|
It's not your imagination -- TeachingBooks DOES look different this year *** ProQuest's computer-generated off-campus access info is awkward, but the techs and librarians with admin rights can provide better ones *** And there's one more "Roadshow" training in 2019: Nov 12 in Stockton.
TeachingBooks Redesign Launch for the 2019-20 School Year
***Submitted by TeachingBooks trainer Deb Ford-Sayler***
TeachingBooks is excited to share that after 19 years, we have a new design. The enhanced website is our best effort to serve and bring to life the books enjoyed in your communities. This opportunity to refresh our service would not be possible without the support of you and the now 47,000+ schools and libraries that have access to our service.
You will find all of the same ever-growing and amazing resources that support and enhance literacy. In addition, we at TeachingBooks have added new features, including:
- Browse: Books | Authors & Illustrators | Series | Awards | Lists | Collections
- Instruct: Literacy and Standard Connections | Ready-to-Use Activities | & More
- Help: Training | Share & Promote | FAQs | Contact Us
You’ll also find new technical enhancements, including:
- Device agnostic: Easy access on any device
- Scan an ISBN: Direct access to a book’s resources
- New Search Box: Search and then narrow
Sign up today for the TeachingBooks fall webinars. In just 30 minutes, TeachingBooks trainers will dig deeper as we explore featured topics and resources. In our 45 minute webinars, you will learn the latest and greatest ways to collaboratively enrich the literacy work in your school. You’ll be an expert before you know it. Webinars will be recorded and made available for viewing.
If you need more training and support, contact the TeachingBooks CA Implementation and Training Specialist, Deborah Ford-Salyer, deb@teachingbooks.net. TeachingBooks is happy to personalize training for your needs. We at TeachingBooks think you’ll find the new website is more intuitive, playful, and clear for all. With tremendous gratitude to you and your community for your continued belief and support, we thank you.
***
Annoyed by those complicated ProQuest access names and codes for off-campus access? Change them!*
ProQuest has a LOT for IT professionals and librarians to digest when first establishing access for district or charter school students. One issue: the computer-generated access names/codes for students and educators to use off-campus aren't intuitive. The randomly created credentials can be impossible to remember and discourage students from accessing the content after school hours.
These can be streamlined. The IT or library professionals designated as the lead and have the administrative credentials for ProQuest can create logical access names and codes for off-campus use. ProQuest trainer Lindsey Skaggs created a 8-minute video on how to get set up and streamline off-campus access credentials. The rights only apply to the employee with admin access for the district/charter account from ProQuest, so if you are a librarian or teacher, check in with IT.
(* Technically an administrator is adding a second set of access credentials, not changing the original ones that only a computer could love. But the end result is the same -- better off-campus access.)
***
ICYMI: Updated Webcode Template that includes off-campus links for ProQuest
Last year the three content providers teamed up to craft a template that lets a web designer easily create a web page with direct access links to the databases. By simply copying/pasting the code provided on the template URL into an appropriate web page, a district’s or charter’s website designer will have all the buttons, links, and language needed to create an appropriate web page.
This year we've updated the template to include a series of "off campus links" for accessing ProQuest somewhere besides a school site. Some users last year had IP-authentication conflicts at off-campus locations, particularly at public libraries. These links should circumvent those issues, provided that students have their district's accessname/accesscode for off-campus access.
NOTE: We encourage everyone who used this template last year to grab the new one and make the "off-campus access" links available, even with single-sign-on learning management systems (LMSs). The links are provided to prevent technical issues off-campus. A sample of these off-campus URLs may be found on the right side of the main K12 Online Content page (scroll past the "note"), or in the template text as well.
***
ROADSHOW 2019 - Last Training in 2019 on November 12 in Stockton
There's one more chance to partake in an all-day training this fall at the San Joaquin County Office of Education on November 12 (Stockton). This is a full-day opportunity to dive deep into Britannica, TeachingBooks and ProQuest with professional trainers, and the sessions will be geared towards enhancing education for English language learners and bilingual speakers (especially Spanish) and providing diverse materials from a global perspective.
Training will start at 8:15 am and conclude at 3:30 pm, Attendees are not limited to school employees within the area of San Joaquin County. And we provide lunch, breakfast, snacks and coffee!
San Joaquin County Office of Education
Wentworth Education Center
Burwood Conference Room
2707 Transworld Drive
Stockton, CA 95206
Register Here
***
ICYMI: "Road Show" recordings - training available at your fingertips!
We've had two successful days of the 2019 "Road Show" all-day immersive training in Britannica, TeachingBooks and ProQuest. If you want a refresher or were unable to attend, no worries! Our friends at the San Diego County Office of Education had a full multi-media team on site. Please take a look, and share with colleagues, students, even parents!
TEACHINGBOOKS TRAINING (San Diego, Sept 2019)
BRITANNICA TRAINING (San Diego, Sept 2019)
PROQUEST TRAINING W/GENERAL OVERVIEW INTRO (San Diego, Sept 2019)
Interested in hosting a K12 Online Content Roadshow in the future? Contact Mary Beth at marybeth.barber@library.ca.gov.
***
ICYMI: Going "Beyond the Textbooks" in 2018-19 with K-12 Online Content: REPORT
During the inaugural 2018-19 school year of the K-12 Online Content Project, California students and educators signed on to Britannica, TeachingBooks and ProQuest over seven million times and conducted over 33 million actions. A recently released analysis from the California State Library provides the data on the success of this program in its first year, “California K-12 Online Content Project: Going Beyond the Textbooks, September 2019.”
The 14-page report summarizes not only the usage of these suites of online content and teaching tools, but also gives an overview of the features from each of the content platforms and how they may be used to supplement and differentiate educational efforts.
***
Share this with someone (You can grab the text, too)
We’re trying to build a network of educators, librarians, administrators and others (including parents and the students themselves) to fully utilize this educational opportunity. Please share this eNewsletter with others, and encourage them to sign up. And feel free to copy/paste text for your own outreach to teachers, staff and others. Just make sure you get the URLs, credit the State Library somewhere ... and fix any typos or grammar problems. Sometimes we work a little too quick here!
Comments and suggestions are always welcome and may be sent to Marybeth.barber@library.ca.gov.
|