11.+Google+Research+Tools

= 11. Google Research Tools =

Google Timeline Google News Timeline Google Real Time Search Google Wonder wheel iGoogle

===Rationale for Using this Technology Tool:=== Google research tools are very useful for gathering information on current events and for putting this information into a historical perspective. The Real Time search allows students to see news as it is breaking. The Google Timeline and the Google News Timeline allow students to view news events in chronological perspective. The layout of these pages is especially helpful to visual learners. Also, Google Wonder wheel is helpful for students to refine their search terms. Google Timeline, Google News Timeline, and Google Wonder Wheel are especially helpful to visual learners. The librarian also puts a widget on the library iGoogle page (which is linked to the library web page) to Google news. (Google Research tools are also incredibly useful in the beginning information gathering stage of other research projects, but we are focusing on current events here because that fits the scenario described below.)

===Description of Scenario:=== The 11th grade American history class is following the progress of the health care reform bill in Congress. Every week a different student gives a brief oral report on the week's news about this bill. The school librarian teaches students different Google research tools to help them gather information for these reports. She also makes an iGoogle page (which she links to the library web page) which includes a widget to Google News.

===Rationale for Using This Technology Tool In School Libraries:=== === The school library is a great place to teach students about various aspects of search, including online searching about current events. Also, it is important that the library website make it easy to perform these various searches. The library web page should include links to Google Timeline, Google News Timeline, Google Real Time Search, and Google Wonder wheel, and should also give a brief explanation of how and when to use these tools. It would also be helpful to have an iGoogle page linked to the library web page that includes a widget to Google News. Having these links on the library web page will make it easy for students to launch their searches from the library web page. Students will think of the school library and the school library web page as the "go to" place for their research needs. ===

===Detailed Description of Scenario in School Library Setting:=== === The school librarian knows that the 11th grade American history teacher wants her students to follow the progress of the health care reform bill in Congress, and that each week a different student will give a brief oral report on the topic to keep the whole class up to date. The school librarian convinces the history teacher that it would be very helpful for students to know how to use Google Timeline, Google News Timeline, Google Real Time Search, and Google Wonder wheel in order to keep up with the news on the health care reform bill and gather information for their oral reports. The teacher schedules one of her September classes in the library so the librarian can present these tools (using an lcd projector) to the class. She includes in her presentation how Google News Timeline can give historical perspective to the current debates over health care reform. Students spend the remainder of the library class time in the computer lab exploring these different google research tools as they search for information on the health care bill. ===


 * submitted by Pam McCuen