NGA-DATABASES

=Introduction to High School Day 9/10; 13/15= ==== //Using Technology for High School Success - Educational Research – LION, Nettrackker, Online Datebases; Searching Strategies// ====

__Student Handout for Day 8 -__ [|NGATechHandout-STU-Day8.pd]

PART I: ALL ABOUT DATABASES

Denver Public Schools has over 30 independent databases to which we subscribe. This means that you and your students always have a plethera of information at our fingertips!

The [|databases] are a part of the LION system and can be accessed from school or home. Below is a sampling. __NOTE:__ You may need to type in the student's last name and student I.D. number to access some of these databases. See your school librarian or the office staff if you need a student I.D. #. || LION (** L **ibrary ** I **nformation ** O **n the ** N **et) is the online library catalog used by Denver Public Schools. This link can be customized for each school allowing the viewer to find books and other materials located specifically locted in the building (or across the distict).. ||<  || [|Culture Grams: States Edition]
 * ~ All of the Online Resources listed below are free to DPS students and staff.
 * < **Online Resource** ||< **Description of Resource and links: ** ||<  ||
 * < [[image:msfrachetti:LION_icon.jpg caption="LION_icon.jpg" link="http://lion.dpsk12.org/search%7ES133"]] ||< [|LION Library System]
 * || [[image:msfrachetti:Culturegrams_worldmap.gif width="111" height="89" caption="Culturegrams_worldmap.gif"]] ||
 * Culturegrams_worldmap.gif ||  || [|Culture Grams: Kids Edition]

The //Culture Grams// databases are wonderful resources for learning history and geography of places around the world. ||  || [|Compton's by Britannica] (Middle School Level)
 * < [[image:msfrachetti:box_shot.jpeg width="95" height="95" caption="box_shot.jpeg" link="http://0-school.eb.com.erslion.dpsk12.org/elementary"]] ||< [|Britannica Online School Edition] (Elementary Level)

These are online encyclopedia subscriptions paid for by Denver Public Schools. Each includes an online dictionary and thesaurus, as well as images, embedded videos and links to other web resources. ||<  || [|Newsbank database]
 * < [[image:msfrachetti:ace_296851676_1221586337.jpg width="103" height="99" caption="ace_296851676_1221586337.jpg" link="http://0-web.ebscohost.com.erslion.dpsk12.org/sas/search?vid=1&hid=22&sid=fd32a127-8403-4113-b7c5-15705c30ef79%40sessionmgr8"]] ||< [|Searchasaurus EBSCO database]

These are primarily full text magazine and newspaper article databases, with links to other resources. ||<  || This is a wonderful, safe (protected) and educationally based search engine paid for by Denver Public Schools. All of the web sites accessible via this search engine are regularly reviewed and considered reliable. ||< . || This database offers an outstanding masterful collection of social studies resources develops students' historical understanding, information literacy, and critical thinking skills. ||  || From the Library of Congress, this database is an enormous collection of America's history, complete with video, audio, and a rich collection of primary resources. ||  ||
 * < [[image:msfrachetti:netTrekker_di_vert2.jpg width="100" height="89" caption="netTrekker_di_vert2.jpg" link="http://0-elementary.nettrekker.com.erslion.dpsk12.org/subject/?home=1"]] ||< [|Netrekker]
 * [[image:dps-nga:abcclio_logo.gif width="189" height="41" caption="abcclio_logo.gif"]] || [[http://%20%09%20details%20%09last%20edit%20apr%2030,%202009%209:38/#.%20Online%20Resource%20%09Description%20of%20Resource%20and%20links:%20%09Grade%20Level%20the%20resource%20is%20taught%20during%20library%20and%20tech.%20skills%20classes:%20LION_icon.jpg%20%09LION%20Library%20System%20LION%20%28Library%20Information%20On%20the%20Net%29%20is%20the%20online%20library%20catalog%20used%20by%20Denver%20Public%20Schools.%20This%20link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20the%20Bill%20Roberts%20School%20library%20catalog,%20which%20will%20allow%20you%20to%20find%20books%20and%20other%20materials%20located%20specifically%20in%20the%20Roberts%20library.%20%09Grade%203--introduce%20&%20practice%20with%20keyword%20searching,%20use%20of%20call%20#%27s%20&%20locating%20books%20on%20shelves;%20locate%20bibliographic%20info.%20in%20a%20book;%20Grades%204-5--focus%20&%20refine%20skills;%20locate%20appropriate%20books%20&%20answer%20research%20Q%27s.%20Culturegrams_worldmap.gif%20%09Culture%20Grams:%20Kids%20Edition%20Culture%20Grams:%20States%20Edition%20%20The%20Culture%20Grams%20databases%20are%20wonderful%20resources%20for%20learning%20history%20and%20geography%20of%20places%20around%20the%20world.%20%09Grade%202--introduce%20&%20practice%20NF%20research%20with%20graphic%20organizers%20&%20basic%20notetaking%20skills;%20Grades%203-5--useful%20tool%20for%20Colorado%20history%20and%20U.S.%20states%20research.%20box_shot.jpeg%20%09Britannica%20Online%20School%20Edition%20%28Elementary%20Level%29%20Compton%27s%20by%20Britannica%20%28Middle%20School%20Level%29%20%20These%20are%20online%20encyclopedia%20subscriptions%20paid%20for%20by%20Denver%20Public%20Schools.%20Each%20includes%20an%20online%20dictionary%20and%20thesaurus,%20as%20well%20as%20images,%20embedded%20videos%20and%20links%20to%20other%20web%20resources.%20%09Grade%203--introduce%20with%20print%20encyclopedia,%20compare%20info.%20in%202%20or%20more%20sources;%20Grades%204-5--focus%20and%20refine%20skills,%20add%20bibliographic%20references.%20ace_296851676_1221586337.jpg%20%09Searchasaurus%20EBSCO%20database%20Newsbank%20database%20%20These%20are%20primarily%20full%20text%20magazine%20and%20newspaper%20article%20databases,%20with%20links%20to%20other%20resources.%20%09Grade%204--introduce%20&%20practice%20comparing%20information%20in%20different%20articles;%20locate%20info.%20for%20bibliography;%20Grade%205--focus%20&%20maintain.%20netTrekker_di_vert2.jpg%20%09Netrekker%20This%20is%20a%20wonderful,%20safe%20%28protected%29%20and%20educationally%20based%20search%20engine%20paid%20for%20by%20Denver%20Public%20Schools.%20All%20of%20the%20web%20sites%20accessible%20via%20this%20search%20engine%20are%20regularly%20reviewed%20and%20considered%20reliable.%20%09Grade%203--introduce%20&%20practice;%20Grades%204-5--focus,%20add%20bibliographic%20references%20&%20evaluating%20a%20web%20site.%20K-8%20Animal,%20Nature%20&%20Science%20Website%20%09Exploring%20Nature%20Educational%20Resource%20This%20site%20is%20intended%20for%20grades%20K-8%20and%20features%20a%20searchable%20database%20of%20more%20than%201,500%20animals%20categorized%20by%20classification%20%28mammals,%20birds,%20etc.%29,%20by%20trait%20%28scavengers,%20carnivores,%20etc.%29%20by%20habitat%20%28rainforest%20animals,%20desert%20animals%29%20and%20by%20geographic%20location.%20Additional%20resource%20databases%20include%20plants,%20trees,%20biomes,%20adaptations,%20space%20and%20the%20human%20body.%20The%20site%20also%20features%20Nature%20Movies,%20Ask%20the%20Zoo%20Vet,%20Scientists%20You%20Should%20Know,%20Invasive%20Species,%20and%20much%20more.%20%09Grade%201--introduce%20with%20animal%20research%20unit%20and%20basic%20notetaking%20using%20a%20graphic%20organizer.%20Grades%202%20&%20up--use%20for%20reference%20&%20research.|ABC-CLIO Social Studies DataBases]]
 * [[image:dps-nga:american_memory.gif width="154" height="89" caption="american_memory.gif"]] || [|American Memory]

PART II: ALL ABOUT THE INTERNET But sometimes you need to search the Internet!

There are several great browsers (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) and TONS of wonderful search engines. But since everyone knows Google, let's us it!

A good mnemonic to use is: Google it with 4 NETS

Start **N** arrow Find **E** xact Phases **T** rim the URL Look for **S** imilar Pages

** Introduction **


 * Think of the Internet as a town, complete with shopping center, museum, movie theater, and school. This may seem elementary, but it's a good way to put the online experience into familiar terms. **


 * Like cars, computers need time to get from place to place--don't click too quickly if your response to your request is not instantaneous. **


 * The cursor is your car, taking you where you want to go. The mouse is the gas pedal. **



** Browsers **


 * The browser allows you to drive around the Internet, but instead of driving a Ford, Toyota, or Jeep, you might be using Firefox, Explorer, Safari, or Netscape. **

//A browsers are the way your computer looks around the Internet//. Browsers "come and go" and are actually software that is created for the purpose of navigating around the four parts of the Internet. Netscape was very popular at one point in time, but few use it today. Internet Explorer (a product of Microsoft) continues to be a popular browwser, along with Safari (for the MAC) and Mozilla's Firefox. If you use only one of these browsers, you should download another and try it out. They offer different features and you may find one that meets your needs more than your current choice. If you download any of these, know that they will NOT download a virus, they will NOT spam your computer and they are COMPLETELY free.

**Search Engines**


 * If you don't have a specific destination (that is, a website you want to visit), but you know you want to shop or learn about something, a search engine acts as the Visitor's Center or Chamber of Commerce. Type in one or two words to get suggestions of where you might find just what you're looking for. Once there, the address bar (or URL: Universal Resources Locator) is the address of your destination. It is a UNIQUE address, just like the addresses in our town. **

A search engine is how your browser searches for information. There are so many search engines and the choice of which one to use depends on which interface and what attributes you prefer. But the MOST IMPORTANT thing to know about search engines is that NO one search engine searches more than 20% of the Internet. So, if you ONLY use Google (guilty, as charged), you are missing at least 80% of the Internet. So get out of your rut and see what else is out there. Change your search engine.

Some of my favorites include: [|AltaVista], [|AllTheWeb], and [|Clusty]. But these are only three!.

Check out this list for a more options! [|Search Engines.doc]

**What's With the Dot (Domains)**

Every website belongs to a domain or group of like content websites.

For the most part, there are 4 MAJOR domains (although others do exist):
 * .com** at the end of a website address means that it is hosted by a commercial entity. Being a .com doesn't necessitate a bad thing. National Geographic is a .com and they are a rich source of valid information.


 * .edu** at the end of a website URL indicates the site is hosted by an institute of learning. This usually indicates a good source of information, but think about all those professors with a saracastic sense of humor (would you're students know the difference between humor and information?): []


 * .org** at the end of a website URL indicates the site is hosted by a non-profit organization. This usually is a good sign, but consider this non-profit organization: [|http://www.martinlutherking.org] or [|http://www.whitehouse.org]


 * .gov** at the end of a website address indicates the site is hosted by the government (sometimes you find a .mil which was common to use with government military sites, but often now I see these obsorbed into the .gov domain).



**A few other things to know:**


 * A window is the view you see through your windshield. You can "change the view" by opening another window. Just use your mouse to click on a boxed or underlined word or phrase on the screen. Use the refresh or reload arrow in your toolbar to keep the information current. **


 * A link is a detour to take you down an unexpected road. **


 * The back and forth arrows put in forward or reverse. **


 * When you are finished, the X box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen ends your journey--at least for today! **

Want to know a bit more about the Internet?

** Wow, that's cool... **
 * There are approximately 1,319,872,109 people on the Internet.
 * MySpace hosts over 110 million registered users.
 * By the year 2012 there will be approximately 17 billion devices connected to the Internet.
 * The average 21 year old has spent 5,000 hours playing video games, has exchanged 250,000 e-mails, instant and text messages and has spent 10,000 hours on the mobile phone.
 * As currently built, there is room for 4.3 billion addresses on the Internet. One-third of those are already in use.
 * E-mail has been around longer than the World Wide Web.
 * Somalia, a north-African country, boasts the highest percentage growth of Internet users in the world going from a mere 200 in 2000 to 90,000 in 2007
 * Iceland has the most Internet users per capita of any country in the world with over 86 percent of people using the Web, compared with only 69 percent of Americans.
 * About 183 billion e-mail messages are sent every day by about 1.2 billion e-mail users around the world.
 * The first computer mouse was invented by Doug Engelbart in around 1964 and was made of wood.
 * The world's first computer, called the Z1, was invented by Konrad Zuse in 1936. His next invention, the Z2 was finished in 1939 and was the first fully functioning electro-mechanical computer.
 * Approximately 365 million people in the world have computers while half of the world's 6.5 billion population has never seen or used a telephone.
 * The pound key (#) symbol's true name is octothorpe.
 * The chess-playing computer created by IBM called Deep Blue defeated world champion Garry Kasparov in a game of chess in May 1997. Kasparov demanded a rematch, to which IBM replied with a resounding, "no way."
 * No, Al Gore didn't "invent" the Internet, but he was part of the congressional body that funded it in an effort to connect the government with all the agencies and institutes of higher education who needed to talk to each other about the research for the government contracts in which they all had a hand.

__Teacher Outline__