choose between a
Quick Search or
Advanced Search. You
may also choose one of
the Top Ten Pro vs. Con
Leading Issues.
If you do not know your topic
or you do not see a top 10 that
interests you, below click on
the link that says more issues
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SIRS – More issues or topics
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More Issues leads you to a wide list of research topics
Click on the SIRS link to
go back to the home page
+ SIRS – Leading Issues
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The page that opens describes the Leading Issue near the top. The
Results List below contains articles from various sources, including
Newspapers, Magazines, Gov't Docs, Primary Sources,Viewpoints,
Reference, Graphics, and Web Select Sites. To limit your results to one
of these sources, click on the Source name in the box.
In the box next to arrow see the
Various sources available
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Let’s Explore SIRS
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Now that you are in and we have viewed the basics, you may take
the opportunity to do a search for the topic you selected before you
came in, find an article, and complete the “Source Evaluation
Worksheet”.
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Please do not hesitate to ask if there are any questions or concerns.
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If this is a tool you would like to explore with students, please set up
a time to meet with media staff for assistance.
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SIRS also has an “Educators Resource” page to help teachers,
providing maps, e-books, and government documents.
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We Appreciate Your Time and
Effort…
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Thank you for attending the in-service today; we hope you found it
useful!
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Please give us your “Source Evaluation Worksheet” on the way out.
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Check your e-mail when you go back to your classrooms for a
Survey Monkey survey about this in-service and a copy of the
“Source Evaluation Worksheet” that you can use with your class.
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REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE TO HELP PROMOTE LEARNING!!!
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Standards Alignment
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Common Core State Standards:
 CC.9-10.R.I.8 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Delineate and evaluate the
argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and
the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious
reasoning.
 CC9-10RS/TS8 Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text
support the author's claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical
problem
 CC9-10RH/SS8 Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text
support the author's claims.
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AASL Standards:
 1.1.4 Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to answer questions.
 1.1.5 Evaluate information found in selected sources on the basis of accuracy,
validity, appropriateness to needs, importance, and social and cultural context.
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Maryland SLM Standards:
 4.0.1. Independently and collaboratively evaluate and analyze recorded
data/information to meet the information need.
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Works Cited
ProQuest. Educators Resource. 2013. Web. SIRS Issue Researcher.
Web. 17 Jan 2013.