SD Library Challenge - Lesson 10 - Wrap up!

1. I found the lessons on Ancestry.com and the information found in WorldCat to be the most interesting to me, however, I plan to use many of the resources we learned about in this class.

2. I recently surveyed my staff, and I am offering workshops for graduate credit based on their needs.
I already have 2 classes lined up for this Spring, however, I plan to offer a course this summer titled "Research Made Easy" for our teachers. In this class, I plan to use many of the resources we covered in this class as well as others located within the South Dakota State Library. These are great ways to get our teachers involved and more educated about the SDSL and comfortable with using them in their classes.

SD Library Challenge - Lesson 9 - Ancestry Library, Heritage Quest, and more

Ancestry.com
1. When I searched for my name, it brought goosebumps to me to find several people with the exact same name as I have. I was actually the third one listed. When I clicked on my name, I found this site has me listed with an old address. There were two links that said there was more information, so I clicked on them. What I found was one led to my maiden name with the address I grew up at, and the address of my sorority in college. The other link gave my married name with the address of the first house my husband and I bought. I found it interesting that it didn't list the first address I had after college, nor did it have our most recent address - which we've had for 5 years.

2. I searched for all of my grandparents, but didn't have much luck. One set of grandparents came up on a general search at this site, but they didn't show up in the census. The other grandparents I looked up, I didn't have enough information to narrow it down and find them. I find this to be sort of addicting, as I want to keep searching. This also really makes me interested in working to help others who are searching for birth parents or adopted children.

3. When searching for "South Dakota" in the location box, it turned up over 9 million results.When I click to choose the "Pictures", the search increases to over 220 million. I assume this means there could be several pictures for the same person in the registry.

Heritage Quest
4. I had a lot of trouble getting in to this site. None of the links on the class page work for me. I tried to do a search for the Heritage Quest site, and it took me to the state website. From there, it took a few clicks to get me in to a place I assume was the site I was supposed to be at. When searching for "Wagner, SD" it turned up over 1200 results. The page will only list 1000 at a time, so I needed to refine my search. I didn't know how to refine it more, so I changed my search and tried a location where I thought I could find some family from the early 1900s. Again...no luck.

I changed my search to look for a book, and searched for "Wagner, SD". Nothing came up, so I broadened my search to "South Dakota". Finally, I got over 2,400 results, mostly history of the counties. I clicked on The History of Charles Mix County and found an interesting book with 185 pages. I look forward to glimpsing through this book to see if I can find anything more local to the Wagner area. At first glance, I did notice there is information about the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation, so I will begin reading there.

Sanborn Maps
5. I was disappointed to find that Wagner wasn't listed on this site, but there were a few towns nearby. I chose Armour, since it was the closest. I found that the map shows different city limits than what there is today, and even some of the streets have changed. In addition, the courthouse is still there, and it is still in use today.

SD Library Challenge - Lesson 8 - WorldCat

1. Other than searching this database by keyword, you can search by some of the better known fields such as title, publisher, subject, or author. However, you can also search for other fields such as musical composition, language phrase, and material type.

2. I searched for the book Divergent since it is popular with my middle school girls, and it is coming out in the theaters. The first result turned up in 874 libraries worldwide. However, I noticed that looking down the list of search results, it is also available in other languages, which may change the spelling of the title to be appropriate for thier language. All results are by the same author, so I'm confident they are the same book - just published in another language.

When clicking on the #1 result, I found the list of libraries appeared to be in order closest to my location. However, when I clicked on the first one, it said "Page no longer available", and the second one said "This item is no longer in this database". My third result, the Mitchell Public Library, came up to be a positive search, and I could locate the book there. I'm sure this book is in many, many more libraries in South Dakota, but I find it interesting that the libraries aren't updating their inventories on this database. However, many public libraries may not check out books and mail them to people requesting to loan copies. That would explain why many school and public libraries are not listed.

3. The class descriptor for Divergent is LC: PZ7.R7375; Dewey: [Fic]. Clicking on the author, Veronica Roth, the database says she has 255 publications - 165 books, 47 internet publications, 37 sound publications, 3 visual publications, 2 serial publications, and 1 computer publication. By looking over the titles, it seems that these are a lot of the same title repeated or offered in a different format. I noticed that many of the descriptors or subjects for this title are either Identity (Psychology), Family, Courage, or Social Classes. I clicked on the first one - Identity - and found a list of books on this similar subject. I was really excited about this, because I have read this series, and wondered if there are other books similar to this one that I would really enjoy reading as well. I will definitely use this feature of WorldCat!

SD Library Challenge - Lesson 7 - EBooks on EbscoHost

1.       The first topic I searched was “Scholarships”. On the first screen, the book Free Stuff for Busy Moms caught my eye so I clicked on that one. I found it interesting that when it took me to the page with information about that book, it also used my search term and gave me a list of relevant pages to look for that topic in this book. This is very helpful because it saves the reader time by not having to search through the entire book for the information they are looking for.

I found it a little tricky to do searches for subjects with more than one word. After trying several different searches, I believe it is easier to search with the general search feature, instead of using the Advanced tab.

2.       There are several recommendations for books and materials on the Constitution. Here are a few I found interesting:

·         Foner, E., Garraty, J., & Society of American, H. (1991). The Reader's Companion to American History. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.

·         Bergman, P., & Berman-Barrett, S. J. (2000). The Criminal Law Handbook : Know Your Rights, Survive the System. Berkeley, Calif: Nolo Press.

·         Stewart, J., Burger, W. E., & Macalester, C. (1987). The Constitution, the Law, and Freedom of Expression, 1787-1987. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.

·         The Constitution of the United States of America. (n.d). Champaign, Ill. [P.O. Box 2782, Champaign 61825]: Project Gutenberg.

3.       When I did an advanced search for a Publisher with “Nebraska”, I got several results from the University of Nebraska. Many of the texts that appeared in my list were on the topic of Native Americans and their history. I could really use this for helping teachers integrate the Oceti Sakowin standards in their classes. When I searched for a Publisher with “Oklahoma”, I got a lot more results, but of similar content. The most interesting text I found was called Nothing But Prairie and Sky: Life on the Dakota Range in the Early Days. I have never liked history classes, but this book is told in more of a storybook format, and looks like I would really enjoy reading it.

 

SD Library Challenge - Lesson 6 - Gale Virtual Reference Library

1. The book I chose was Scholarships, Fellowships, and Loans. I chose this book because I am currently spying for my son to go to college and at the same time, working on finishing up my Doctoral degree. Soon, I will also have my daughter in college. As we all know, college is expensive, and I am always trying to find scholarships for the three of us. We have had to use some Federal financial assistance, as well as a loan, but I would like to find opportunities for Scholarships to help us with the funding that we wouldn't have to be held accountable for in the future.This book could be useful to help me find scholarships we could apply for.

2. When I did a search for zinc, there were many book titles and articles that appeared. One in particularthat caught my attention was an article on an acne diet. Raising teenagers, it has been a periodic dilema to try to cure breakouts. I read this article to determine what some solutions may be. The article did mention many different solutions for eating habits, but only listed zinc as one of the vitamins that can help. It appears to me that the article was populated in my search just because the word "zinc" appears in the article - and wasn't necessarily the subject of the article.

Next, I searched for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Again, I found a lengthy list of books and articles, but what I found interesting is that books and articles appeared that had similar subjects of those throughout the story of Huckleberry Finn, such as censorship, race, and prejudice. I clicked on the first article that was in my list, and found that it was an article that explained what the story of Huckleberry Finn was about. I really like the listen feature of this site! I have had to read lengthy articles in the past, and it was cumbersome to try to figure out how to have the text read. (I like to listen to the articles while I'm driving in my car.) I found this site's "Listen" feature to be easy, and the voice was pleasant to listen to. I would definitely use this feature when doing research.

3. First, I visited Mrs. Kafka's blog, and read that she was interested in listening to just a particular selection of text. I then read the comments that followed, and was glad to discover a post explaining how to do just that. This was very helpful, as I was thinking the same thing when I experimented with the "Listen" feature. Next, I looked at LuckyMom's blog, and learned of more options available with the "Listen" feature. I am eager now to go back in and check out the colors and speed settings.

SD Library Challenge - Lesson 5 - ProQuest

1.       I did a search for Neonatal Nursery Care, and found that most of the results that came up were scholarly articles. These would be a little advanced for elementary and middle school students, but possibly could be used for higher levels of high school classes doing research. I could also refine my search to find reports and magazine articles on my topic, which would help give more information to use in a research paper. Each of the articles also give a link to the citation and abstract for the article, so a student could see if this is information they could use without having to read a lengthy article.

2.       I commented on the “Faith Library” blog – because it was the first one listed and I thought maybe most people would skip the first one. I also commented on Mike Sanders’ blog. His blog post for this lesson was interesting, as he tried to do it with voice recognition software.

3.       First I tried to search for Technology Integration and got zero results. So, I changed the search to find the subject “Technology Integration”. Still I had no luck. I changed my topic to just “technology”, which brought up various different kinds of technology – not necessarily pertaining to education or technology integration in classrooms. I tried another search for “Computer Education” in the title, and found only 2 results – neither of which would be useful in finding information about technology integration in classrooms. Even in my Doctoral studies, I was never satisfied with ProQuest for finding information I needed. I think it is too broad, and doesn’t refine searches as easily as other sites. The last search I did was with “Computer Education” in the subject and found 14 results. Many of these could be useful in my research. I think if I were to use ProQuest for my research, I would have to take advantage of the feature that saves your search results for you. This way when you are doing various searches, you are able to go back and easily access the information you found useful.

SD Library Challenge - Lesson 4 - SIRS

SIRS Discoverer

1.       I did a search for “elephants”. When SIRS Discoverer brought up several resources, I found that the search provided a list articles and also provided the Lexile score of the articles. I noticed that at the bottom of the search results, a student can search for different levels of reading difficulty, as well as ranking their search by Lexile scores. The resource list also gives readers an icon to recognize whether the article contains graphics, activities, etc. When I clicked on an article, I noticed at the bottom of the article it provided the proper MLA citation for students who are doing research papers.

2.       Country Facts: I selected “Europe”, and then “Italy”. This database is so easy to use and provides so much information that kids can use such as population, climate, size, capital, holidays, agriculture, languages, and much more. The graphics shows the country flag and a map. There is also a timeline noting important dates in history for the country.

Maps of the World: The historical maps would be very beneficial for social studies and history teachers. I also like the outline maps, which could be used for students to study identifying states, countries, or continents.

iThink Skills Tutor: This is an amazing tutorial for kids to watch so they can better understand the steps for doing a research project. It is very kid-friendly, and easy to follow.

SIRS Issues Researcher

 

1.       I chose “sports” because I was curious if this would just contain information about the Olympics which are taking place right now. I was impressed to find other current topics in sports such as capping salaries for pro athletes, whether cheerleading should be considered a sport, and performance enhancing drugs. This site would be very useful for students who cannot think of a topic for research. By using the leading issues, students can find a topic and then find resources on that topic. Everything they may need, including timelines and statistics can be found on this site by using the article links or the research tools.

2.       Curriculum Pathfinders: I chose “Math Games”, and found that not only does this give me the links to websites, but also shows an image of the site. This is helpful if I am looking for activities for my kids to do in the computer lab because the image helps me see the approximate age level of the activity without having to click on every link to find that information.

SD Library Challenge Lesson 3 - Learning Express Library

Learning Express Library

1.       I was able to create an account in the Learning Express Library.

2.       I chose an exam for Dental Nursing Assistants. It was a difficult exam, since I have no experience in that field. However, the setup of the exam, and the program was very user friendly and easy to administer. I really like the immediate feedback that the user receives, and the ability to see which problems they got correct.

3.       I’m not as impressed with the Career courses on this site. The two different courses I looked at were 272and 401 pages long in .pdf format. If I were trying to get help in my career search, I would rather get videos, tutorials, or smaller step-by-step handouts. I wouldn’t have time to read “books” about the information I am seeking.

4.       I found an e-book on Career Changes. It was interesting that there was an e-book designed for teachers who may be seeking a career change, although I thought is seemed outdated. Many of the careers it focused on were writing, journalism, counseling, or teaching in a different environment such as abroad or online. I was more interested in getting information for those educators who may have or be seeking higher degrees, and the fields which may utilize many of the same prior education experiences.

SD Library Challenge Lesson 2 - Chilton Library & Mango Languages

Chilton Library

1.       I drive a 2009 Ford Edge. According to the Chilton Library Maintenance, three things I should do every 30,000 miles are:

·         Replace engine oil and filter

·         Inspect windshield wiper spray and operation

·         Top off all fluids

2.       The most recent Technical Service Bulletin was issued on May 27, 2013 for the following concerns: transmission slipping or neutral-out, 5th gear start from stop, backup camera on in Drive, or speed control dropping out or inoperative.

3.       In the repair tab, there is a lot of information about the brakes for my car. I noticed there are not only general information sheets available, but there are instructions for removal or installation of different features that pertain to the brakes, and there are even videos demonstrating the location of certain parts. This would be very helpful for those who are trying to self-inspect their vehicle for troubles and/or repairs.

 

Mango Languages

1.       I had some trouble getting past the homepage of the language I chose to find information. I chose the Czech language, and on the cover page I learned that it is spoken by 12 million people throughout the Czech Republic. I also learned that there are many narrow medieval lanes as well as the largest castle complex in the world in Prague. My husband and I visited Prague about five years ago, so I would like to keep looking and see what else this site may have for information about some of the places in Prague and other cities in the Czech Republic.

2.       I chose the Czech language, and I was able to navigate through the first language lesson, learning to say “hello” and to introduce myself to others in Czech. I’m not sure how long I’ll remember it, but I am interested in learning more of this language from my heritage.

SDSL Basic Challenge Assignment 1a

1. I found a picture of a zebra, and I learned that zebras live in the deserts and grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. Using World Book Kids is very easy. The links and pictures are bright and colorful,and would be perfect for my elementary students in the computer lab.

   
2. Using World Book Students I found a lot more information about the zebra, and the article was clearly written for an older audience than that on World Book Kids. This site would be better for my middle school and high school students.

3. Doing a search for Italy, I found a lot of information given at the World Book Advanced site. I noticed that when clicking on the article about Italy, on the right side of the screen there is a link to the South Dakota Content Standards that are covered using this article. I also notice that this site gives additional resources available about Italy, making this a very useful site for students who are beginning to do research.

4. World Book Discover offers the article in other languages such as Spanish and French. In addition, there is a feature to enable a reader to have the article read aloud.

Welcome to my blog. I am new to this, but hopefully will be able to post several blogs about my research soon! Happy reading!