1. Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator Yellowhead Regional Library Conference
Library Learning Commons Programming with the Online Reference Centre in Secondary Schools
Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator
Yellowhead Regional Library Conference
September 18, 2105

2. What is a Learning Commons?
Inclusive shared learning space - physical and virtual
Learner-centered
Emphasizes active and collaborative engagement
Promotes global and cultural understanding
Efficient use of technology
Enables 24/7 access to knowledge
Taken from Alberta Education’s Learning Commons/School Libraries webpage

3. Something Like….

4. But…. This is my collection This is my technology This is my budget
$0.00

5. With Learn Alberta’s Online Reference Centre!
“Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now.”
With Learn Alberta’s Online Reference Centre!
–Mattie Stepanek

6. Q: What is the ORC?
A: $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*
A: Funded by a yearly Grant-In-Aid from Alberta Education to the Alberta Library (TAL)
*for the purposes of supporting K-12 patrons

7. Q: Why These Resources? A: ORC 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

8. Q: What’s in it for Librarians?
A: Direct curriculum correlations that support learning
A: Curriculum mapping for:
Elementary Science
Elementary Social (under completion)
Secondary Social and Science mapping in the works
A: Support for diverse learners
A: Access to journals like Walrus, National Geographic, School Library Journal, Men’s Health, and MacLean’s (RSS feeds can be set up)
A: Consistent and explicit update schedules
A: Access to vetted websites
A: Ability to create permalinks that can be posted on a website, blog page or sent in an blast

9. Q: How do You Access the ORC?
Go the LearnAlberta.ca
Select English or 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 a district username and password
Share your district username and password using low tech methods - do not post on an open website
for your remote username/password

10. Questions?

11. Using QR Codes in your Library Learning Commons
Not sure how to create a QR code? Learn how here…
QR a book trailer and tape the QR code in the top right-hand corner of the book
QR the link to an article about an author(s) you are highlighting
Create online book clubs and offer the choices on a bulletin board in the learning commons using QR codes
Highlight some content for Remembrance Day/Read In Week/Earth Day using a QR code
Provide a link to one of the ORC databases

12. How to Make a QR Code in 4 Quick Steps

13. TeachingBooks.net
A wealth of support materials to teach and promote books in your school (book trailers, author interviews and read ins, author audio name pronunciation, book guides and lesson plans)
Share/permalink any page using the “ ” “Permalink” “QR Flyer” or “Share this Page” features
Access Alberta specific booklists:
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers Choice Award (YRCA)
ELA Authorized Novel and Nonfiction Reading List for grades 4-12
Meet-the-Author book readings in English and French
Canadian Book Award Winners/Canadian Book and Author Resources
Create and/or request a personalized booklist

14. How to use TeachingBooks.net to Create LLC Programming
Using the Permalink option, feature a Canadian author each month on your Learning Commons webpage (link print and virtual - create a related bulletin board with a QR code to the webpage)
Feature staff pick(s) each month and provide a permalink to the book’s TeachingBook.net page (s)
Create: custom reading lists for different grades, top student selections page, or create a librarians pick page in TeachingBooks.net and permalink the page to your LLC webpage - mimic this in the physical space
Support classroom novel studies and/or book clubs with the support materials in TeachingBooks.net
Create a LLC Virtual Book Club using content from TeachingBooks.net
Promote Rocky Mountain Book Award selection using the support materials in TeachingBooks.net (virtually on your webpage and in library print collection also)
Promote Young Readers Choice Award selection using the support materials in TeachingBooks.net (virtually on your webpage and in library print collection also)

15. Visual Thesaurus
6 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 - Use this for an LLC contest (see next slide)
Personalized word lists and spelling bees*
Vocabgrabber*
*With personal account
Creating an account a new feature – will not do today but have included steps
Homepage:
1) Word of the day, week or month sign up top right hand side
2) Featured word lists just below word of the day
3) General article top left hand side
4) Spelling Bee and Vocabgrabber found in the centre of the homepage
Educators tab along the top grey links bar
1) Educator article changes monthly, found in top left hand side of Educators page
2) Search lesson plans (be aware there is US Content)
3) PD videos found on the lower right hand side
1. Great for introducing resource to staff members
2. Great for reminding yourself how to do something
3. Instructions for creating word lists/spelling bees included 4) Spelling Bee and Vaocabgrabber found in the centre of the Educator’s pages
Search pleasant
Settings along the top in grey
Adjust for SMART Board
Identify word relationships to target
Add in other languages
2) Right click on any word to hear it pronounced or to pull up images
3) Words sorted by verbs, adjectives, etc. (along the right hand side of the screen)
1. Can turn on/off verbs, adverbs, etc.
2. Coloured circles for each of the words tells you what kind of word
3. Can focus on a specific definition (found along the right hand side)
4. Click on a word to find words related to that specific word
4) Can browse history (top left side of the screen)
5) Print/Share options along the top of the screen

16. How to Create and LLC Contest Using Visual Thesaurus
Sign up for the word of the day
Select a word appropriate to your division ( if multiple divisions, pick one for each division)
Create a word map of the selected word(s)
Print off the map only without definitions (in the settings slide down menu at the top of the word map)
Use the photocopier to blow up the word map
Create a QR code taking users to Visual Thesaurus (see using QR codes in your LLC)
Create a bulletin board(s) with word map(s) and QR code as hint
Users enter the contest by providing the definition, and related sentence
Draw names Friday morning and announce winners - prizes can include sitting in comfortable seating for reading time, first check out of new book of their choice, candy, etc.

17. Explora
New interface for all three EBSCO resources - Advanced Placement Source, Canadian Reference Centre and Literary Reference Centre
Numerous publications with RSS feeds to save budget dollars
Ability to create permalinks for webpage/blog or blast
Layout aligns better with youth searching trends

18. Advanced Placement Source
Ideal support for IB/AP/-30 student
Change the language of interface at the top right hand side of the screen
Text translation for 32 different languages
Customizable listen feature available for articles in HTML format, MP3 downloads also available
Embedded citation tools (ABNT, AMA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, Vancouver)
SmartText searching to find similar articles along the left-hand side
Create notes within articles and save to personal folder for access from anywhere
Create an RSS feed for a search to continue to track new information
Share/permalink any article using the “permalink” features long the right=hand side of the screen
Some academic journals in original French and Spanish
This resource is quite academic, and does not have some of the embedded read aloud features found in the other EBSCO resources. It is ideal for IB and AP students, and have had feedback that -1 students can also navigate and use it.
Homepage:
Along top blue bar of the screen on the left hand side search for publications
great for teachers since there is a large collection of journals included with back issues
Can sign up for RSS feeds for different publications
Along the top blue bar on the right hand side change the interface language
Just below the search box there are a variety of options for searching
Advanced search allows you to select date ranges, etc.
Visual Search provides the information in relevancy boxes for a more visual search result
4) Just above the search box you can “choose the database” to allow searching in just APS as well as CRC and CPV
Searching:
Once a search is executed, you can see along the left hand side of the screen all of the different kinds of sources available
Includes the option to only select scholarly peer reviewed articles
Within the Articles:
Right hand side provides tools like cite (many formats options), export, save, etc.
Along the right hand side it provides permalinks – this is important for sharing the article on eTeacher page or teacher website
With An Account:
Add an article to your folder
Take notes within an article and save the notes

19. Canadian Reference Centre
Change the language of the interface at the top right-hand side of the screen
Text translation to 32 different languages
Customizable listen feature available for articles in HTML format , MP3 downloads also available
Embedded citation tools (ABNT, AMA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, Vancouver)
SmartText searching to find similar articles along the right-hand side
Create notes within articles and save to a personal folder for access from anywhere
Create RSS feed for a search to continue to track new information
Share/permalink any articles using the “Permalink” feature along the right-hand side of the screen
Search for professional “publications” including Canadian Libraries, School Library Journal, Walrus and subscribe to RSS feeds
Canadian Reference Centre
Homepage:
Along top blue bar of the screen on the left hand side search for publications
great for teachers since there is a large collection of journals included with back issues
Can sign up for RSS feeds for different publications
Along the top blue bar on the right hand side change the interface language
Just below the search box there are a variety of options for searching
Advanced search allows you to select date ranges, etc.
Visual Search provides the information in relevancy boxes for a more visual search result
4) Just above the search box you can “choose the database” to allow searching in just APS as well as CRC and CPV
Searching:
Once a search is executed, you can see along the left hand side of the screen all of the different kinds of sources available, including peer reviewed
Within the Articles:
Periodical and Reference articles will have:
Customizable read aloud feature – allows you to select accent, and when you click on the cog you can select rate of speed and word/sentence highlighting options
Text translation available for 32 languages
Right hand side provides tools like cite (many formats options), export, save, etc.
Along the right hand side it provides permalinks – this is important for sharing the article on eTeacher page or teacher website
With An Account:
Add an article to your folder
Take notes within an article and save the notes
Canadian Reference Centre Student Research Centre
Search by topic along the left hand side of the screen - wide array of topics including math which is unusual
Limit your search right on the homepage
Top searches for all CRC Student Research Centre users just below the topic listing
Along the top of the search box you can change the kind of search you perform
Very top right hand side of the screen change the interface language
Does not have built in listen and text translation features

20. Literary Reference Centre
Homepage includes full text classics, citation help, research guides, featured work, author and content, etc.
Customizable listen feature available for articles available in HTML format, MP3 downloads also available
SmartText searching to find similar articles along the left-hand side
Create notes within article and save to a personal folder for access from anywhere
Create an RSS feed for a search to continue to track new information
Share/permalink any aricle using the “Permalink” feature along the right-hand side of the screen
Search for professional “Publications” to stay up-to-date

21. Using EBSCO Resources to Create LLC Programming
Support classroom learning:
Create permalinks to related articles about an author classes are reading/studying
Create permalinks to articles related to Social Studies topics
Highlight a staff member’s favourite author each month - have students enter a comest to guess which staff member belongs to which author

22. National Geographic Kids Virtual Library
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)
Include listen feature

23. LLC Idea - National Geographic Kids Virtual Library
Have National Geographic Kids running on iPads instead of print - better yet have both
Have a featured article on the LLC Smart board for library time - allow students to interact with the SMART board to learn more about their book selection
Use copy-right friendly images from this resource in LLC space
Direct students to this resource for copy-right friendly images for presentations
Direct students to this resource for additional content on inquiry topics

24. Support for School Staff Using the ORC
ORC Support Site
ORC Listserv
Links
Contact

25. 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 the ORC Twitter and Facebook accounts

26. ORC Listserv Weekly email updates organized by E/J/S:
New resources and features
province-wide trials
surveys
Free PD opportunities
No s during school breaks
Membership benefits for every 50th person to join
or visit the ORC Support Site to join today

27. Links to Check Out ORC SUpport Site www.onlinereferencecentre.ca
ORC Listserv
ORC Facebook
http:
ORC Twitter
@ORC_AB

28. Contact For more information or to schedule a school
presentation contact
Jamie Davis, ORC Co-ordinator
Call Ext. 229 OR