Empowering and Developing Young
Students with the Online Reference
Centre
Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator
ATA Local #18 PD Day
December 4, 2015
What is the ORC?
$1.7 million collection of curricular aligned authoritative digital resources
licensed on behalf of all Alberta:
K-12 students and their parents
School staff
Pre-service teachers
Public library staff*
Funded by a yearly Grant-In-Aid from Alberta Education to the Alberta
Library (TAL)
*for the purposes of supporting K-12 patrons
Why These Resources?
Provide authoritative, age appropriate, engaging, curricular-aligned content
Google and Wikipedia are the tip of the searching and information literacy
iceberg
allow students to become familiar and comfortable with the kind of resources
and searching practises that are integral to 21st century learning
Are time savers once you are familiar with them
include embedded supports for diverse learners like listen, text translation,
citation tools, vetted websites, copyright friendly pictures and videos
Provide anytime, from anywhere with an internet connection access
What’s in it for Teachers?
Direct curriculum correlations, curriculum mapping for Science and Social
(under completion)
Support for diverse learners
Access to journals like Walrus, National Geographic, School Library
Journal, Men’s Health, and MacLean’s (RSS feeds can be set up)
Consistent and explicit update schedules
Access to vetted websites
Ability to create permalinks that can be posted on a website/moodle
page.blog or sent in an email blast
Accessing the ORC
Go to LearnAlberta.ca
Select English and French
Click “Online Reference Centre” in the tab along the top of the screen
In school automatic authentication should occur
Outside of school access requires username and password
Username: LA Password:
Share your district username and password (low tech methods)
Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca for your remote username/password
Quick Tips for Technology
Management in the Classroom
Create a direct link to the ORC
Create enlarged icons of the databases you will use to post on board
preload iPads, Smart Boards, or computers to save time
Model in whole group - paired work - independent work
Number each student - that will be their computer number every time
Create recipe cards with each student’s login information - laminate and keep
on a ring
Assign in-class tech helpers
Assist with age appropriate citations - icons, pre-made worksheets, etc.
QUESTIONS?
Resources that Support
Literacy Learning
Early World of Learning *NEW*
BookFLIX
TrueFLIX
TeachingBooks.net
Early World of Learning
Recommended for K-2 students
Designed for very young learners with human voice
read aloud embedded throughout
Stories, pictures, videos, songs and activities build
literacy skills
Related content to Science and Social Studies
curricula
Fun and interactive, works well on iPad or tablet
BookFLIX
118 fiction and nonfiction book pairs (236 books total) organized into
themes
Pairing fiction with related nonfiction increases student
comprehension when reading both formats
search titles by guided reading level, author, grade level, theme, etc.
lesson plans provided for each pair
Real voice audio support embedded throughout resources to allow
emergent readers to navigate the resource independently
Between 1-3 follow up “puzzlers” for each pair
TrueFLIX
Sister resource to BookFLIX designed for grades 3-6
Nonfiction content divided into 2 broad themes with 3-5 sub themes
Each eBook includes an introductory video to hope build
background knowledge of topic and improve student
comprehension
Human voice read along feature to support emergent/struggling
readers
Interactive table of contents for each eBook, in addition to a
glossary and index
Essential inquiry questions and project ideas for every eBook
TeachingBooks.net
Includes a wealth of support material to teach and promote books in your school and classroom
(book trailers, author interviews and readings, author audio name pronunciation, book guides
and lesson plans, etc.)
Share pages using share, email, or permalink
Create QR flyer, text feature, literary calendar
Access Alberta specific booklists:
Rocky Mountain Book Awards (Grades 4-7)
Young Readers Choice (Grades 4-6)
Alberta Education recommended listing for grades 4-12
Canadian Book Award Winners/Canadian Book and Author Resources
Personalized book lists upon request or with a personal account
Developing Vocabulary
Visual Thesaurus
Visual Thesaurus
Recommended for grade 3-12
Six languages including English, French, Spanish and German
Correct word pronunciation in human voice for every word
Images related to words with right-click (images are google images and not
vetted)
Word of the day/week/month
Personal word lists and spelling bees with an account*
Vocabgrabber with an account
*Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca to get steps for setting up personal account
Resources that Support
Science
Amazing Animals of the World
PebbleGO Science *NEW*
PowerKnowledge Suite
National Geographic Kids Virtual Library *NEW*
Science In Context
Amazing Animals of the World
Click-friendly navigation to support young learners
lists animals classes, orders and species
Read aloud available
Provides quick access to the “animal stats” at the top of the brief
article
Links to information about animal habitat and order
Vetted weblinks that open within the database
This resource is included in the Curriculum Mapping available on the ORC Support Site
PebbleGO Science
Recommended for K-3
Easy navigation, levelled text, visual searching designed for beginning
researchers
Human voice read aloud with text highlighting, photos, videos, audio clips
to enhance learning
Articles segmented into brief sections with tab navigation at the top of the
screen
Topic Include: Matter, Sound, Life Science, Plants, Animals, Human,
Seasons, Weather, Earth Science, etc.
This resource will be added to the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
PowerKnowledge Suite
Recommended for grades 1-6
Content divided into 3 databases: Earth & Space, Life Science, and
Physical Science
Includes a customizable read aloud feature
Short, segmented articles with introductory videos to build background
knowledge
Embedded science experiments, projects, and educational games related
to the content of the database
Aligns with 95% of the grade 3-6 science curriculum and 87% of grade 1-6
science curriculum
PowerKnowledge: Earth & Space
Science
Science Units Supported:
Grade 1 Seasonal Changes
Grade 2 Exploring Liquids
Grade 3 Rocks and Minerals
Grade 4 Light and Shadows & Waste and Our World
Grade 5 Weather Watch, Wetland Ecosystems & Social Studies Mapping Skills
Grade 6 Sky Science
This resource is included in the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
PowerKnowledge:
Life Science
Science Units Supported:
Grade 1 Needs of Animals and Plants
Grade 2 Small Flying and Crawling Animals
Grade 3 Animal Life Cycles & Hearing and Sound
Grade 4 Plant Growth and Changes, Waste and Our World
Grade 5 Wetland Ecosystems
Grade 6 Trees and Forests
This resource is included in the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
PowerKnowledge:
Physical Science
Science Units Supported:
Grade 1 Needs of Animals and Plants
Grade 2 Hot and Cold Temperatures & Magnetism
Grade 4 Wheels and Levers
Grade 5 Electricity and Magnetism & Classroom Chemistry
Grade 6 Trees and Forests
This resource is included in the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
National Geographic Kids
New to the collection for 2015/2016
Authoritative nonfiction content
Award-winning maps and photos
200 National Geographic Kids
Books
500 Kid-friendly, downloadable
images
National Geographic Kids
Magazines (2009-Present, 3 month
embargo)
Includes listen feature
Science In Context
Recommended for student in grade 6 and up
Featured videos, new, and stories on homepage
customizable read-aloud feature, articles available to download MP3
Text translation to 13 languages
Highlight and notes within the aricle, save to a folder without an account
Embedded citations (MLA 7th Edition, and APA 6th Edition)
Links to “Related Subjects” to support shallow searchers
Share/permalink any page using the “Bookmark” tab right side of the search bar at the top
Advanced search allows for Boolean, and content selection (Advance/ Intermediate/Basic)
Search specific learner outcomes for grade 6 Alberta curriculum in the “Curriculum Standards”
link
Social Studies Resources
PebbleGO Social Studies *NEW*
Culturegrams
The Canadian Encyclopedia
Canada In Context
PebbleGO Social Studies
Recommended for K-3
Easy navigation, levelled text, visual searching designed for beginning
researchers
Human voice read aloud with text highlighting, photos, videos, audio clips
to enhance learning
Articles segmented into brief sections with tab navigation at the top of the
screen
Topic Include: My World,Maps, Community, Culture and Awareness,
Citizenship, Families, Holidays, etc.
This resource will be added to the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
Culturegrams
Four Interfaces - 2 for Elementary Students:
Kids Edition - excellent support for gr. 3 S.S.
Provinces Edition - supports gr. 2 S.S.
Updated every 6 months and written/reviewed by in-country
consultants
Features include: customizable read-aloud, infographics, photo
gallery, slideshows, videos, famous people, and cultural recipes
Tools included: build-your-own graphs and tables, pre-generated
graphs and tables, distance calculator, and currency converter
The Canadian Encyclopedia
Free website provided by Government of Canada
Change from English to French at the top right-hand corner of every
page
New updated interface - much more aesthetic and functional
View personal accounts from veterans, view videos, articles,
publication date, editor, and edit date
Embedded citations (MLA 7th Edition, APA 6th Edition, Chicago
16th Edition)
Wealth of Canadian Content for grade 4/5/6 Social Studies curricula
Canada In Context
Canadian content not only for Social Studies, but also Science and ELA
Featured videos, new, and stories on homepage
customizable read-aloud feature, articles available to download MP3
Text translation to 13 languages
Highlight and notes within the aricle, save to a folder without an account
Embedded citations (MLA 7th Edition, and APA 6th Edition)
Links to “Related Subjects” to support shallow searchers
Share/permalink any page using the “Bookmark” tab right side of the search bar at the
top
Advanced search allows for Boolean, and content selection (Advance/
Intermediate/Basic)
Resource for Supporting:
First/Second Language Learners
Students with Communication Challenges
Muzzy Online
Muzzy Online
Recommended for students in K-6
Immersion language learning program
Hundreds of words and phrases embedded in learning stories
Siz movies in each language level with a subtitle option for all of the languages offered
101 thematic video lessons with embedded language learning games divided into level I
& II
All new 3D animation
All new teachers materials
Complete Elementary (Spanish & French)
Classroom Editions (Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, and English)
Muzzy Online Curriculum
Materials
Step 1: Log In
User: alberta
Password:
alberta4MuzzyOnline!
http://libraries.muzzyonline.com/account/librarian/login.aspx
Resources Page After Login
Step 2:
Click on “Curriculum Materials”
Complete Elementary:
Spanish and French
Step 3: Choose between
Complete Elementary (Spanish
& French)
OR
Classroom Edition (Spanish,
French Mandarin Chinese, &
English)
What’s the Difference?
Curriculum Edition
Complete Elementary
Curriculum moves at a faster
pace
Curriculum moves at a slower
pace
Covers more vocabulary per
lesson
Appropriate for pre and early
readers
What’s Similar?
All lessons expand and contract to fit variable
session lengths
All lessons are based on watching a clip from the
Muzzy stories of vocabulary builder
Step-by-Step Lesson Plans
Step 4: Select a Lesson
Choose from a wide selection of
lessons complete with lesson
materials, activity sheets and
teacher masters
Lesson Plan Continued
• Easy to follow, step by step
lesson plans
• Designed for teachers who
are not specialized in
teaching languages
Activity Sheets and
Teaching Materials
• Complete with Blackline
Masters and Teacher Keys
Recently Redesigned
Resource
World Book Kids
World Book Student
World Book Kids
Recommended for students in K-3
Beginner multidisciplinary database designed for young users
Every article has tabs along to top to access “Pictures, Videos and
More” as well as “More Information” (websites, questions, etc.)
Text to speech and text translation
Use compare option to find similarities and differences between
animals, countries and places
Ability to create permalinks
World Book Student
Recommended for students in grades 4-9
Multidisciplinary database that includes atlas, dictionary (with voice
pronunciation), images, weblinks, and world news
“My Research” allows users to track and save their research online
Features include: customizable read aloud, text translation to 79
languages, timeline builder, embedded citations (MLA, APA, Harvard),
citation builder, primary source documents, pathfinders, resource guides,
teaching documents
Content accessible through a variety of access points
Ability to create permalinks
Support for School Staff
Using the ORC
ORC Support Site
ORC Listserv
Links
Contact
ORC Support Site
www.onlinereferencecentre.ca
Resource training materials - podcasts, videos, archived webinars, and
guides
Information about upcoming free ORC PD opportunities
Information about province-wide resource trials and surveys
Online booking system for ORC sessions
Calendar of ORC events
Links to ORC Twitter and Facebook accounts
ORC Listserv
Weekly email updates organized by
E/J/S:
New resources and features
Province-wide trials
Surveys
Free PD opportunities
No emails during school breaks
Membership benefits for every 50th person to join
Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca or visit the ORC Support Site to join today
Links to Check Out
ORC Support Site
www.onlinereferencecentre.ca
ORC Listserv
http://lists.talonline.ca/listinfo/orc
ORC Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/OnlineREferenceCentre
ORC Twitter
@ORC_AB
Contact
For more information or to schedule a school
presentation contact:
Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator
Call 780-414-0805 ext: 229
OR
Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca