FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO AUTHORITATIVE RESOURCES FOR GRADES 4-9

Khalsa School Calgary Staff PD Day

January 30, 2015

Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator

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 *

Funded by a yearly Grant-In-Aid from Alberta Education to The Alberta Library (TAL)

Return on Investment (ROI) calculation of 3:1 for Alberta Schools

*for the purposes of supporting K-12 patrons

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS

ACCESS THE ORC?ORC Resources: Provide authoritative, age appropriate, engaging,

curricular-aligned content Allow students to become familiar and comfortable with

the kinds of resources and searching practises that an integral part of 21st century learning Google & Wikipedia are the tip of the searching and

information literacy “iceberg” Are time savers once you are familiar with using 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 Internet access

WHY SHOULD SCHOOL STAFF

ACCESS THE ORC?ORC Resources Provide: Access to ready-to-use or customizable lesson plans,

teaching materials and direct curricular correlations Access to journals like Walrus, National Geographic,

National Geographic Kids, Men’s Health, and Maclean’s just to name a few (RSS feeds available)

Consistent and explicit update schedules Access to vetted websites Ability to create permalinks that can be posted on a

website or in an email blast

ACCESSING THE ORC Go to LearnAlberta.ca Select English or French Click on “Online Reference Centre” in the tab

along the top of the screen In school automatic authentication Access outside of school requires a remote

username/password Khalsa School Username: LA610 Password: 6101

Share your district username/password using low tech methods

Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca for your remote username/password

ANY QUESTIONS?

RESOURCES TO SUPPORT LITERACY AND LANGUAGE LEARNING SKILLS

TRUEFLIX Newly created sister resource to BookFLIX

designed for grades 3-6 Nonfiction content divided into 2 broad

themes with 3-5 subthemes Each ebook includes an introductory video to

help build background knowledge of topic Human voice read along feature Interactive table of contents for each ebook Essential inquiry questions and project ideas

for every ebook

TEACHINGBOOKS.NET Bring an author into your classroom any time you

need Search for Meet-the-Author Movies or Book

Readings, Author Audio Name Pronunciation, book guides and lesson plans

Access Alberta specific booklists: Pacific Northwest Library Association Young

Readers Choice Award (YRCA)ELA Authorized Novel and Nonfiction Reading

Lists grades 4-12Meet-the-author book readings in FrenchCanadian Book Award Winners/Canadian Book

and Author Resources Personalized Book Lists upon request

LITERARY REFERENCE CENTRE

Recommended for grades 7-12 Customizable listen feature (where HTML format

available) Text translation into 32 languages (where HTML

format available) SMARTTEXT searching capabilities to find similar

articles Create notes within an article and save to an account Create article permalinks for sharing Search for professional “Publications” and subscribe

to RSS feeds to stay up-to-date Same publisher of Canadian Reference Centre and

Advanced Placement Source including similar features

VISUAL THESAURUS Recommended for grades 3-12 Correct word pronunciation in human voice for

every word Images related to words with right click (images are

google images and not vetted) Subscribe to age specific word of the day on

homepage Access professional development videos in the

“Educators” link to maximize the features of this resource

Personalized word lists and spelling bees* Vocabgrabber* Instructions for setting up a personal account

included in the next four slides*With personal account

STEPS FOR SETTING UP A PERSONAL VISUAL THESAURUS ACCOUNT

RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM

POWERKNOWLEDGE SUITE

Recommended for grades 1-6 Content divided into 3 databases: Earth

Space, Life Science and Physical Science Includes a customizable read aloud feature Short, segmented articles with introductory

videos to build background knowledge Embedded science experiments and

educational games Aligns with 95% of the grade 3-6 science

curriculum and 87% of grade 1-6 science curriculum

POWERKNOWLEDGE EARTH SPACE SCIENCECurriculum areas covered:

Grade 4 Light and Shadows, and Waste and Our World

Grade 5 Weather Watch, and Wetland Ecosystems

Social Studies mapping skillsGrade 6 Sky Science

Grade 1 Seasonal Changes Grade 2 Exploring Liquids Grade 3 Rocks and Minerals

POWERKNOWLEDGE LIFE SCIENCECurriculum areas covered:

Grade 4 Plant Growth and Changes, Wetland Ecosystems and Waste and Our World

Grade 6 Trees and Forests

Grade 1 Needs of Animals and Plants Grade 2 Small Flying and Crawling Animals Grade 3 Animal Life Cycles and Hearing and

Sound

POWERKNOWLEDGE PHYSICAL SCIENCECurriculum areas covered:

Grade 4 Wheels and LeversGrade 5 Electricity and Magnetism and

Classroom ChemistryGrade 6 Trees and Forests

Grade 1 Needs of Animals and Plants Grade 2 Hot and Cold Temperatures and

Magnetism

SCIENCE IN CONTEXT Recommended for grades 6-12 Customizable listen feature, articles can be downloaded to MP3

format Text translation to 13 languages Share or permalink capabilities (Bookmark) Featured videos, news, and stories on homepage Jump to related articles within the article Advanced search allows for Boolean, and content selection

(basic/intermediate/advanced) Search specific learner outcomes from a variety of Alberta curricula

to find supporting articles in “Curriculum Standards” Featured videos, news and topics on homepage (clickable navigation) Access thousands of newspaper articles, magazines, reference

materials, videos, images and websites Same publisher (same functionality) as other In Context resources

TEEN HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Database addresses teen health and wellness issues for students in grades 7-12

Straightforward discussion of all teen health and wellness topics

Links to the high school Science curriculum Customizable read aloud feature and text translation Many interactive features in the database that allow

students to interact and contribute: Student polls on current topics Share personal stories and read stories from other teens Create and submit videos on various health and wellness

topics Submit questions to Dr. Jan and receive answers back

Current in the news topics changed frequently

RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA

Recommended for grades 5-12 New updated interface very aesthetic and functional Multiple pathways to accessing information View personal accounts from veterans, view videos, articles,

images, and digital exhibits Wealth of Canadian content to support the Social Studies

curriculum: Grade 4 - Geography, Geology, Natural Resources, Provincial & National Parks,

Hoodoos, Dinosaurs in Alberta, Foothills, Rocky Mountains, etc. Grade 5 - WWI, WWII, John A. Macdonald & George Etienne Cartier,

Confederation, Canada’s National Railway, Great Depression, Famous Five, Lester B. Pearson, Statute of Westminster, Potlatch, etc.

Grade 6 - Local Government, Lieutenant Governor Grade 7 - Pre-Confederation/Confederation, Immigration/Migration Grade 9 - Canadian citizenship, Government, Charter of Rights & Freedoms

Check the Historica Canada icon for extra content including the Citizenship Challenge (grade 9)

CANADA IN CONTEXT Recommended for grades 6-12 Includes Canadian content! Featured videos, news, and stories on homepage Customizable listen feature Articles downloadable to MP3 Text translation to 13 languages Share or permalink capabilities (Bookmark) Featured videos, news, and stories on homepage Jump to related articles within the article Advanced search allows for Boolean, and content selection

(basic/intermediate/advanced) Search specific learner outcomes from a variety of Alberta

curricula to find supporting articles in “Curriculum Standards” Same publisher (same functionality) as other In Context

resources

CANADIAN REFERENCE CENTRE

Recommended for grades 7-12 Customizable listen feature (where HTML format

available) Text translation into 32 languages (where HTML

format available) SMARTTEXT searching capabilities to find similar

articles Create notes within an article and save to an account Create article permalinks for sharing Search for professional “Publications” including

Canadian Libraries, School Library Journal, and Walrus with a subscribe to RSS feature

CULTUREGRAMS Kids and Provinces Editions ideal for students in grades 2-6 World Edition ideal for students in grades 7-12 Detailed information on more that 200 countries Includes articles written by in country consultants with

information about: country background, people customs and courtesies, lifestyle and society

Customizable read aloud feature Photo and video gallery included, in addition to interviews from

individuals of varied ages, and information about the famous people

Cultural recipes included for each country Create customizes graphs and tables using current data from

the countries and provinces Tools include world time, distance calculator, and currency

converter

WORLD HISTORY IN CONTEXT Recommended for grade 7-12 Customizable listen feature, articles can be downloaded to MP3

format Text translation to 13 languages Share or permalink capabilities (Bookmark) Featured videos, news, and stories on homepage Jump to related articles within the article Advanced search allows for Boolean, and content selection

(basic/intermediate/advanced) Search specific learner outcomes from a variety of Alberta curricula

to find supporting articles in “Curriculum Standards” Featured videos, news and topics on homepage (clickable

navigation) Access thousands of newspaper articles, magazines, reference

materials, videos, images and websites Same publisher (same functionality) as other In Context resources

OTHER ENGAGING RESOURCES TO CHECK OUT

WORLD BOOK STUDENT Recommended for grades 4-9 Ability to simultaneously search World Book Kids and

World Book Student for struggling readers Text to speech feature General encyclopedia that includes atlas, dictionary

(with voice pronunciations), images, web links, and charts

"My Research" option for students to track and save their research online

Embedded timeline feature, in addition to a citation builder

“How to do Research” guide on homepage Available on iPads Online Training Available

WORLD BOOK ADVANCED

Recommended for grades 8-12 Text to speech feature General encyclopedia that includes atlas, dictionary (with

voice pronunciations), images, web links, and world newspapers

"My Research" option for students to track and save their research online

Embedded timeline feature, in addition to a citation builder

Features: primary source documents, pathfinders, citation builder, and timelines

Online book archive includes thousands of fiction and nonfiction online books in nine languages

Available on iPads Online Training Available

SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL STAFF USING THE ORC

ORC SUPPORT SITEwww.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 ORC Twitter and Facebook accounts

CURRICULAR MAPPING FOR DIVISION II SCIENCE

Along with training materials provided by the vendors, the ORC Support Site also includes curricular mapping documents for the division II Science Curriculum at:

http://www.onlinereferencecentre.ca/curricular-mapping-for-division-ii-science.html

Social Studies will be coming soon….

ORC LISTSERV Weekly email updates organized by E/J/S:

O New resources and featuresO Province-wide trialsO SurveysO Free PD opportunities

No emails during school breaks Membership has its benefits – joining incentive Email jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca or visit the

ORC Support Site to join today

CONTACTFor more information or to schedule a school presentation please contact

Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator

Call 780-414-0805 ext.229OR

Email: jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca

LINKS TO CHECK OUT

ORC Support Sitehttp://www.onlinereferencecentre.ca/

ORC ListServhttps://lists.talonline.ca/listinfo/orc

ORC Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/OnlineReferenceCentre

Twitter@ORC_AB