1. 1 Using DLESE: Finding Resources to Enhance Teaching Shelley Olds Holly Devaul 11 July 2004

2. 2 Overview What challenges do educators face when searching for resources? How might digital libraries assist? How can I use DLESE to find resources that support learning goals and to enhance my teaching? Hands-on exploration of DLESE Report out/reflection

3. 3 Challenges in finding resources How can I find good “stuff”? Can it be integrated quickly? Is it versatile? Will it motivate students? Is it aligned with skills I’m expected to teach? Is it reliable?

4. 4 Why a digital library? Provides more efficient discovery of quality materials Provides safe environment and “boundaries” on the web Acknowledges the current reliance on the Internet for information  “About 75 percent of students said they used the Internet first, then went to a professor or librarian for assistance, and consulted print sources last.”

5. 5 Digital Library for Earth System Education Emphasizes interdisciplinary approach to science Includes processes, states, cycles, and interactions among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and space from a global to local perspective, across time scales Highlights materials that bring the Earth system into the classroom or learning situation, and that demonstrate the application of science to solving real world problems Resources that support Earth System Education:

6. 6 What does DLESE offer? Learning resources about the Earth System  Lesson plans, computer and lab activities, data visualizations, instructor guides, virtual field trips…  Themed collections about a specific topic  Reviewed collections Resources contributed and described by educators and scientists

7. 7 How can I use DLESE to support my teaching? Find good resources to enhance existing curriculum  Search special collections aimed at your interests  Read teaching tips and reviews to determine whether to use a particular resource  Determine alignment with educational standards Learn new content Find other strategies for teaching Make community connections  Learn about workshops, summer institutes, courses, and funding sources for teachers and students  Participate in discussion groups on a wide range of topics

8. 8 How to find materials in DLESE Browse functions (controlled vocabularies)  Subject, grade level, resource type, collection name Keyword search (free text) Advanced search (free text and vocabs) Results contain descriptions and links to resources

9. 9 DLESE search by educational standards Focus groups guide development Plan to expand to more detailed national standards and map to state standards A growing number of resources are cataloged to standards

10. 10 Discussion questions What are some concepts that have been difficult to teach? How might technology assist with these situations? What kinds of resources do you look for when turning to technology for curriculum enhancement?

11. 11 A closer look at Resource Types

12. 12 Resource types continued… A resource can be several types, e.g., JVV Jr. Reference material, lab activity, presentation tool, map tool, dataset Can be used to teach in different ways (gather facts & info, structured or open exploration…)

13. 13 Tying resource type to learning goals Level of learning You want students to be able to: Resource types that may target your goals Sample problems and resources Knowledge (recall or recognize info, ideas, principles) Gather facts about a topic, etc. Tutorial Text (reference) Services (ask an expert, discussion forum) Also check out: Activity (classroom, computer, lab, field) – may have good background information Problem: What are the different types of clouds and how are they formed? Resource type: Tutorial, reference Resource: Clouds and Precipitation (URL) Analysis (distinguish, classify, or relate assumptions, hypotheses, evidence) Analyze a problem Case study Dataset Activity Lesson plan … Enter keywords: Analyze, assess... Problem: How is water quality determined? Resource type: Case study Resource: Exploring the Environment: Water Quality Teaching approaches for the goals and res. types Teacher typically organizes the learning and guides the activities Can use technology to increase knowledge and comprehension Assessment is often straightforward Students play a more active role in learning Teacher is more of a facilitator Learning is problem or inquiry based…

14. 14 Explore Examples Explore the Tying Learning Goals to Resource Types handout Look at the examples of level of learning, problems and resources Explore several examples in more detail

15. 15 Develop a plan for using online resources Define a problem from your curriculum  What topics might best be enhanced by technology?  What topics are difficult for students to understand, or hard to teach?  What topics might you like to find a new approach for? Determine your instructional goal  Intended level of learning/understanding (learning facts, analyzing a problem, synthesizing ideas…)

16. 16 Tools on your desktop Worksheet  Topic  Grade level  Learning goals  URLs, etc.  Notes Web browser opened to www.dlese.org

17. 17 Discussion What topics did you explore? For what grade level? What kinds of searches did you do? Did you find what you were looking for? Why or why not; suggestions for broadening a search