Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator Empowering and Developing Young Students with the Online Reference Centre Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator ECEC Conference 2015 November 7, 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 he top of the screen In school automatic authentication should occur Outside of school access requires username and password Share your district username and password (low tech methods) Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca for your remote username/password
Quick Tips for Young Learners 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 and language Learning Early World of Learning *NEW* BookFLIX Muzzy Online
Early World of Learning New to the collection for 2015/2016 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 Early World of Learning Top Right-Hand side of the screen Read: Trek’s Travels - stories about what Trek learns on his adventures. Each story includes human voice read aloud, auto play or user controlled play, related game, videos and pictures Welcome to Reading - Additional Trek Books that are levelled from A -D. Books include all additional features (game, videos, etc.) Know It- Explore Animals Homes, Animal Safari, Creepy Crawlies, Sea Animals, Me, Myself and I, People at Work, Plants, Rainforest Animals, Dinos, Vroom Vroom, and Weather. Each section include related pictures and videos Play: Put the Story in Order (ordering the story - first, second, third, and fourth events) Concentration (digital concentration game, flip the cards to find matches) Multiple Choice (Fill in the missing word in the sentence) Sorting (long vowels, short vowels, middle sounds, final sounds, etc.) Watch: Sports and Hobbies (yoga, step aerobics, juggling, etc.) People (police officers, teacher, firefighters, garbage truck) Animals (numerous animal videos to choose from) Getting Around (cars, busses, planes, etc) Machines (backhoes, snowblowers, Tractors, etc.) Big Ideas (shapes, colors, sizes, sounds, etc.) Plants (plants growing, starting a garden, etc.) Health (doctors, vaccines, senses, etc.) Earth (seasons, weather, etc.) Print and Do: Blackline Masters available to print. Include colour the number activities. Topics include: colors, numbers, letters, locations, matching, sets, shapes, sizes and time Bottom Right-hand side of the Screen Click on the Frog with the fly to access additional resources Story Corner - Variety of classic stories read aloud Nursery Rhymes - Variety of Classic nursery rhymes Songs - Classics like Baa, Baa and Eensy, Weensy Spider
BookFLIX Ideas for using BookFLIX in the classroom: 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 Ideas for using BookFLIX in the classroom: -Read Aloud or Shared Reading on SMART Board or LCD projector -Play with read along off or on, have students make specific sounds with a related word, mute words and read along to word highlighting -Small Group or Learning Centre -Can use BookFLIX on a computer, netbook or iPad (with a java enabled browser like -Puffin) or on the SMART Board -Reading and Writing Connection -Read about the author and their writing process or target a specific writing style and view/discuss together -Research and Inquiry projects -Nonfiction eBooks on a variety of topics (some direct links to curriculum), in addition to vetted related websites -Have students use these websites at the start of their inquiry -At home reading program - No more ziplocks! -Provides a reading experience for students who may not have an adult who can read to them each evening. Reading with someone is obviously preferable but that is not always an option for some of our students.
Muzzy Online Recommended for students in K-6 Immersion language learning program Hundreds of words and phrases embedded in learning stories Six 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!
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? Complete Elementary Curriculum Edition Curriculum moves at a slower pace Appropriate for pre and early readers Curriculum Edition Curriculum moves at a faster pace Covers more vocabulary per lesson
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
Resources that Support Science Amazing Animals of the World PebbleGO Science *NEW*
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 New to the ORC collection for 2015/2106 Recommended for K-4 Easy navigation, levelled text, visual searching designed for beginning researchers Human voice read aloud with text highlighting, photos, videos, audio clips to enhance learning This resource will be added to the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
Resources that Support Social Studies PebbleGO Social Studies *NEW*
PebbleGO Social Studies New to the ORC collection for 2015/2106 Recommended for K-4 Easy navigation, levelled text, visual searching designed for beginning researchers Human voice read aloud with text highlighting, photos, videos, audio clips to enhance learning This resource will be added to the Curriculum Mapping on the ORC Support Site
Multidisciplinary Resource World Book Kids National Geographic Kids
World Book Kids New interface for 2015/2016 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
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) Incudes listen feature
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