1. SIRS Discoverer
Opens a world of information to students
Paul M. Stella, Librarian
Nassau County Public Library
http://read.nassau.lib.fl.us/databases.html
2. Welcome to SIRS Discoverer
• SIRS stands for “Social
Issues Resources Series.”
• An award-winning database
designed with the young
researcher in mind.
• Strengthens research,
reading, writing, and
computer skills.
• Articles and graphics from
more than 1,900 U.S. and
international magazines,
newspapers, and U.S.
government documents.
SIRS Discoverer
®
3. Database Features
Full-Text Articles
• 100% Full-Text
• Keyword bolding of
search terms
• Article Reading Levels
• In-line pictures support
reading
• Links to related
articles
• Email articles and
pictures
• Print for reading or
reference
4. SIRS Discoverer WebFind
• Now includes Discoverer
WebFind as a content
set.
• Dynamically updated
collection of websites are
evaluated for research
value, high interest,
credibility, and age
appropriateness.
• Sites are monitored for
content changes by
SIRS' software.
SIRS Discoverer
®
5. Database Features
WebFind Sites
• Selected by subject
specialists to ensure
age appropriateness,
credibility, reliability.
• Continually monitored
for content changes.
• Source, Summary, and
Descriptor information
aids in determining
content.
• Supports curriculum
through assigned
Reading Levels,
Topics, and
Subjects.
6. Database Features
• Articles, images, and
websites are regularly
selected by our SIRS
research team comprised
of 40+ professionals with
diverse educational
backgrounds.
• Highlights interesting
articles and images that
are tied to timely themes.
Top Pick
7. Database Features
• Research ideas to help
pupils start researching
right away. Includes:
— Born this Month
Biographies
— Holidays &
Celebrations
World cultures
— Challenge Quest
Quiz and pathfinders
aid information literacy
— Suggested Research
Topics
Start research
with these
top searches
Pathfinders
8. Database Features
• Provides a shortcut to
full-text articles that offer
activities:
— Science experiments
— Craft projects
— Writing activities
• Activities are marked with
a label in the article
results list (an a) to make
them easy to identify
within results.
Activities
14. Database Features
• More than 3,000 detailed,
printable maps are
available as an online
reference almanac.
• Maps include all 50
United States, the
provinces and territories
of Canada, as well as
nations and regions of
the world.
• Includes U.S. Historical,
World Historical, and
Outline Maps.
Maps of the World
17. SIRS Discoverer Search Paths
1. Subject Tree Search
— Locate content via
15 category buttons.
— Categories are divided into
sub-topics, or “branches,”
creating a subject tree.
— Useful when you have a
general subject in mind
and allows you to explore
many different fields
without limiting you to
predetermined topics.
Three Search Methods
18. Database Features
1. Subject Tree Search
— Topics appear in each
category and may be
followed by article or
website titles.
— An < indicates the branch
has been expanded.
— Select the branch to return
to that level of the tree.
— An > indicates there are
additional levels beyond
this branch in the tree.
Three Search Methods
19. Database Features
2. Keyword Search
— Boolean Operators
AND, OR, NOT
— AND is grand, but OR gives
more!
— Truncation
farm* -> farmers, farming
— Phrase Searching
“affirmative action”
— Natural Language
Why is the sky blue?
— Article Sorting
Relevance
Date
Lexile
Three Search Methods
20. Database Features
2. Keyword Search
(Advanced)
— Additional search fields
available, search by
Title or Author, or
together in conjunction
with Full-Text.
— Reading Level
Selectors:
Easy, Moderate,
Challenging
— Search in almanac or
encyclopedia
— Limit results to a
Three Search Methods
21. Database Features
3. Subject Headings
Search
— Use this method when
you have a specific
research topic in mind.
— Articles are indexed
according to Library of
Congress subject
headings.
Three Search Methods
22. Database Features
Reading Levels
Articles and sites are
assigned a reading
level according to
editorial judgment,
the Flesch Reading
Ease and Lexile
scale.
Limit searches to
include articles or
websites of a single
reading level or
broader Lexile
range, in any
combination.
Easy
(Grades 1-4)
General
(All grades)
Moderate
(Grades 5-7)
Challenging
(Grades 8+)
23. Database Features
Pictures
• The Camera icon
signifies that there are
one or more pictures
available.
• Select the icon to view
a list.
• In addition, articles
include inline
thumbnail images,
which assist
researchers and
create context.
24. Database Features
Article Labels
• a - Designates the
article contains an
activity.
• f - Designates the
article is a work of
fiction.
• p - Designates the
article contains
biographical
information about
a person.
25. Database Features
Source Tabs & Modify
• Source tabs have
been added to help
further narrow your
results.
• A search box at the
bottom enable users
to modify a search
without having to
start over.
26. Database Features
Email
• Users may email
full-text articles and
pictures to their
personal email
addresses
right from the
article display.
27. Database Features
Print
• A Print button displays
at the top of each
article.
• Allows quick and easy
access to the print
dialog box of your
browser.
28. SIRS Discoverer
Additional Help
• Tutorial
• Dictionary &Thesaurus
• Help Index
• Search Tips
• How to Cite
• Workbooks
• Educators’ Resources
• Bookmark
Welcome to our tutorial on SIRS Discoverer.
My name is Paul Stella – Branch Manager of Callahan Library.
10 minute lecture and overview of product freely available through NCPL. The NCPL website is here. We also have some library literature that contains the website’s address or URL.
SIRS Discoverer is an excellent online tool designed for elementary and middle school children. SIRS Discoverer has been designed to change the research experience for younger students. Animals, arts, science, or sports—whatever the topic make research a blast. Filled with articles primarily written for kids, this database invites users to discover their own world, from their own point of view.
Let’s get started… go to website. Show login procedures. All library cards have same 5 numbers, 20310.
You may ask what does the acronym “SIRS” mean? Social Issues Resources Series. SIRS is a reference database designed to develop reading, writing and language skills for elementary and middle school students.
Reference material is rarely developed for younger students. They must make use of sources aimed at older students. This often makes research experiences difficult and frustrating.
Have any of you experienced this frustration with your student?
Materials are carefully selected for their educational content, interest, and level of readability.
Using the database, the student will find Full-Text articles that support the appropriate grade/reading level. There are links to subtopics and related articles. Any article may be printed or e-mailed.
Pictures can also be downloaded to a USB drive.
SIRS Discoverer has found a great way to integrate the information on the WWW to students in a meaningful way. The content of the WWW is not indexed and unfiltered for students. It is the equivalent of a LOST episode with students struggling to survive the jumble of (mis)information. Students waste time trying to find relevant & authoritative material on the Internet.
Let me read some passages from one of their brochures comparing Discoverer vs. Google and other web surfing:
100% of SIRS is curriculum relevant for K-12. Less than 10% of Google is curriculum relevant for K-12. Selected websites and quality articles, reviewed daily, meet K-12 curriculum and state education standards in SIRS. Google information is not updated regularly and may be created by questionable sources.
Reading level designations for all articles and selection of appropriate websites for grades K-8 in SIRS. No method for adjusting results for student reading levels in Google.
Tutorials are included in SIRS. Google has o equivalent feature.
This is as close to an index for relevant Websites as you will find.
Top Pick shows high interest articles.
We’ll also showcase the Spotlight of the Month a little later.
Any Questions?
Moving down on the screen we find a listing of the Database Features of SIRS.
Pathfinders are a lot like a road map – they show you places you can go, and suggested topics.
Often the difficulty in research comes in selecting a topic. SIRS provides research ideas, topics relevant to students. Gives them a leg up without the added stress.
Under the Database Features you will find the Activities button.
Articles contain complete instructions on how to do a variety of projects, including art projects, recipes, plays to perform, science projects and more.
Teachers and mentors can supplement learning by creating lessons around many of these activities.
Let’s look at just one example of the Articles feature in our next slide.
Here is an editorial cartoon found in a newspaper. SIRS provides a useful activity to prime a student to think about the relevancy of the content.
It says…
Editorial cartoonists use pictures to express their opinions about issues in the news.
Study the cartoon about high food and gas prices. Then answer the questions that follow.
Cartoon: High Food and Gas Prices
1. What does the man mean when he says, &quot;One of you will go hungry&quot;?
2. To whom is the man talking?
3. What is the reaction? How can you tell?
4. What is happening in the cartoon? Write a brief summary to explain.
5. What point might the cartoonist be trying to make about rising food and gas prices?
Biographies provides a shortcut to biographies included on SIRS Discoverer. Nearly 2000 biographies of famous and/or notable people are included.
The Biographies screen appears with an Alphabetical browse.
Enter the name for the desired biography last name, then first name or browse alphabetically by the first letter of the LAST NAME of the person.
Remember that the biographies in SIRS include carefully selected websites and that all information can be found at multiple reading levels.
States and countries will always be researched by middle and elementary school students. SIRS provides an easy-to-use “Country facts” that has relevant and current information written on the level appropriate for students.
Select Country Facts from Database Features
Select a subtopic of interest or an article title to view.
Maps, flags and cultural or demographics are readily available.
Photo Essays portray social issues and global concepts using visuals accompanied by brief text. Each topic consists of several essays containing photographs, maps, or other graphic elements along with brief informative text.
Select Photo Essays from Database Features
Topic titles display in alphabetical order. Choose a topic
Select a photo essay you would like to view. The article associated with the photo essay is displayed.
Kids love pictures, don’t they? Hey, we all love to see pictures… remember when “instant” meant a Polaroid shot of yourself? Now we have digital photography and computer editing software to make finding pictures easy. SIRS supports this digital revolution with over 33,000 high quality pic’s with the body of a full-text articles.
Select Pictures from Database Features
Enter search term(s) and select Search. You can also browse alphabetically.
Select a picture title to view.
SIRS also includes Maps of the World in Database Features.
Have you ever tried to take an Atlas and photocopy a map? It’s nearly impossible to copy a clear image.
Select Maps from Database Features.
This page allows you to search by Keyword, Browse by Title or Category. Choose your Search Method.
Enter search term(s) and select Search. Select a map to view.
The outline maps are cool if students need a blank map to fill in states, capitals, etc.
Lastly SIRS contains American Heritage Dictionary and Roget’s II Thesaurus to assist users in defining words, checking spelling or choosing the perfect word.
The onscreen User’s Guide has a complete overview of all features available.
Continuing with the Database Features there are 4 interesting components found underneath the WebFinder feature.
Current Events is obvious.
Spotlight of the Month articles encourage research into the current topic. They will remain linked from this page until the end of each month. An archive with articles is also available for the duration of the calendar year.
World Almanac for kids provides an easy-to-use Table of Contents of topics with an index of chapters and subchapters. Use Table of Contents search when you have a general idea of your research subject.
Comptons by Encyclopedia Britannica® is one of the world&apos;s most trusted sources of information on every topic imaginable - from the origins of the universe to current events, and everything in between.
Any questions?
There are 3 main searching methods for SIRS. The first method is the Subject Tree Search. Notice the read box on the screen surrounding the tree.
Choose a topic from one of the 15 main categories on the Home Page or from the Subject Tree Search link located at the bottom of the page. This type of search is similar to the “Yahoo” search method on the Internet.
The categories represent the “Trunk” of the tree. The topical categories are then subdivided into the “branches” making up the subject tree.
Subject Tree searching is most useful when you are browsing for a general topic or subject and want to explore the topic in full.
Topics appear and may be followed by article titles.
&lt; “Less Than sign” Indicates the branch has been expanded. Select the branch to return to that level of the tree..
&gt; “Greater Than sign” Indicates there are additional levels beyond this branch in the tree.
Click the branch to advance to a subtopic.
Keyword Search is useful when you want to locate articles based upon your own combination of key words and phrases. This is where the fun begins…
Let’s talk a moment about Boolean Operators: AND, OR & NOT.
The AND operator locates articles that contain all of the key words or phrases.
Example: A query such as children AND computers returns articles that contain both key words.
The OR operator locates articles that contain at least one of the key words or phrases.
Example: A query such as hurricane OR tornado returns articles that contain one or both key words.
The NOT operator eliminates articles that contain certain key words or phrases.
Examples: California AND earthquake NOT &quot;San Francisco&quot; returns articles that contain the words California and earthquake but not the phrase San Francisco. This is an example of how to locate references to the various earthquakes in California, excluding those in San Francisco.
Use AND and OR together to expand your search. AND has a higher precedence than OR, so you must enclose the OR words in parentheses.
Example: health AND (kids OR children) will return articles that contain the words health and kids, or health and children.
Use NOT and OR together to limit your search. NOT has a higher precedence than OR, so a search using NOT and OR produces results as described below.
Example: (dog NOT cat) OR puppy will return articles that reference dog but don&apos;t contain cat, or contain puppy.
Note: The AND operator is implied between each key word or phrase in a query that does not contain Boolean operators.
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Truncation
Truncation involves the use of a wildcard to find alternate word endings to your query. It is a shortcut - a quick and easy way to include plurals, tense variations and alternate spellings.
To use Truncation, type an asterisk (*) after the root of your key word. For example, the query farm* returns articles that contain the words farm, farmed, farmer, farmers, farming, farmland, farmhouse, farms, etc.
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Phrase Searches
Phrase Search allows searching of article text for keyword phrases. The phrase must be enclosed in quotation marks to ensure that multiple words appearing next to one another in a specified order will be found within article text.
Entering the query &quot;affirmative action&quot; returns articles that contain the phrase affirmative action. Articles that contain both affirmative and action but not together will not be returned.
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Natural Language
A Natural Language Search is a way of expressing a query in simple language without having to use Boolean operators.
If you are looking for articles about life on other planets, you can conduct a Natural Language Search by typing Is there life on other planets?
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Article Sorting
Results may be returned by relevance or date order.
Relevance returns articles based on the number of times key words from a query appear in the article text.
Date returns articles in reverse chronological order. If currency is the most important factor, select date.
In advanced search, select Lexile Ascending to see lowest Lexile scores first or Lexile Descending to see highest scores first.
Advanced Keyword Searches
Additional Search fields available (Author, Title)
Default Reading Levels
Articles in Discoverer are assigned a reading level according to the Flesch Reading Ease scale:
Easy (grades 1-4)
Moderate (grades 5-7)
Challenging (8th grade and beyond)
You may set the search interfaces to search one, two, or all three reading levels by default. If you make no specification, all three reading levels will always be searched.
The LCSH are not always intuitive, or known automatically. Human beings indexing this information means there may be several references to the same information.
A good example is the Civil War:
American Civil War (1861-1865) - See: U.S., History, Civil War (1861-1865)
War between the States (1861-1865) - See: U.S., History, Civil War (1861-1865)
SIRS Discoverer does have “see” references to assist you in finding the correct topic.
Any questions?
Little Book - Select to view the article Source & Summary. The color of this icon also indicates the Reading Level of the article.
What about reading levels?
Flesch’s Reading Ease formula became the most widely used formula and one of the most tested and reliable. The computations involve only the counting of words, syllables, and sentences. From these counts sentence length and word length are combined to compute the actual scale score. This score can range from zero, for extremely difficult reading, to one hundred, for very easy reading.
Lexile falls under the category of leveled reading. In a nutshell, leveled reading uses various assessment tools to determine how well your child reads, and then matches her to books that are challenging enough for her to make progress, but not so hard that she will become frustrated.
From Scholastic.Com: nice article on Leveled Books by Deborah Wilburn
Q: How can I help my son/daughter choose books that are at her reading level?
A: &quot;Just-right books&quot; make reading more fun and less frustrating. Have your child try the &quot;five-finger test&quot; to select a book.
1. Choose a book you would like to read.2. Look at a page in the middle.3. Put one finger down for every word you can&apos;t read or don&apos;t understand. If you have five fingers down, the book may be too hard.4. If you have fewer than five fingers down, the book is &quot;just right&quot;! Read it.
Article labels…
Letter a - Designates the article contains an activity.
Letter f - Designates the article is fiction.
Letter p - Designates the article contains biographical information about a person.
Now you have seen what all of the little icons mean. Any questions?
For Natural Language and Keyword searching, click on the Source Tab for more information on the bibliographic citation.
Also, the search box at the bottom page allows the searcher to change and modify search strategies without starting over.
Remember all full-text articles can be e-mailed, including pic&apos;s, maps, graphs, etc. Pictures can also be saved on a USB drive.
Printing at NCPL requires prepayment. Speak to your staff person for assistance.
