The Online Reference Centre
The Online Reference Centre. Airdrie Public Library December 13, 2013 Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator. About the ORC. Collaborative partnership between TAL and Alberta Education
The Online Reference Centre
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Presentation Transcript
The Online Reference Centre Airdrie Public Library December 13, 2013 Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator
About the ORC • Collaborative partnership between TAL and Alberta Education • Since 2001 the ORC has ensured that every student studying the K–12 curriculum has access to a consistent core of high-quality digital reference resources • Free access to all K-12 students, staff and pre-service teachers in Alberta
Accessing the ORC LearnAlberta.ca • In school automatic IP authentication • Remote access requires a district username/password • Each school district in Alberta has unique username/password • Schools share district username/password with students using low tech methods
K-3 Resources Amazing Animals of the World (K-6) • Read aloud feature • Article provides links to information about animal habitat, and order • Access to vetted weblinks that open within database BookFLIX (K-3) • Pairs fiction with nonfiction, 105 pairs in total • Real voice audio support embedded througout the resource
K-3 Resources Culturegrams (3-12) • Aligned to grade 2 and 3 social studies curriculum • Articles written and reviewed by in-country consultants • Updated every 6 months Muzzy Online (K-6) • Learn languages through the context of a story • 101 thematic video lessons with embedded language learning games divided into level I & II
K-3 Resources PowerKnowledge Suite (1-6) • Content divided into 3 databases: Earth Space, Life Science and Physical Science • Includes a customizable read aloud feature, short, segmented articles with intro videos World Book Kids (K-3) • Text-to-speech • Compare option used to find similarities/ differences between animals, countries and places
4-6 Resources Alberta Source (6-12) • Free website accessed without authentication • Contains articles, video, audio, images and primary documents related to Alberta • Good fit for grade 4-5 social studies curriculum Canadian Encyclopedia (5-12) • Free website accessed without authentication • Contains articles, maps, images, multimedia, and weblinks • Good fit for grade 4-6 social studies curriculum
Grades 4-6 Resources Muzzy Online (K-6) • Learn languages through the context of a story • 101 thematic video lessons with embedded language learning games divided into level I & II Peel’s Prairie • Free website accessed without authentication • Good fit for grade 4-5 social studies curriculum
Grades 4-6 Resources PowerKnowledge Suite (1-6) • Content divided into 3 databases: Earth Space, Life Science and Physical Science • Includes a customizable read aloud feature, short, segmented articles with intro videos TrueFLIX (3-6) • Added to the ORC collection in September 2013 • Includes a collection of nonfiction eBooks • Each eBook includes an introductory video and interactive table of contents
Grade 4-6 Resources Visual Thesaurus (3-12) • Added to the ORC collection in September 2012 • Creates visual, malleable word maps, customized word lists/spelling bees and lists of pertinent vocabulary “grabbed” from digital text World Book Student (4-9) • Text-to-speech • Simultaneous kids and student searching capabilities • Customizable timeline feature
7-12 Resources Canada In Context (7-12) • Customizable read aloud feature, articles downloadable to MP3 • Text translation to 13 languages Canadian Literary Centre (7-12) • Access Canadian content • Customizable read aloud feature, article permalinks, and ability to create notes within articles and save • Text translation to 32 languages
7-12 Resources Canadian Points of View (7-12) • Essays written from multiple sides of current Canadian-themed issues • Access Canadian magazines, newspapers, International newspapers, bios, radio and news transcripts, etc. • Customizable listen feature Canadian Reference Centre (7-12) • Customized listen feature (periodicals and reference) • Text translation into 32 languages (periodicals and reference
7-12 Resources CBC News in Review (7-12) • 4 new videos added each month • 17 broad categories with a range of 1-25 videos in each Global Issues in Context (7-12) • Strongly supports grade 10-12 social studies curriculum • Customizable listen feature, text translation, and downloadable content to MP3
7-12 Resources Literary Reference Center (7-12) • Customizable read aloud feature, article permalinks, and ability to create notes within articles and save • Text translation to 32 languages Science in Context (6-12) • Great homepage with images linked to articles that change frequently • Customizable listen feature, text translation into 13 languages, and downloadable article to MP3
7-12 Resources World Book Advanced (8-12) • Text-to-speech and text translation • Timeline feature World History In Context (7-12) • Access thousands of newspaper articles, magazines, reference materials, videos, images and websites • Customizable read aloud feature, downloadable articles to MP3, and text translation to 13 languages
Specialized Resources TeachingBooks.net (K-12) • Search for Meet-the-Author Movies or Book Readings, Author Audio Name Pronunciation, book guides and lesson plans • Access Alberta specific booklist pages like PNLA YRCA, ELA Authorized Reading Lists grades 4-12, Meet-the-author book readings in French and Canadian Book/Author Resources
Specialized Resources Advanced Placement Source (10-12) • Back by popular demand • Supports honors, AP or IB students • Access to academic journals • Ability to change the interface and article language • Some articles written in French
ORC Support Site www.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
ORC Listserv • Weekly email updates organized by E/J/S: • New resources and features • Province-wide trials • Surveys • 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
Opportunities for Collaboration • ORC sessions are provided for free throughout the province • Regional library conferences, public library PD committees, or post-secondary institutions with pre-service teachers are welcome to schedule an ORC session
Contact Jamie Davis, ORC Coordinator Call 780-414-0805 ext.229 Email: jdavis@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca
Links to Check out ORC Support Site http://www.onlinereferencecentre.ca/ ORC ListServ https://lists.talonline.ca/listinfo/orc ORC Facebook http://www.facebook.com/OnlineReferenceCentre