Use the following objectives to check your learning as you proceed through the class:
• Learn what ISearch is, its role in the library and how to access. • Explore the ISearch interface and understand which content collections are available in ISearch. • Learn how to create a widget, bookmark, or link for ease of access. • Create a book river to highlight collections in your library and increase use and circulation. • Develop strong search skills by using an advanced search and limiters. • Learn how to find ISearch statistics. • Learn how to create customized access to ISearch to fit the needs of students, teachers, and parents. • Identify best practices for using ISearch in the classroom. • Consider methods for sharing ISearch with teachers, tech coordinators, administrators, and parents. • Reflect on learning by sharing information with others.
In this class, you will work through several lessons to learn how to use ISearch to locate items in your school library and in INFOhio's digital content collections, teach students how to use ISearch, and make ISearch easily accessible to your students and your colleagues. 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.
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Getting Started
Pretest: Take a quiz to find out what you know or need to know about ISearch, BLUEcloud's online catalog. 5 minutes
Welcome to the ISearch for Librarians Class: Review the course objectives and the course overview. 10 minutes
Using Open Space Groups: Join the ISearch Users group in Open Space. In this group, discuss and reflect on the integration of this resource into the classroom with like-minded librarians and educators. 5 minutes
How to Use ISearch
Getting to Know ISearch: Learn about ISearch and explore the ISearch interface. 20 minutes
Finding ISearch on the INFOhio Website: Learn how to access ISearch. 15 minutes
Search Basics: Develop good search strategies and learn about some advanced search strategies that are easy to use to get good results. 15 minutes
Getting the Results You Want: Learn how applying limiters under each tab can give you better results. 15 minutes
Saving Items: Practice using the different options for saving and sharing items you find in ISearch. 15 minutes
Applying What You Have Learned: Use ISearch to find different types of resources on a topic. 10 minutes
What Have You Learned So Far? Take a short quiz to check what you know. 5 minutes
ISearch Mobile
Getting to Know ISearch Mobile: Learn what ISearch Mobile is and how to access it. 10 minutes
Searching in ISearch Mobile: Learn best practices for searching within ISearch Mobile. 10 minutes
Accessing My Account from ISearch Mobile: Learn how to access and use My Account within ISearch Mobile. 10 minutes
Making ISearch Easy to Find
ISearch Customizations: Learn how to create customized access to ISearch. 15 minutes
Linking to Your ISearch Landing Page: Learn how to create customized access to ISearch with a button or link. 10 minutes
Embedding the ISearch Widget on a Webpage: Learn how to create customized access to ISearch with a widget. 10 minutes
ISearch Use Data: Learn how to find ISearch Statistics. 10 minutes
Helping Students and Staff Use ISearch
Teaching Students to Search the My Library Tab: Learn how to teach students to use the My Library tab within ISearch. 15 minutes
Teaching Students to Find Just the Right Text: Learn how to teach students how to find the best tab for the information they need. 15 minutes
Find Resources for Research Projects: Learn how to teach users how to find resources for research projects. 15 minutes
Sharing ISearch with Teachers, Tech Coordinators, and Administrators: Learn about ways to help Teachers, Tech Coordinators, and Administrators support their students as they use ISearch. 10 minutes
Sharing ISearch with Parents: Learn about ways to help parents support their children as they use ISearch. 10 minutes
Checking Your Learning
Self-Assessments: Answer questions to reflect on what you learned. 15 minutes
Contact Hour Quiz and Certificate: Take a quiz to earn a certificate for 4.5 contact hours. 5 minutes
If you need any help while you complete the course, please contact us at support.infohio.org.
