Learning Objectives

Use the following objectives to check your learning as you proceed through the class:

• Understand the importance of using digital text and other media to support the inquiry process. 
• Find Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 on the INFOhio website: www.infohio.org.
• Identify the databases which supply the content for Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 in order to use the best resource for the needs of your students.
• Use the navigational tools to search and browse content to find the best content for students and instruction.
• Teach students how to locate information within Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12.
• Find the instructional supports available in the resource.
• Identify strategies for integrating Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 into inquiry instruction.
• Learn how to use features within Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 to differentiate instruction. 
• Consider methods for sharing Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 with parents and colleagues. 
• Create a lesson plan to integrate Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 into classroom instruction.
• Reflect on learning by sharing information with others.

In this class, you will work through several lessons to learn how to access INFOhio's subscription to Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12, how to use the resource, and how to integrate it into teaching the inquiry process. Below is a description of each lesson and an estimate of the amount of time it may take to complete each one.

To enhance your participation in the class:

• Click links to access additional resources.
• Download exercise files from the Exercise Files tab on the main page of the class or from the bottom of individual lessons.
• Click images to make them bigger.
• Consider reviewing the lesson INFOhio's Six Dimensions of Inquiry in the What is Inquiry? class as well as the Inquiry and INFOhio blog series found in Teach With INFOhio. 

Getting Started

• Pretest: Take a quiz to find out what you know or need to know about Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. 5 minutes
• Welcome to the Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 Class: Review the course objectives and the course overview. 5 minutes
• Using Open Space Groups: Join the Explora Resources group in Open Space. In this group, discuss and reflect on the integration of this resource into the classroom with like-minded educators. 5 minutes

How to Use Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12

• Getting To Know Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12: Read facts about Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12, practice the steps needed to access the resource on www.infohio.org, and learn about the different databases included in each resource. Think about what you learned by answering questions. 10 minutes
• Using Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12: Searching: Learn about the navigational tools and features in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. 5 minutes
• Using Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12: Browsing: Learn about the navigational tools and features in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. 5 minutes
• Using the Instructional Supports: Learn about the instructional supports available in Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. 5 minutes
• Tools for Reading Digital Text: Learn more about the tools that are available for reading digital text. 5 minutes
• What Have You Learned So Far? Take a short quiz to check what you know. 5 minutes
• Applying What You Have Learned: Complete an activity to practice using Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. 10 minutes

Integrating Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 into Classroom Instruction

• Teaching Students to Locate Information with Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12: Read strategies for using Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. Reflect on the practices by answering questions. 15 minutes
• Sharing Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12 with Colleagues and Parents: Consider methods for sharing Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 6-12 with parents and colleagues. 5 minutes
• Creating Lessons Using Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12: Review lesson plans featuring Explora for Grades 6-8 and Explora for Grades 9-12. Create your own using a lesson plan template. 30 minutes

Checking your Learning

• Self-Assesments: Answer the questions to reflect on what you learned. 15 minutes
• Contact Hours Quiz and Certificate: Take a quiz to earn a certificate for 2 contact hours. 5 minutes