Archive for the ‘Resources for Educators’ Category
Monday, August 31st, 2009
Resource of the Week — Database: Sheet Music Plus
By Gary Price and Shirl Kennedy, Editors
Gary posted this item earlier in the week and, judging by the attention it received, we thought it was worth reprising it as a Resource of the Week. Among other things, we think it could be a very useful reference desk tool.
From a San Francisco Business Times article:
One of the company’s secrets is the sheer volume of music they offer — more than 555,000 titles. The company’s added about 100,000 titles in the last 18 months, plus they’ve collected data on all of their titles, and created a searchable database of printed music. That helps the company when its trying to move into new markets, such as music teachers. In fact, Sheet Music Plus signed up 17,000 music teachers for a rebate program.
David Jahnke is vice president of national sales at Hal Leonard, a music publisher that has 140,000 titles at the Sheet Music Plus store. He says that Hal Leonard is the exclusive print provider of Disney, EMI, Universal and Rogers and Hammerstein, to name a few, so if people want sheet music from any of those sources they have to buy Hal Leonard.
…
Jahnke also finds Sheet Music Plus’ comprehensive database useful because it’s made for everyone’s catalogue. When he goes to a music store, he often sees the employees looking on Sheet Music Plus to figure out who publishes what.
+ Use the advanced search interface to search for sheet music.
+ On the home page, you can browse by artists and composers.
Posted in Arts and Humanities, Databases, Directories, and Guides, Resources for Educators | No Comments »
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
From the Times Education Supplement:
Extracts of original archive footage of the Cuban Missile Crisis. This programme features 11 extracts from various film archive sources on the Cuban Missile Crisis, selected by author, teacher and curriculum advisor Ben Walsh.
About 14 minutes of video is included.
Source: TES
Posted in History, Resources, Resources for Educators | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
This database of nearly 3100 resources aimed at K-12 educators allows users to search for NASA educational materials. Of course, all of this content is free. Heck, even older aerospace and science geeks might find a few intereresting reads. (-;
Users can search by keyword, and limit by:
+ Grade Level
+ Type of Material
+ Subject
Don’t want to search? You can browse the entire database here.
You can also browse this A-Z List of Publications and then access the document via PDF files.
Source: NASA
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Saturday, August 8th, 2009
From the Summary:
JISC’s new guide to Second Life is written by lecturers for lecturers, to help others to use virtual worlds for teaching.
‘Getting Started in Second Life’ answers some common questions like how to set up in Second Life, what the rules of the world are, how to plan lessons and how best to help students use it effectively for learning.
The aim of the guide is to present the basics in order to help lecturers experiment, rather than them getting lost in mastering the detail of the virtual environment.
Access the Complete Document (32 pages; PDF)
Source: JISC
Posted in Education, Resources for Educators, Social Media, Source File, Web 2.0 | No Comments »
Friday, July 31st, 2009
From the Article:
The Musée du Louvre today announced that it will launch an English version of its online collections database, Atlas, on July 30, 2009. This interactive research tool will allow visitors to access information on 22,000 artworks from the Louvre, view high-resolution images of masterpieces, and locate exhibited works and galleries throughout the Museum. Currently available only in French, Atlas is accessible free-of-charge via the Louvre’s website, www.louvre.fr, which receives more than 10 millions visitors a year.
Here’s a Direct Link to the Atlas Database (in English)
Source: Artdaily.org
Posted in Arts and Humanities, Databases, Directories, and Guides, Reference Tools, Resources, Resources for Educators | No Comments »
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
From the Announcement:
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum announced today the update of its Google Earth initiative, Crisis in Darfur, with U.S. Department of State data that shed new light on the extent of the genocide in Darfur.
The new data show that more than 3300 villages have been damaged or destroyed in the Darfur region of Sudan, primarily between 2003 – 2005. This is more than twice the number that were identified in previous U.S. government assessments, and strengthens the evidence of a vast, targeted campaign of destruction against civilians in the region. The updated data come from recent analysis of high resolution satellite imagery, released by the Humanitarian Information Unit of the U.S. Department of State in July 2009.
[Snip]
For the first time, the data in Google Earth also include hundreds of “before and after” satellite images of villages throughout Darfur.
[Snip]
Crisis in Darfur, a Google Earth layer tracking the path of destruction in Darfur, was launched in April 2007. The following year the Museum launched its second Google Earth initiative, World Is Witness, which brings together testimonies, photographs, videos, and other first-hand data documenting the lives of people affected by contemporary genocide. Both of these layers can be found in Google Earth’s Global Awareness folder under the heading “USHMM,” or at the Museum’s Web site, www.ushmm.org/maps/.
Source: USHMM
Posted in Geographic, Resources, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Two new resource guides and improved searching of the Japanese Prints & Drawings are now available from the Library of Congress.
1) Robert Fitzgerald: Online Resources
This guide compiles links to resources on poet Robert Fitzgerald throughout the Library of Congress Web site, as well as links to external Web sites that include features on his life or selections of his work.
2) Japanese Prints & Drawings
The Prints and Photographs Division houses more than 2,500 Japanese woodblock prints and drawings, dating from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, by such artists as Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi, Sadahide, and Yoshiiku. They have been online for some time, but searching them was challenging because of the lack of description. All images now have titles (Japanese and English translation) and subjects, enhancing searching and identification of these woodblock prints and drawings.
3) Franklin Pierce: A Resource Guide
The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a wide variety of material associated with the 14th U.S. President. This resource guide compiles links to digital materials related to Pierce such as manuscripts, broadsides, government documents, and images that are available throughout the Library of Congress Web site.
Source: LC
Posted in Arts and Humanities, History, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
From the Announcement:
PBS today announced the launch of the PBS Digital Learning Library, a PBS system-wide online repository of digital education assets from public broadcasting programs and services nationwide. The PBS Digital Learning Library will be a comprehensive source of “learning objects,” including video, audio, images, games, and interactive simulations designed specifically for classroom use, delivered to teachers exclusively through local PBS stations. Services to deliver these resources to teachers and learners will be available in fall 2009.
As part of an ongoing, multi-year research initiative to identify and provide effective digital media in the classroom, PBS is aggregating its educational content to make it more accessible and practical for classroom use.
Learn More About the PBS Digital Learning Library
Source: PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
Posted in Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Human Population
Has the world’s population distribution changed much over time? Does AIDS have a significant impact on population growth? When could world population stop growing? These popular lesson plans have been updated in July 2009.
Find out the answers to these questions and more.
The sections listed below explore eight elements of population dynamics. Charts and graphs supplement each topic with one full-sized chart (in PDF) suitable for class distribution or transparencies. Along with each topic are a frequently asked question and glossary terms. Teacher’s guides with discussion questions and web resources are also included in each section. For further investigation see also the most recent World Population Data Sheet.
Source: Population Reference Bureau
Posted in Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Sunday, July 19th, 2009
From the Web Site:
Easily select from over 50,000 educational resources.
The directory can also be browsed using one or more facets.
Source: Gateway to 21st Century Skills
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Education, Online Education, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit
The new Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators is an updated and expanded version of the award-winning (2001 Public Relations Society of America Bronze Anvil Award for Interactive Communications and 2002 Telly Award) and very popular (over 40,000 kits distributed in all 50 states and U.S. territories and over a dozen countries across the world) Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Teachers and Interpreters first published in 2001.
The Toolkit profiles climate stewards in all 11 ecoregions. Here, students participate in the Baldwin County Grasses in Classes program to help grow native plants for wetland and dune restoration projects.
The new kit is designed for classroom teachers and informal educators in parks, refuges, forest lands, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, etc., and is aimed at the middle school grade level. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with six other federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USDA/Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management), developed the kit to aid educators in teaching how climate change is affecting our nation’s wildlife and public lands, and how everyone can become “climate stewards.”
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Posted in Resources for Educators, Science, Source File | No Comments »
Friday, June 26th, 2009
From the Announcement:
The CASLNetwork is an online community for school library specialists working in or for Canadian schools. CASL has created this network so that teacher librarians, library technicians, and school library staff across the country can meet, discuss issues, ask questions, find answers, form groups either by province or territory or by themes like advocacy and literacy skills, and post relevant pictures and videos. In moving on to a Web 2.0 platform, CASL is looking to meet the needs of its membership by offering a multi-faceted communication tool so that they can participate in the process rather than simply receiving information.
Direct to CASLNetwork
Source: CASL (via Canadian Library Association)
Posted in Education, Libraries and Librarianship, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Friday, June 26th, 2009
From an Announcement:
The Library of Congress has a new home for teacher resources: the Teachers page is at loc.gov/teachers.
For more than ten years, the Library has provided teachers with access to millions of digitized primary sources and the tools educators need to use them in the classroom. As of today, these tools are moving to a new, easy-to-find center for teachers just one click away from the Library’s home page. Some of the new features include:
+ TPS Direct, the Library’s new build-your-own professional development tool.
+ A dedicated home page for primary source sets.
+ Using Primary Sources, a quick introduction to the authentic classroom use of primary sources.
+ Coming soon, a new search tool just for classroom materials.
The full transition will take place over time, and new features will become available from now on, so keep watching for the latest developments. If you’re having trouble finding a familiar resource, ask our reference staff using the Contact link at the bottom of every Library Web page.
Whether you’re a longtime user or just beginning, we hope you’ll explore the new site, update your bookmarks, and discover the instructional power of primary sources at loc.gov/teachers.
Source: LC
Posted in Education, Libraries and Librarianship, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
First, a bit about the database from the Alexander St. Press Web Site:
Produced in partnership with Arcadia Publishing, Local and Regional History Online: A History of American Life in Images and Texts includes more than 150,000 images—it will continue to grow to include thousands of Arcadia volumes and more than one million photographs and other primary materials. Each Arcadia book tells a small piece of American history, but when searched together, the collection becomes a massive and powerful primary-source research tool for academic libraries, and a great way to bring local history and genealogical information into the public library.
To Access the Database Simply Enter:
Username: reviewer
Password: 69preventative2
in the appropriate boxes.
This trial is through July 31, 2009.
Thanks to Alexander Street Press for making it available.
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Genealogy, History, Information Industry, Resources, Resources for Educators | No Comments »
Sunday, June 21st, 2009
Office of the Historian Announces New Website: www.history.state.gov
The Department of State is pleased to announce the official unveiling of the Office of the Historian’s new website: www.history.state.gov.
The new website boasts greater accessibility and searching within the Foreign Relations of the United States documentary series. It currently offers both textual and facsimile copies of Foreign Relations volumes from the Kennedy Administration through the Nixon-Ford administration. The Office plans to continue to digitize older volumes and eventually house all of the Foreign Relations volumes on its website. The website also contains updated sections on the history of the Department of State, biographies of notable diplomats, and an in-depth timeline of United States diplomatic milestones. The Office’s educational curriculum guides are also downloadable from the website. The Office hopes that through its enhanced presentation and organization, the new website will become the preeminent online resource for U.S. diplomatic history.
Source: U.S. Department of State
Posted in Government Documents and Political Information, History, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Friday, June 19th, 2009
From the Web Site:
PBS Teachers is PBS’ national web destination for high-quality preK-12 educational resources. Here you’ll find classroom materials suitable for a wide range of subjects and grade levels. We provide thousands of lesson plans, teaching activities, on-demand video assets, and interactive games and simulations. These resources are correlated to state and national educational standards and are tied to PBS’ award-winning on-air and online programming like NOVA, Nature, Cyberchase, Between the Lions and more.
PBS Teachers is also the gateway for local resources and services offered by your local PBS station. By localizing this website to your local PBS station, you gain access to educational resources, programs, TV schedules and more.
Direct to PBS Teachers
See Also: PBS TeacherLine
Professional development for PreK-12 educators. A service of PBS Teachers.
Source: Public Broadcasting Service (via E-Mail Post)
Posted in Education, Resources, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Friday, June 19th, 2009
From a Summary:
This guide provides sources to assist middle school students and teachers in planning, preparing, and executing environmental science fair projects and updates Environmental Science Projects (TB 97-6).
Direct to Tracer Bullet
Source: Science Reference Services, Library of Congress
Posted in Education, Resources for Educators | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Direct to CIA World Factbook Web Site
From the Announcement:
On Monday, June 8, the World Factbook team unveiled its thoroughly redesigned Web site. Presenting a cleaner look, improved navigation, and a host of added features, the new site provides visitors with a more user-friendly experience. More than 3 million visitors access the online Factbook monthly. The world-renowned Factbook provides visitors with wide-ranging and hard-to-locate information about the background, geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 countries and other entities.
Key changes to the site include:
+ An overhaul of the entire site’s look/feel, including new uniform navigation throughout the Factbook site.
+ A new homepage, featuring: A color-coded, easily navigable world map
+ A featured links section that showcases regional maps, flags of the world, and a gallery of Factbook covers
+ Country pages now have collapsible/expandable content, giving visitors more information at their fingertips
In addition to the new look and improved navigation, the site provides several exciting new features:
Downloadable and printable photos for nearly 100 countries
+ “Did You Know?” section that explains the impact of the Factbook around the world
+ “What’s New” section that highlights recent significant updates and additions
+ Built-in world rankings for many of the Factbook information fields
Direct to CIA World Factbook Web Site
Source: Central Intelligence Agency
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Geographic, Media Guides, Factbooks, Fact Sheets, Press Kits, Resources, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
From the Announcement:
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, has added more recommended Web sites to Great Web Sites for Kids (www.ala.org/greatsites), its online resource containing hundreds of links to commendable Web sites for children.
Great Web Sites for Kids (GWS) features links to Web sites of interest to children 14 years of age and younger, organized into diverse subject headings such as dinosaurs, authors and illustrators; games and entertainment; U.S. history; astronomy and space; and reference desk. There is also a special section with sites of interest to parents, caregivers and teachers. Some of the Web sites even include blogging opportunities for kids.
Review the New Sites Added to the Collection
The list is at the bottom of the web page.
Review the Complete List of Sites and Review the Selection Criteria
Source: ALSC
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
From the Announcement:
As the entertainment industry promotes its new anti-copying educational program to the nation’s teachers, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today launched its own “Teaching Copyright” curriculum and website to help educators give students the real story about their digital rights and responsibilities on the Internet and beyond.
The Copyright Alliance — backed by the recording, broadcast, and software industries — has given its curriculum the ominous title “Think First, Copy Later.” This is just the latest example of copyright-focused educational materials portraying the use of new technology as a high-risk behavior. For example, industry materials have routinely compared downloading music to stealing a bicycle, even though many downloads are lawful, and making videos using short clips from other sources is treated as probably illegal even though many such videos are also lawful. EFF created Teaching Copyright as a balanced curriculum encouraging students to make full and fair use of technology that is revolutionizing learning and the exchange of information.
[Snip]
The Teaching Copyright curriculum was developed with the input of educators from across the U.S. and has been designed to satisfy components of standards from the International Society for Technology in Education and the California State Board of Education.
Direct to Teaching Copyright Web Site
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation
Hat Tip: SLA Public Policy Connections Blog
Posted in Information Industry, Intellectual Property, Resources for Educators, Source File | No Comments »
