The Connecticut Digital Library

1. The Connecticut Digital Library A Tool for Differentiated Learning Presented by Jerilyn Van Leer August 9, 2001

2. What is iCONN? iCONN, the Connecticut Digital Library is a collaborative project of the Connecticut State Library and the Department of Higher Education which provides free access to a collection of information databases and other electronic resources to support teaching and learning.

3. How will students and staff access iCONN? Schools registered with the Connecticut State Library access the databases directly through the iCONN web site at www.iconn.org. Students and staff may also access the same web site at home by entering the barcode number from their public library card.

4. Which schools are eligible to register for iCONN? All public and private schools are eligible to register for iCONN free of charge.

5. Which databases are available in iCONN? General Reference Center Gold InfoTrac Kids Edition InfoTrac Junior Edition InfoTrac Student Edition Expanded Academic ASAP InfoTrac One File Informe Professional Collection Business & Company Resource Center Health & Wellness Resource Center What Do I Read Next? reQuest Reference books (e.g.encyclopedias, almanacs) and periodicals Elementary school level periodical database, maps and almanacs Middle school level periodical database High school level periodical database Research database for academic disciplines Combination of all of the above databases Spanish-language and bilingual periodical database Periodical database for educators Company and industry database Medical information database Reader�s advisory tool (all ages) Statewide library catalogReference books (e.g.encyclopedias, almanacs) and periodicals Elementary school level periodical database, maps and almanacs Middle school level periodical database High school level periodical database Research database for academic disciplines Combination of all of the above databases Spanish-language and bilingual periodical database Periodical database for educators Company and industry database Medical information database Reader�s advisory tool (all ages) Statewide library catalog

6. iCONN will add new databases during the summer of 2001. The Hartford Courant Provided by NewsBankFull-text from 1992 to the present Wilson Biographies Plus IllustratedProvided by H. W. Wilson CompanyOver 100,000 profiles and 28,000 imagesIncludes Current Biography Illustrated, Junior Authors & Illustrators and World Authors

7. New GaleGroup databases The New York TimesFull text with 12-month rolling archive EXPLORING Novels EXPLORING Short Stories EXPLORING Poetry EXPLORING Shakespeare

8. More from GaleGroup DISCovering Authors DISCovering Biography DISCovering Science DISCovering US History DISCovering World History DISCovering Multicultural America

9. GaleGroup continued U.X.L. Biographies U.X.L. Jr. Discovering Authors U.X.L. Jr.. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Canadian Provinces U.X.L. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations U.X.L Jr.. Worldmark Encyclopedia of States U.X.L. Jr.. Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures U.X.L. Multicultural U.X.L. Science

10. GaleGroup continued Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations Worldmark Encyclopedia of States Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures

11. How will students and staff benefit from using iCONN? iCONN provides a range of quality on-line information resources including reference, periodicals (popular & academic), newspapers and library catalogs. iCONN provides information on a variety of subjects to support the content areas.

12. How do I encourage teachers to use iCONN? Practice using the databases to become familiar with the content and search strategies. Analyze local curriculum maps or the state frameworks and trace maps to identify links between curriculum and the content of the databases: www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/curriculum/index.html. Publish information about iCONN in school newsletters and post on the school web site. Develop workshops for teachers that focus on their content area. Emphasize the opportunity to differentiate learning.

13. DISCovering Collection Content Area: Science Task: Students research one of the planets and create a brochure noting its special features to convince NASA to include their planet on an interplanetary tour. LRIT Standard 2: Information Systems LRIT Standard 3: Information Strategies LRIT Standard 5: Application NETS: Technology Research Tools NETS: Technology Productivity Tools NETS: Technology Communication Tools www.iconn.org Access DISCovering Collection Select Custom Search Click on the drop down menu, select Source and enter Discovering Science in the first box Click on the drop down menu in the second box, select Text and enter the name of a planet View the article and multimediaAccess DISCovering Collection Select Custom Search Click on the drop down menu, select Source and enter Discovering Science in the first box Click on the drop down menu in the second box, select Text and enter the name of a planet View the article and multimedia

14. Expanded Academic Content Area: Social Studies Task: Students working in pairs will select a controversial issue and research the pros and cons of their topic in preparation for a classroom debate. LRIT Standard 1: Defining Information Needs LRIT Standard 2: Information Systems LRIT Standard 3: Information Strategies NETS: Basic Operations and Concepts NETS: Technology Problem-solving Tools NETS: Technology Research Tools www.iconn.org Access Expanded Academic Select Advanced Search Enter the words censorship and books and schools. Limit the current search to articles with text View the articles Access Expanded Academic Select Advanced Search Enter the words censorship and books and schools. Limit the current search to articles with text View the articles

15. Health & Wellness Resource Center Content Area: Health Task:Students will research communicable diseases to create a database which includes the following fields: causes, symptoms, risk factors and prevention. LRIT Standard 3: Information Strategies LRIT Standard 4: Information Processing LRIT Standard 5: Application NETS: Technology Research Tools NETS:Technology Productivity Tools www.iconn.org Select Health & Wellness Resource Center Select Medical Encyclopedia and select a condition from the list or click on a letter to jump to that section of the encyclopedia. Click on the letter �I� and scroll down to influenza. Select one of the following from the Table of Contents: Definition, Description, Causes and Symptoms, Treatment or Prevention Select Health & Wellness Resource Center Select Medical Encyclopedia and select a condition from the list or click on a letter to jump to that section of the encyclopedia. Click on the letter �I� and scroll down to influenza. Select one of the following from the Table of Contents: Definition, Description, Causes and Symptoms, Treatment or Prevention

16. What Do I Read Next? Content Area: Language Arts & Social Studies Task: Students studying the U.S. Civil War will select a historical novel from this time period to read and prepare a book review noting the historical accuracy of the novel. LRIT Standard 3: Information Strategies NETS: Technology Research Tools www.iconn.org The task may be expanded to post the review on amazon.com. Inform students not to include their name or email address to ensure their privacy. Access What Do I Read Next? Select Genre Search Open the drop down menu next to the box labeled Historical and scroll down to Historical-American Civil War Limit the search to Young Adults and Fiction View the titles and sort by author/title or score Select one title to view the summary, major characters, age range, genre, subjects, setting, and time periods Create a bibliography by selecting Add to Keeper List The task may be expanded to post the review on amazon.com. Inform students not to include their name or email address to ensure their privacy. Access What Do I Read Next? Select Genre Search Open the drop down menu next to the box labeled Historical and scroll down to Historical-American Civil War Limit the search to Young Adults and Fiction View the titles and sort by author/title or score Select one title to view the summary, major characters, age range, genre, subjects, setting, and time periods Create a bibliography by selecting Add to Keeper List

17. Professional Collection Task: A site-based committee in your high school is investigating the pros and cons of block schedules. www.iconn.org Access Professional Collection Select Advanced Search Enter block scheduling and high school View articlesAccess Professional Collection Select Advanced Search Enter block scheduling and high school View articles

18. reQuest Content Area: Mathematics & Language Art Task: Students will research the background of a mathematician and write a persuasive essay to convince the editor of Who�s Who to include their person in the next edition. LRIT Standard 3: Information Strategies LRIT Standard 4: Information Processing NETS: Technology Research Tools www.iconn.org Access reQuest at http://www.auto-graphics.com/cgicln/mmx/rqst/Access Select Word Search Limit Search to Public and Subject Select Add Date Qualifier and choose 1990-1999 Enter mathematicians View titles Select a title and view holdings (locations)Access reQuest at http://www.auto-graphics.com/cgicln/mmx/rqst/Access Select Word Search Limit Search to Public and Subject Select Add Date Qualifier and choose 1990-1999 Enter mathematicians View titles Select a title and view holdings (locations)

19. How do I locate the lists of periodicals in the databases? Visit the Gale Group home page: www.galegroup.com and select Title Lists (for on-line databases). Also select the Find Yourself in the Library icon and Free Resources for other information of interest to library media centers.

20. Who do I contact for help? Bill SullivanTelephone: (860) 344-2475Email: wsullivan@cslib.org Gail HurleyTelephone: (860) 344-2652Email: ghurley@cslib.org Jane EmersonTelephone: (860) 344-2521Email: jemerson@cslib.org Toll Free: 1-888-256-1222

21. Questions?