Module8

Mod 8 playlist notes: I found it interesting that one can find articles that are over 100 years old on some databases; whereas on the Internet, it would be more difficult to find older information. I never thought about it. Databases are a wonderful source for American History. The newspaper databases look especially intriguing. I will definitely pay more attention to databases in the future.

Klaudinyi, Jen. "What Is A Library Database?" Cooperative Library Instruction Project. October 2009. Web 5 Nov. 2012. 

8_1 ideas: ProQuest Historical Newspapers Facts On File World New Digest American Heritage magazine Time magazine Life magazine ABC-CLIO Gale Biography in Context (Mansfield)

I looked through my county library's databases and they were not related or too broad for our purposes. Our audience is teachers looking to integrate art into their history instruction. We wanted to pick something specific enough to be of use in history lessons integrating art that we could create. History is all about the study of people. So we picked the Gale Biography in Context available through the Mansfield library. I like the way it deals just with biographies. Furthermore, it contains a wealth of information, housing biographies on over half a million people, dead and alive. And it is updated regularly. (However, news updates are current, not necessarily the biography itself. For example, they have links to news articles about Justin Timberlake marrying Jessica Biel from October 2012, but his actual biography has not been updated since July 2009.)

One nice thing for users is that the interface (look and feel) is similar to a website, making it easy for users familiar with using the Web to navigate and use this database. (accessible)

The default search box option is to search by name. However, if you don't know the name you can search by occupation, nationality, birth place, or death place. You can also perform a more detailed person search or an advanced search. Both of these options consist of limiters based on keywords, dates, document type, type of content and content level (basic, intermediate, advanced). Search Assist will help suggest a person(s) as you type in your query. You can also browse people by 52 different categories including African Americans, American Presidents, American Revolution, Artists, Civil War, Native Americans, Notable Women, Social Reformers, World Explorers, World War II, and Writers.

The biography is displayed with an image and fact box. Below are categories with links to academic journals, reference materials, featured content (Team Gale’s choices), magazines, news, websites, videos, images, and audio of that particular person. Moreover, there is a section of links to related topics as well. (results) You click on "View More" to see the full biography. At the top of the biography there is a speaker icon and the word "Listen." You can click on it to hear the full text of the biography read aloud. Or you can highlight the section you want read aloud and then click on the speaker and it will only read that section. And it highlights each word on the screen as it reads it, making it easy for the reader to follow along. You can adjust the settings to highlight sentences, words and sentences, words only, or no highlighting. Furthermore, the speed can be set to slow, medium or fast. You can also download an mp3 of the full text. (accessible) In the upper right corner, you can toggle between two different sizes of font, making it easier to read by enlarging the font. (accessible) At the bottom of the full biography page there are links to further readings online or a bibliography. (results) Below that section it gives you the proper source citation so you can just copy and paste it into your works cited. (accessible) There is a tool bar to the right of the biography with options to bookmark, download, share, e-mail, print, translate or save the biography, and with links to a dictionary and citation tools. (portable) I thought it was neat that the biography could be translated into 13 different languages at the click of the translate button. I tested one by translating it into Spanish. A new, translated version popped up in about 5 seconds. That could be a useful tool for ESL students especially, making it easier for them to read and understand the information in their native language. (accessible)

The resources button leads to a page with links to tools categorized by general, teachers, students and librarians including tutorials, lesson plans, tip sheets and apps for smart phones.

8_1 poster categories: search, results, accessible, portable

Lessons Integrating Art and History this database could be used for: > <[]> > <[]>
 * Political cartoons - Analyze them or create them! (about a specific person after researching on Gale Biography in Context)
 * Create a comic book about an important person in history. (research a person on Gale Biography in Context)
 * Students work in groups of two to prepare a "broadcast television" interview with a newsworthy politician. (Gale Biography in Context, 8_1 database)
 * Students will research a significant individual in history and create a photo journal of their experiences. (Gale Biography in Context, 8_1 database)
 * Choose an important person in history, use the resources on Gale Biography in Context to come up with a concept and create an original work of art related to that person's life. Scan it, then present your work using VoiceThread or Blabberize.com.

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