Learning Objectives

• Consider methods for sharing ISearch with teachers, tech coordinators, administrators, and parents.
• Reflect on learning by sharing information with others.

Presenting ISearch to Parents 

According to the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement, "parent involvement...positively affects student achievement" (Reading Rockets). Encourage parents to use ISearch to help their children explore the resources in your school library.

Create a small flyer you can insert in each book students check out during the first months of school that includes the following:

• This video to let parents know about the INFOhio resources and tools available for use at home  
• "Parents, help your child find great books like this one and a lot more information in our school library!"
• Directions on where they can find ISearch on your school or library website
• Brief information about which tabs to use (depending on student age or reading level)
• The regularly scheduled library day or time for their child
• Your contact information if they have questions or need help

Create a feature in your school's newsletter for an "ISearch Topic of the Month" that is thematic or holiday-based. Encourage parents to try your suggested search terms and explore the materials available in your library and from INFOhio. Include directions on where they can find ISearch on your school or library website.

Share your school or district's INFOhio username and password so that students and parents can use your school's ISearch from home. Need help logging into the INFOhio website? This video shows users how to log in if they are not authenticated, and users can look up their username and password here: https://www.infohio.org/login.

During open house, parents nights, or conferences, show parents how they can help their children find reliable information from your school library and INFOhio for research assignments or reports. Consider playing the video Research Made Easy with ISearch in a hallway or in other areas where parents may be waiting. 

ISearch for College and Career Readiness

Let parents of older students know that ISearch helps prepare students for the kinds of search tools they'll use in college or in a career. Most universities in Ohio and around the world have a discovery interface like ISearch that students and faculty use to explore the contents of their university libraries, along with multiple collections of scholarly journals, abstracts, reports, primary sources, and academic reference materials. Most public libraries in Ohio have a discovery interface like ISearch that adults can use to explore the contents of their public library, along with multiple collections of trade and professional journals, popular magazines, newspapers, and genealogy materials.

Reflecting on Your Learning

Use the ISearch Information for Parents discussion in the ISearch Users Open Space Group to share how you help parents learn more about ISearch or to link to items you've created to help parents learn more about ISearch.

1. Reply to the original post, letting other ISearch users know how you share ISearch information with parents. Post a link to share any items you've created to help parents learn more about ISearch.