Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of using digital text, print, and other media to support the inquiry process. 
• Identify strategies for integrating Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 into inquiry instructon.
• Teach students how to locate information within Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12.
• Learn how to use features within Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 to differentiate instruction.

Locating Information Using Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12.

Inquiry is a student-centered approach that focuses on helping students develop skills in three critical areas: questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Locating information in a digital world offers an abundance of opportunities and resources never before available. But with this diversity of resources comes challenges with locating high-quality, trustworthy information. Databases like those in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 can be the perfect solution, offering high-quality, trustworthy information in a variety of formats. Learn more about strategies for locating information as you read this Teach With INFOhio blog post, Inquiry and INFOhio: Locating Information. 

Start your instruction by showing students this short video highlighting why and how to use Explora for research. 

Demonstrate the difference between a search using a popular web search engine and the same search using Explora for Grades 6-8 or Explora for Grades 9-12.

1. Open a web search engine and Explora for Grades 6-8 or Explora for Grades 9-12.
2. Select keywords to support an upcoming lesson or unit. Perform a basic keyword search in both a web search engine and Explora for Grades 6-8 or Explora for Grades 9-12. For example, search the term "immigration". Review the Topic Overview at the top of the result list. Then use the limiters to narrow the results to find the best information for your students' needs.
3. From a web search of "immigration", select a website. Explore the website and its contents. 
4. Explore the contents of the searches in Explora for Grades 6-8 or Explora for Grades 9-12 and the website. Compare the information found in each of the resources.
5. Discuss with students how the features found in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 can make locating specific, valid information simpler.

Basic Search in Explora For Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12

Users can conduct a basic keyword search from the Explora homepage. At the top of that page, locate the search bar. Enter your keywords. As you type, popular search terms will generate. Select or type in a search term and select the magnifying glass button. 

Use the limiters at the top to pare down search results. By default, the most relevant search results appear at the top of the results list. Select the arrow next to Relevance to change the order of results. 

From the search results page, students can choose the type of results they wish to see using the Source Type limiter. This is helpful in determining the source of the content as well as its format. 

Visit New Explora - Basic Search on EBSCO Connect to learn more about conducting a basic search in Explora. 

Advanced Search in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12

The advanced search features and filters available in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 are the same. From a basic search, select Advanced Search from the top right of the search-results page. This will show you advanced-search options. 

Your search terms will be carried forward. Students can combine search terms using the advanced search options in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12.

Visit New Explora - Advanced Search on EBSCO Connect to learn more about conducting an advanced search in Explora. 

All Filters in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12

Students can see "All filters" to access a menu of filters to narrow search results.

All Databases in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12

Students can select "All databases" to narrow or expand search results. But the 9-12 resources feature more databases. This means, your advanced search will yield a greater number of more specific databases to help you narrow your search. 

Explora for Grades 9-12

Most of the advanced search features are the same in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. The image below shows the different databases available in Explora for Grades 9-12. Students can customize their searches by selecting different databases, By default, Explora will search all databases. 

It is important at this level of instruction to help students differentiate between databases and identify those most useful for their topic and purpose. For example, a student who is searching for an author's biography or a critique of his work would benefit from using Literary Reference Center. 

Differentiation

Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 both have Text-to-Speech and translation features. For more information on how to customize the Text-to-Speech feature, review the Tools for Reading Digital Text lesson in this class. The translate feature is available on online full text articles and offers more than 30 languages. Read Translating Online Full Text in the New EBSCO Interfaces to learn more about how to use the translation tool. 

Saving and Sharing Information

Students can save and share the information they find. Help them find Share button. Clicking it gives them options to send the information to a platform where they can more easily interact with the text and content. 

Both online full text and PDF versions of the article have the same save and share options:

• Download 
• Google Drive
• One Drive
• Create Link

"Create link" will generate a shareable link. Students can copy and paste the link into a list of links they have created for their project. They can paste copied links into a Google Doc file, Word document, or a note-keeping application. 

Reflecting on Your Learning 

Answer the questions in Explora Resources Open Space group. Find the Integrating Explora Resources reflection question. Once you have shared your reply, respond to other participants' answers. 

1. What are two things you are doing in your classroom or instruction already that will make integrating digital content from Explora for Grades 6-8 or 9-12 easier?
2. After reading Inquiry and INFOhio: Locating Information blog post, explain how digital content supports students as they locate information.
3. What is one challenge you face in implementing Explora for Grades 6-8 or Explora for Grades 9-12 as a teaching resource?
4. What steps will you take to overcome challenges to using Explora for Grades 6-8 or Explora for Grades 9-12 in the classroom?