💻 Database Work

English II students visited the library for an interactive lesson related to an upcoming research paper, an argumentative paper related to modern-day witch hunts to correspond with their reading of The Crucible. The classroom teacher asked for a database lesson that would include content like search terms and smart searching, reading a results page, and making the most of a particular search result. We used EBSCOhost Points of View Reference Center, as well as Newspaper Source for our work.

Our students are on a block schedule, and the teacher indicated that students would be in the library for about 1/2 of the period. After talking with one of the instructional coaches, we decided to use a pattern of direct instruction and shared practice to allow for time to practice the database skills the teacher wanted. A portion of the lesson plan appears below:

To introduce the day's lesson, students worked in table groups to identify what research skills or research means to them--these responses helped drive the first part of the lesson, and students returned to the page to complete the other side of the T-chart as their ticket out at the end of the period.

We "upped the ante" on student engagement and movement throughout the lesson in a variety of ways. One was to ask a student from each class to hook up to the projection screen and run a database search with guidance as the teacher and I ran a side-by-side comparison Google search. Another way was to have a search results contest to see how students could use combinations of search terms and search refinements to lessen the number of their search results; students moved about the room sharing their numbers. Finally, a "stand-up/sit down" activity reinforced how Boolean searching can broader or lessen search results numbers. 

Armed with some database information and searching tips, students returned to the library in the following days to conduct some of their research.