Lesson 6 -- Gale Virtual Reference Library

1. Getting to know the titles in GVRL is similar to getting to know the titles of your library's reference collection. Click "Title List" on the upper right to view all the titles available in the collection. Click a book title of interest to you and access an article via the table of contents. Notice with the multi-volume titles, you can select which volume you look at. Discuss the title you selected and how you may use it.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World, 2012.

Although this book caught my eye because I enjoy cooking, I can see how it can be used in the classroom as students study cultures.  They can learn common dishes from areas of the world they are studying in geography.  If students are working on personal histories, they can locate the recipe for a meal that is often made in their family.  The encyclopedia includes food from many different regions of the United States.  The students could do a comparison of similarities and differences of dishes and ingredients from across the country.

2. At the top of the page, type a search term in the search box. Search for answers to the two questions posed at the beginning of the post: zinc or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn if you can't think of something else. Review the results, selecting an article to see what kind of information you can find. Test the "Listen" feature. Discuss your results.

My search was for the term, childcare.  I received 156 matches for this search.  Although this is a lot to weed through, I am able to sort the list by relevance, date, and the title of the document or publication.  I can also refine my search by selecting the advanced search option.  Once I have completed my search, I I can save the list of publications all together, or save those that I want to view at a later time.  If I choose to use the publication in my research, I can select Citation Tools to get either MLA or APA citation editions.  I can download a copy or MP2 or print it.  Although the voice in the Listen feature is a mechanical voice, I can see how helpful it could be for students who have difficulties reading the text.

3. Look at 2 or 3 other participants' blogs to see what they discovered. Comment if you like.