The learner will be introduced to the Pioneer website (or a collection of databases), its location, its format, and how to use it.
Sort sticks: to create seven groups of students, using colors: blue, red, orange, green, pink, purple, and yellow.
Color papers at tables to sort groups and site name of Pioneer sites, one color, one site per table per group.
LCD projector
Computers: at least seven, one per group.
Paper and pencils
Pioneer Handouts giving information for home use.
1) Tell students that the class will be learning about the resources available to them on the Pioneer website, as an information seeking skill. Ask who has been on the Pioneer website before, and what do they remember? Demonstrate how to go onto Pioneer, using the LCD projector, talking the students through each of the steps to get to Pioneer. Show them the format of the Pioneer website and the available sites. Tell them we will be looking at EBSCO, Sirs Discover, World Book Online Encyclopedia, eMedia, eThemes, Salt Lake Tribune, and the Deseret News Archives.
2) Students will be divided into seven groups, each student will select a sorting stick, they will gather at a designated table with the blue, red, orange, green, pink, purple or yellow group that is on the selected stick. The groups are as follows: Blue: EBSCO Red: Sirs Discover Orange: World Book Online Encyclopedia Green: eMedia Pink: eThemes Purple: Salt Lake Tribune Yellow: Deseret News Archives.
3) The group will designate a member of the group to be the driver of the computer. Each group will go to the computers, the designated driver logs on the the system, and selects Internet Explorer. Then go to Quicklinks, select Pioneer.
4) Each group will be given the task to find information on the topic of bats. They will have fifteen minutes to review their site. They should look for information that covers the subtopics of: description, habitat, diet (prey/predator), others in the habitat, reproduction, behavior, and interesting facts. The other members of the group will take notes on their papers about the subtopics that can be found on their site. They will decide if this is a helpful site for them ot use fo research on the topic of bats.
5) The groups will be asked to come back to the tables. They will briefly discuss the strengths or weaknesses of their group's site. Each group will choose a designated speaker for their group. The speaker in each group will in turn share what they learned that their site has to offer as a resource for doing research with the other groups.
6) In conclusion hand out sheet with information on how to get to and use the Pioneer website from their home, with username and password provided.
National Content Standards (K-12)