[kids-lib] 3 Resources: Ben's Guide to US Gov, CSM's Digital Compass, & "What is a Periodicals DB?" Tutorials

[Jennifer Maurer]

Please pardon the cross-posting. I thought these resources might be helpful in a public library setting, too.

Happy last week of School Library Month (http://www.ala.org/aasl/slm)! Here are three resources that your staff and patrons might want to know about.

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government: Updated Website from Government Printing Office

"GPO's educational Web site, Ben's Guide, has been redesigned and is now available as Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government<http://www.fdlp.gov/index.php?subid=391&option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&urlid=2373&mailid=557>. Named for one of our Nation's most influential Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government provides educational content for the public on the workings of the U.S. Government and U.S. history, with a focus on civics. Some highlights of the new site include:

*         Enhanced site content

*         Modernized look and feel

*         New images

*         Reorganized layout for a more intuitive learning experience

*         An educational, interactive game"

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
http://www.fdlp.gov/news-and-events/2243-gpo-launches-ben-s-guide-to-the-u-s-government

Digital Compass: New Interactive from Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media has a new tool, Digital Compass, designed to help middle school students develop digital citizenship skills. "Learn the fundamentals of digital citizenship through animated, choose-your-own-adventure interactive experiences, designed for grades 6-9. Invite students to explore digital dilemmas, make good (and not-so-good) decisions, and try out possible solutions through stories and mini-games - all without risking their real-world reputations." There's already a game for elementary students in grades 3-5: Digital Passport. Both can be played online or via the related app.

            https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digital-compass
http://www.digitalpassport.org/educator/materials
https://www.digitalpassport.org/educator-registration
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum

"What is a Periodicals Database?": Two Tutorials
Through OSLIS, your students and you have access to periodicals databases from Gale. Your district or school might subscribe to similar databases from EBSCO or ProQuest. But, what is a periodicals database, anyway? (Basically, it's a big pot of informational text, or nonfiction, with articles gathered from newspapers, magazines, journals - that's the periodicals part - that is topped off with content from some reference books and multimedia sources.) Here are two short tutorials designed to answer that question and explain why good researchers don't just rely on the open Internet for sources. The tutorials are probably best for middle and high schoolers. Or, some of your teachers might benefit from watching them.

Gale's Your Library vs. Open Web
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N3ircMFy3c&feature=youtu.be (Gale's YouTube channel)

            Collaborative Library Instruction Project's (CLIP) What is a Library Database?
http://www.clipinfolit.org/tutorials/what-is-a-library-database

FYI,
Jen

Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
Oregon State Library
250 Winter Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503.378.5011
jennifer.maurer at state.or.us<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>

OSLIS || www.oslis.org
Learn to research. Research to learn.

Celebrate School Library Month<http://www.ala.org/aasl/slm>!

[SLM2015b]

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