1. Databases for Digital Learning in Grades K-5
WELCOME!
Did you sign in and take handouts?
Please access the Workshop Wiki
Review the Workshop Description and Agenda
PREPARATION:
Put out handouts (Database Passwords sheet and Notes chart) and Sign In Sheet
In an Internet browser, open the following sites on separate tabs:
Workshop Wiki page -
BCPS Digital Content portal –
Digital Content Snapshots & Support Resources page -
Open the INSTRUCTOR’s PowerPoint Presentation from the Workshop Wiki page.
Project this slide for participants as they arrive.
To begin:
Ask participants to close all other windows & programs (including !) leaving only the Workshop Wiki page open.
Display the Workshop wiki page. Give a quick a overview of the contents. Note that there is no need for participants to open the PowerPoint presentation.
IF you want to have participants use the Today’s Meet backchannel, direct them to right-click  open the link in a New Tab, and type in their name to join. Tell them that they can type comments or questions throughout the workshop as they wish. Questions may be addressed by the instructor later in the workshop, or afterwards if time does not permit.

2. Cooking Up Digital Learning with BCPS Databases for K-5
Use BCPS-licensed digital content as the key “ingredients” for creating rich “recipes” for student research, reading, and learning!
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 BCPS Office of Digital Learning
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3. Professional Development Objective
Teachers will be empowered to use and have students use digital content by exploring BCPS-licensed databases and their features.
Read the PD Objective.

4. Appetizer What is Digital Content?
Online databases, library catalogs, media repositories
Fee-based subscriptions
User authentication or log on is required
AKA the “Invisible Internet” or “Deep Web”
Not accessible on the Free Internet
Offer an “appetizer” by defining/describing what we mean by “digital content.”

5. Food for Thought
What have been some barriers to having students use digital content in your classroom? How is STAT likely to change the role of digital content in your lessons and classroom?
Pose the questions on the slide (read aloud) as “food for thought.”
Possible responses to some barriers:
Lack of student access to computers? MAP testing? Databases not featured in curriculum?
Lack of teacher familiarity? Lack of student familiarity?
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 opposed to paper resource sheets, textbooks, etc.

6. DATABASES are GOOD FOR YOU and TASTY TOO!
“Today’s students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors.” –- Marc Prensky, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
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.
Joe’s Non-Netbook

7. “Can’t I just Google it?”
DATABASES are GOOD FOR YOU and TASTY TOO!
“Can’t I just Google it?”
-- BCPS students
“Can you trust that the person putting information up at REALLY knows what he or she is talking about?” -- Librarian, Boulder Public Library Website
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.
We need to show students the value of using databases, and how they can benefit from 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]
Students promoting Databases:
Mr. Database Man

8. Databases support these goals and standards:
15 K-5 Databases
Databases support these goals and standards:
BCPS 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
Common Core State Standards
- College & Career Readiness - Complex Text/Nonfiction
- Close Analytic Reading - Writing to Source
Brief & Extended Research - Vocabulary
Content Curriculum Standards – Various subjects
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.

9. Key “Ingredients” in Databases
Multiple media formats, interactivity
Authoritative publishers . Ad-free
Current, frequently updated content (often daily)
Student-friendly interfaces & Search/Browse features
State Standards-aligned (Content/Common Core)
Reading and learning supports:
Read-aloud/MP3 download - Closed captioning
Reading Levels/Lexiles (labeled and searchable by)
Embedded dictionaries - Translation
Quizzes, Games, Practice/Enrichment Activities
Research tools:
Research Guides, Citations, Organization tools
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.

10. Digital Content MENU (BCPS.org)
Accessible 24/7 from School or Home
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.

11. Digital Content MENU (BCPS One)
Accessible 24/7 from School or Home
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.

12. Grades K-6 Digital Content
Featuring …
SNAPSHOTS & SUPPORT RESOURCES!
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 databases we’ll be covering are those listed under the Grades K-6 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.

13. Teacher’s “Cookbook” SAY:
You can think of this Digital Content Snapshots & Support Resources page, which features Guides, Tutorials, and Videos, as your “Cookbook” for using the databases.
The Snapshots include information about creating Direct Links to specific database content, and how to find Lexiles or Reading Levels for content in each database.
Now let’s go back to the Database Portal tab. I will be highlighting some of each database’s content and features, and then you’ll have an opportunity to explore each database on your own.
INSTRUCTOR: Now give a brief on-screen “tour” of each database, highlighting key features and learning supports. Do a demo “search” on a topic included in Elementary curriculum, such as Maryland, colonial america, native americans, climate change/global warming, etc.
Begin by showing how to search for evaluated Web sites in Destiny Quest AND from the WebPath Express link in Destiny “Classic.”
Demo Discovery Education only if time permits.
If time is tight, demo only one version of Brain Pop (Brain Pop or Brain Pop Jr.). Most teachers are already using BrainPop, so just point out the “extras” which are often overlooked, and maybe the Closed Captioning feature. You might also point out on the home access Passwords sheet, that the usernames for the BrainPop databases have changed since last year.
Demo all the other databases listed for K-6.

14. Spice Up Digital Learning with BCPS Digital Content!
Bon Appétit!
Complete the EXIT TICKET on the Workshop tinyurl.com/databasesk5
For help with BCPS Databases, consult your School Library Media Specialist or contact the Office of Digital Learning:
Kelly Ray, Resource Teacher
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 digital content, you may consult your school library media specialist or contact the Office of Digital Learning. My address and our Office phone number are listed here and on the Workshop Wiki page. You have the Tiny URL for that page on your Notes handout.
Please return to the Workshop Wiki tab now, and complete the embedded Exit Ticket before you go.
Bon Appétit!