1. New Teacher Fall Seminar Workshop: Databases for Digital Learning  in Grades 6-12
WELCOME!
Did you pick up handouts?
Please access the Workshop wiki tinyurl.com/BCPSdatabases6-12
Review the Workshop Description and Agenda

2. “Spicing Up” Student Learning with Digital Content for Grades 6-12
Introduce the cooking/foodie “theme” as a fun way to look at the role of digital content in 21st century learning environments … as an essential ingredient for student research, reading, and learning.
Presented by:
Kelly Ray, Resource Teacher
Office of Digital Learning

3. Professional Learning Objective
Teachers will become familiar with digital content for Grades 6-12 by exploring BCPS-licensed databases and their features.
Read the PD Objective.

4. What is Digital Content?
Information databases, media repositories, online catalogs
Fee-based subscriptions
User authentication or log on required
Access to content not accessible on the “free” Internet
AKA “Invisible Internet”
Online information databases, media repositories, catalogs
Fee-based subscriptions
User authentication or log on required
Access to content not accessible on the open/free Internet
AKA “Invisible Internet”
BCPS has multiple digital content subscriptions, which include:
Online information databases like World Book, SIRS Knowledge Source, GALE Student Resources in context
Media Repositories like Discovery Education Streaming Plus and SafariMontage
Catalogs like each school’s Destiny Library Catalog, which provides access to not only print books in your school library, but also to eBooks and external educational Websites
BCPS spends hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on these subscriptions.
IP authentication (in school), log on with unique usernames/passwords (on their handout) from home or outside BCPS network.
These resources do not show up in a “Google search”

5. THEN … Student research often considered “optional”
School librarians using digital content with students for research, Online Research Models
Student research often considered “optional”
Lack of access to WiFi/devices
Limited use of digital content in curriculum or in classrooms
BCPS has been subscribing to digital content since the late 1990’s. However, until recently the use of these resources by teachers and students has been limited to [read bullets]
Barriers
Lack of student access to computers & WiFi
Curriculum writers in C&I Offices not including digital content in curriculum
Student research treated as “optional” “enrichment” or assigned to be done at home
Lack of teacher and student familiarity with the databases

6. NOW and in the FUTURE … NOW …
C&I offices embedding direct links to digital content in content curricula
Teachers can add direct links to digital content to BCPSOne Lesson Tiles
Students have access to digital content in classrooms (WiFi, devices)
Students doing “Research to Build and Present Knowledge” across all content areas
How are CCSS and STAT changing the role of Digital Content in classrooms?
Possible responses to how STAT may change role of digital content:
Student access to devices and WiFi network will mean that …
Digital content is more likely to be included in curriculum.
Teachers and students will have more opportunities to us digital content as in addition to or instead of paper resource sheets, textbooks, etc.

7. DATABASES are GOOD FOR YOU and TASTY TOO!
Convincing Teachers
“Today’s students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors.” –- Marc Prensky, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
“Traditional” teaching and learning resources do not reflect the digital information landscape outside of school.
SAY:
We want teachers to know that databases are GOOD FOR YOU and TASTY TOO!
We realize that your curriculum includes Resource Sheets, textbooks, anthologies, and other print-based resources, and your school libraries are full of great books.
However, BCPS also invests hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on database subscriptions that have been under-utilized in the past.
One reason we recommend the databases for student reading and research is that we know that “Today’s students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors.” (a quote from Marc Prensky in his book Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants).
The digital natives in your classroom want and need 21st century tools for learning. Print-based resources don’t always engage them or meet their learning needs.
To illustrate this point, consider Joe’s Non-Netbook.
[SHOW VIDEO]
Today I’ll be sharing with you a variety of digital tools and features included in the databases which will appeal to learners like “Joe” in your classroom.

8. DATABASES are GOOD FOR YOU and TASTY TOO!
“Can’t I just Google it?”
-- Students
Convincing Students
“Can you trust that the person putting information up at really knows what he or she is talking about?” Librarians & Teachers
College and career ready students are information literate, recognize the value of databases in the information landscape, and know how to use them.
SAY:
Once you as teachers have discovered that Databases are GOOD FOR YOU and TASTY TOO, you’ll need to convince your students.
This can be a little bit like trying to get kids to eat their vegetables.
Students are sometimes reluctant to use databases for research, as they’re more accustomed to using the “free” Internet for information searches outside of school.
“Can’t I just Google it?” is a phrase that we hear from many of our students when we ask them to use databases.
Students need frequent opportunities to discover the features of databases and the benefits of using them.
We know that information found on the “free” Internet isn’t always reliable.
A Librarian on the Boulder Public Library Website posed this question to its patrons: “Can you really trust that the person putting information up at REALLY knows what he or she is talking about?”
We need to help our students discover the benefits of databases over crowd-sourced information and other free Internet sources as we engage them in research experiences.
Fortunately, we have many “marketing” resources to help teachers “sell” students on using the databases.
Here’s an example of a “proof of concept” video created by some high school students to promote student use of their school’s databases.
[SHOW VIDEO]

9. Databases support our S.T.A.T. focus on:
19 Gr 6-12 Databases
Databases support Blueprint 2.0 Goal 1 – Academics 21st Century Teaching & Learning:
Building student competencies for information, media, & technology literacy
Providing efficient digital access to developmentally appropriate, curriculum-relevant content
Databases support our S.T.A.T. focus on:
Personalized, learner-centered instruction in a blended learning environment
UDL: Multiple means of representation to address diverse learning styles and provide student choice
Developing P21 Skills, including the 4 C’s: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity
Present the “Nutrition Facts” - BCPS will subscribe to 15 databases for the school year.
SAY:
These databases support Blueprint 2.0 Goal 1 for Academics and 21st Century Teaching and Learning, specifically:
Building student competencies for information, media, & technology literacy
Providing efficient digital access to developmentally appropriate, curriculum-relevant content
Databases also support these Common Core State Standards:
- College & Career Readiness - Complex Text/Nonfiction
- Close Analytic Reading - Writing to Source
Brief & Extended Research - Vocabulary
In addition, our digital content subscriptions address content standards across the curriculum … for Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Math, Health/Physical Education, Art, Music etc.

10. Databases address learning standards:
19 Gr 6-12 Databases
Databases address learning standards:
Common Core State Standards
- College & Career Readiness - Complex Text/Nonfiction
- Close Analytic Reading Writing to Source
Brief & Extended Research - Vocabulary development
National/State Content Curriculum Standards, e.g.
Next Gen Science Standards
Maryland State Standards for Social Studies
21st Century Literacy Standards
- P21 & AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner
Present the “Nutrition Facts” - BCPS will subscribe to 15 databases for the school year.
SAY:
Databases also support these Common Core State Standards:
- College & Career Readiness - Complex Text/Nonfiction
- Close Analytic Reading - Writing to Source
Brief & Extended Research - Vocabulary
In addition, our digital content subscriptions address content standards across the curriculum … for Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Math, Health/Physical Education, Art, Music etc.

12. Key “Ingredients” in Databases
Student-friendly interfaces/navigation
Age-appropriate content published for K-12
Links to evaluated external Web content
Standards-aligned/Search by standards
Authoritative publishers
Ad-free!
Current, frequently updated
Multiple media formats:
Text, Audio, Video, Images, Interactives
tOur BCPS subscription databases contain some Key “Ingredients” which you will be able to sample when we have an opportunity to explore each database today:
Multiple media formats including text, images (photos, graphics), video, audio and interactive learning objects. Not JUST text articles!
Content from authoritative publishers, editorial review (NOT the case on the open Web) and NO Ads!
Many teachers don’t realize that database content is frequently updated, often DAILY.
The interfaces and search/browse features are more student-friendly than those of many Web sites on the open Internet which were not created with elementary school students in mind.
Digital content is aligned with content learning standards, such as for science or social studies, as well as with common core state standards.
Our subscription databases offer students a variety of reading and learning supports that are rarely found on Web sites on the open Internet, including:
Read-aloud/MP3 download - Closed captioning
Resources labeled and databases searchable by Reading Levels and Lexile scores
Embedded dictionaries - Translation (useful for ESL students and parents!)
Quizzes, Games, and various Practice and Enrichment Activities
Finally, the databases provide Research Tools such as guides, pre-formatted citations for bibliographies/works cited lists, and tools for organizing research notes.

13. Key “Ingredients” in Databases
Reading & learning supports:
Reading Levels/Lexiles (labeled/search by)
Read-aloud/MP3 audio download of text
Translation
Embedded dictionaries
Quizzes, Games, Practice/Enrichment
Research supports:
Pre-formatted Bibliography Citations, Organization tools, Research Guides
Our BCPS subscription databases contain some Key “Ingredients” which you will be able to sample when we have an opportunity to explore each database today:
Multiple media formats including text, images (photos, graphics), video, audio and interactive learning objects. Not JUST text articles!
Content from authoritative publishers, editorial review (NOT the case on the open Web) and NO Ads!
Many teachers don’t realize that database content is frequently updated, often DAILY.
The interfaces and search/browse features are more student-friendly than those of many Web sites on the open Internet which were not created with elementary school students in mind.
Digital content is aligned with content learning standards, such as for science or social studies, as well as with common core state standards.
Our subscription databases offer students a variety of reading and learning supports that are rarely found on Web sites on the open Internet, including:
Read-aloud/MP3 download - Closed captioning
Resources labeled and databases searchable by Reading Levels and Lexile scores
Embedded dictionaries - Translation (useful for ESL students and parents!)
Quizzes, Games, and various Practice and Enrichment Activities
Finally, the databases provide Research Tools such as guides, pre-formatted citations for bibliographies/works cited lists, and tools for organizing research notes.

14. Digital Content MENU (in BCPS One)
SAY: You can also access the Digital Content menu from inside BCPS One.
Just click More Resources on the left sidebar, then click on Digital Content. This will take you to the same Digital Content menu.
IMPORTANT: Teachers will also encounter direct links to specific digital content in course curriculum lessons!

15. Digital Content MENU at BCPS.org)
SAY: Here’s what’s on the Menu today! Click on the Menu to reveal the instructions.
Ask participants to click on the links shown marked with arrows to open the Digital Content Menu.
Instructor should stay on the PowerPoint for now.
SAY:
This is the easiest path for navigating to our BCPS Digital Content “menu” from the BCPS Home page.
Note that passwords are needed for using databases outside the BCPS network.
Teachers can download the passwords handout from the Intranet via the provided link from home.
Students can get the database passwords for home access on a hard-copy handout from their school Library Media Specialist or teacher.
Click to display the next Slide.

16. Accessible 24/7 from School or Home
*Unique Database Passwords required for Remote Access
SAY: Here’s what’s on the Menu today! Click on the Menu to reveal the instructions.
Ask participants to click on the links shown marked with arrows to open the Digital Content Menu.
Instructor should stay on the PowerPoint for now.
SAY:
This is the easiest path for navigating to our BCPS Digital Content “menu” from the BCPS Home page.
Note that passwords are needed for using databases outside the BCPS network.
Teachers can download the passwords handout from the Intranet via the provided link from home.
Students can get the database passwords for home access on a hard-copy handout from their school Library Media Specialist or teacher.
Click to display the next Slide.

17. Tutorials, Direct Linking instructions, and more!
On Team BCPS website …
Database SNAPSHOTS & SUPPORT RESOURCES
Tutorials, Direct Linking instructions, and more!
SAY:
You will see near the top of the portal the digital content we’ll be covering today (“Today’s Specials”) which will include:
Destiny (AKA Destiny Quest) your school’s online library catalog which can be used to locate books, eBooks, Websites, and media for homework, research and personal interests.
We will NOT be covering Safari Montage, a repository for educational videos and curriculum content that I’m sure you’re all familiar with. But, please note that the link to Safari Montage on this Digital Content portal is for teacher and student HOME ACCESS to Safari Content only; at school, teachers and students must access the Safari Montage server in their building via the Safari desktop icon.
The other databases we’ll be covering are those listed under the Grades 6-12 tab.
CLICK MOUSE to display: Featuring … Snapshots & Support Resources!
If you scroll down toward the bottom of the portal page, you will notice an icon with a camera and a tablet, where you can access Digital Content Snapshots and Support resources for every database. This link takes you to a resource page on the Digital Learning Resource wiki. Please right-click on the Snapshot and Support link now to open this wiki page in a New Tab.
Click to display the next Slide.

18. Tutorials, Direct Linking instructions, and more!
In BCPS One …
Database SNAPSHOTS & SUPPORT RESOURCES
Tutorials, Direct Linking instructions, and more!
SAY:
You will see near the top of the portal the digital content we’ll be covering today (“Today’s Specials”) which will include:
Destiny (AKA Destiny Quest) your school’s online library catalog which can be used to locate books, eBooks, Websites, and media for homework, research and personal interests.
We will NOT be covering Safari Montage, a repository for educational videos and curriculum content that I’m sure you’re all familiar with. But, please note that the link to Safari Montage on this Digital Content portal is for teacher and student HOME ACCESS to Safari Content only; at school, teachers and students must access the Safari Montage server in their building via the Safari desktop icon.
The other databases we’ll be covering are those listed under the Grades 6-12 tab.
CLICK MOUSE to display: Featuring … Snapshots & Support Resources!
If you scroll down toward the bottom of the portal page, you will notice an icon with a camera and a tablet, where you can access Digital Content Snapshots and Support resources for every database. This link takes you to a resource page on the Digital Learning Resource wiki. Please right-click on the Snapshot and Support link now to open this wiki page in a New Tab.
Click to display the next Slide.

19. Spice up digital learning in YOUR classroom with BCPS databases!
Bon Appétit!
Please complete the EXIT TICKET on the Workshop wiki tinyurl.com/BCPSdatabases6-12
For further assistance, refer to Digital Content Snapshots & Support Resources
on the ODL wiki, or consult your School Library Media Specialist
You’re probably feeling really “full” right now!
But we hope you’ll continue to sample the resources we’ve prepared for you over the summer, so that you can “Spice Up Digital Learning” in your classroom with our BCPS Digital Content!
If you need help using any of the databases we reviewed this afternoon, refer to the Digital Content Snapshots and Support Resource on the ODL wiki, or consult your school library media specialist. Your LMS is an expert on the features of these databases.
IF YOU WANT THEM TO DO AN EXIT TICKET (not required), say: Please return to the Workshop Wiki tab now, and complete the embedded Exit Ticket before you go.
Bon Appétit!