NOVELNY Presentation for Elementary Teachers and Administrators

 

 

Instructor Prerequisite Requirements

 

This presentation series assumes that you have knowledge of and experience with both Internet search engines, such as Google, and the NOVELNY databases and their integration into the curriculum. You will not be searching live but participants will be asking you questions and drawing on your knowledge and experience with searching NOVELNY databases.

 

Introduction

 

The content, plan, exercises, PowerPoint presentation and handouts contained in this packet will help you, as the instructor, to prepare teachers to use NOVELNY databases with students.  The Presentation Outline is primarily the same for elementary, middle and high school; the difference is in the PowerPoint presentations and handouts. They each contain sample searches and questions relating to the appropriate grade level curriculum.

 

You’ll be successful in using this presentation and accompanying materials if you prepare in advance. Take the time to read through all the materials so you are familiar with the content then practice using the PowerPoint presentation – a few times. Edit the Power Point to meet the needs of your teachers and administrators.

 

The presentation covers:

  • How to access the NOVELNY databases
  • Types of resources and information available in the NOVELNY databases
  • Special features to refine and narrow searches
  • How to integrate NOVELNY databases into the curriculum and support students in locating information for research and personal interest
  • The differences between online databases and the Internet resources/Google

 

 

Objectives

 

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Successfully access NOVELNY databases
  • Choose specific databases for their information needs
  • Use special features to narrow and refine their searches
  • Describe the benefits of accessing online databases

 

Step-By-Step Procedures

 

These Step-By-Step Procedures provide the “how-to” to teach the information contained in the introduction. Give the participants customized NOVELNY brochure, bookmark and Suggested Searches handout. Use the Power Point slide presentation to illustrate main topics and databases.

 

 

Getting Started:

 

At the beginning for each presentation there are certain things that you should take care of:

 

1-     Sign-in. Have participants complete a sign-in sheet that includes: name, school, email address, grade level

2-     Introductions. Introduce yourself as instructor providing several key facts about yourself – your name and brief credentials to give presentation. The first presentation slide in each presentation presents a template that you can fill in with your name and school or other information. You may want participants to introduce themselves either through a warm-up exercise or orally identifying who they are, their school, grade level, and experience using NOVELNY databases

3-     Agenda. The PowerPoint Presentation includes an agenda for each presentation.

 

The Presentation Outline:

 

Introduce the Presentation (slides 1-4) (15 min)

 

  1. Refer to slide #1, welcome the participants, read the title of the presentation and introduce yourself
  2. Move to slide #2 ask the participants to introduce themselves and share one or two goals they have for this presentation (one minute or less). Write the goals down on a large sheet of white easel paper.
  3. Review the objectives for the presentation with the participants. (slide # 3 ). Refer to the participants’ goals and align them the best you can. Put a mark next to the ones that are outside the scope of the presentation and suggest that the participant talk to you after the presentation. If one of the goals has to do with locating information on a specific topic suggest that the participant can talk to you after the presentation and you’ll help them.
  4. Show the presentation agenda. (slide # 4). Review the agenda which lists the main concepts you will cover. Ask the participants if they have used NOVELNY databases before and if so which ones. This will help you determine how familiar participants are with NOVELNY databases.

 

 

Introduce the NOVELNY Databases (slides 5-34) (15 min)

 

  1. Read some of the questions from slide 5 to catch the participants interest, mention that they probably go directly to Google; you want to share a free online information source that they might find more valuable than Google in some cases.
  2. Explain what the NOVELNY databases are and provide a little background on the New York State online initiative (slides 6- 7)
  3. Go through slides 7 -13 and explain the types of information that can be found in each database that relates to the curriculum and personal interest of the participants. Give specific examples of how these databases align with curriculum units in your building/district. (i.e. The Nationals Newspaper database is perfect to support the current events unit taught in social studies)
  4. Present a closer look at the NOVELNY resources starting with slide 14. Point out the keywords, what was found and the special features in each database highlighted in the slides.
  5. Briefly explain how NOVELNY differs from searching for information on Google. Stress that NOVELNY contains reliable, authoritative information. Students will not need to evaluate the information for the accuracy, currency, author’s credentials, etc. to the level of scrutiny that is necessary for Web-based information. (slides 32-33)
  6. Enter the URL, IDs and Passwords on the Power Point presentation slide 34. Refer the participants to the NOVELNY brochure and book mark with the same information.

 

Wrap-Up (slide 35-38) (15 min)

 

  1. Wrap-up. Give them the Suggested Searches handout to use as a guide when they logon to the NOVELNY databases as a follow up to the presentation. (slide 35) Review the participants goals listed on the white easel sheets on the wall. If any were not covered in the presentation, briefly offer some suggestions (email you, come to the library and you’ll help them one on one, etc.).
  2. To summarize, ask the participants the three questions on the slide to have them:
    1. To share one curriculum unit/project they could integrate NOVELNY databases.  If the group is too large, ask for volunteers.
    2. To identify challenges that might exist in introducing NOVELNY to students or integrating NOVELNY into the curriculum.
    3. To identify the next steps (more workshops, additional written material?
  3.  Thank them all for coming. Suggest that they email you with their questions about using the NOVELNY databases.

 

 

Power Point Presentation:  NOVELNY Presentation for Teachers and Administrators

 

Handouts: NOVELNY Brochure, NOVELNY bookmark, Suggested Searches

 

 

 

This product was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Southern Westchester BOCES School Library System