Database Highlight #51: We've got the Digital Encyclopedia for That
Some kids love Frog and Toad and some kids would rather read about real amphibians! Today’s kid doesn’t need a heavy Britannica set. We have a digital encyclopedia online and available 24/7. Britannica Library Children is a kid-friendly version of the classic Britannica encyclopedia. The database features all the things you know and trust in Britannica – authoritative articles, full color images – plus videos, an atlas, and country comparisons. Keyword searching and browse make for easy discovery.
When a child or adult uses an online encyclopedia, they aren’t simply discovering information, they are using and learning digital literacy. In a nutshell, digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, create, and communicate using technology. When you search a database you’re showing great digital literacy skills! Despite the prevalence of networks, devices, software, platforms, and on and on in our lives, many people still struggle with basic digital literacy skills.
This week’s open site, Digital Learn, is hoping to combat digital illiteracy by offering free online videos to get customers started with using a computer, navigating a website, setting up email, and more. Full courses run up to 22 minutes but, for those in a hurry, the courses are broken into segments. For example, if you have a customer who has been told they need to job search online but they don’t have time to watch the full course, perhaps the 4:00 video on Career Sites will do. All lessons come with pdfs so you can easily print a lesson or course for the customer who prefers written instruction. If you're considering holding a digital literarcy class, you might be interested in the Tools and Resources for Trainers.
Action Steps
- Keyword search or browse a topic in Britannica Library Children. Leave one fact in the comments.
- Check out a course in Digital Learn. Can you see your library directing customers to use this resource? If so, which course/lesson would be most useful?
There’s a deck of cards for the first two commenters!
- Log in to post comments
Comments
* I looked up Bob Marley in the Britannica Library Children encyclopedia. He organized the One Love concert in 1978 to try to bring together various groups who were fighting for control of Jamaica.
"Bob Marley." Britannica Library, Encyclopædia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2018. library.eb.com/levels/children/article/Bob-Marley/600321. Accessed 16 Jul. 2018.
* I think the Digital Learn site is pretty cool and would be useful for our customers. It's like a super basic version of lynda.com. Any of the courses would be helpful to our customers who have difficulty using computers and navigating the internet. I think the job search and resume guides would be especially helpful.
Narwhals are known mostly for their "horn", which is actually a tusk, and there are rare cases where one will grow 2.
It seems very useful, since we do get some questions about computer classes. The fact that they're split into smaller lessons is also great.
The opening page for Britannica was interesting and fun. I like the "Do You know"quizzes you can take - some fun videos, too. I chose Media and Fine Arts. Good video of women tap dancing. Other good pictures there, too.
Loved the Digital Learning. I just had a person come in to fine out how to do an Excel spreadsheet for a home budget. This would have been perfect. Good explanation, but not too involved or too long.