This discussion is one of our best! I have been reading and thinking about
the thoughtful responses. This afternoon, I was especially thinking about
the issue after a class had been in the library.
I am one who pushes the use of databases with my students. I do also, take
the advice of a previous poster, and showcase/use free internet as well,
AND I always have some print resources available and book talk those.
Today I had what I thought was a very productive session with some 9th
graders. The teacher is as much the reason it was productive asanything I
did. He always takes his information projects one step at a time, often
going slower than I would. He starts his projects in smaller chunks. This
project will turn into a year long project but today's session was to be a
fairly short one.
Today, he wanted me to present some standard reference resources for them
to start. For the topic we both mentioned that what they were looking for
to begin was standard encyclopedic type information as well as standard
atlas type information. I highlighted the print encyclopedias as well as
some encyclpedia type reference sets. I also showed them our networked
electronic encyclopedia (I haven't been able to afford to go online
subscription) and I mentioned online encyclopedias such as info please and
encarta. We talked a little about how encyclopedia resources often have an
outline they can follow.
After the talk, students began working. The print encyclopedias were in
heavy use, the electronic encyclopedia was in use. A few were on the
internet but not that many.
I think the point that we need to spend some time with students working on
what information they need is time well spent. Then perhaps they will turn
to our print and our subscription databases when they need to.
Deborah J. Stafford
Gen. H.H. Arnold High School
Wiesbaden Germany
now proudly on the web at http://www.wies-hs.eu.dodea.edu
Deborah_Stafford@compuserve.com
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