Description:
This lesson is intended to teach 4th graders to use the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) specific to a school (but could be modified to use in other schools/with other grade levels).
Goals & Objectives:
Students will be able to use the OPAC to search for a book by title, author, subject and keyword. They will learn to distinguish when to use the different types of searches and how to interpret the results of a search. Each student will successfully find a book on the shelf after searching for it in the OPAC.
Materials & Sources:
pencils, worksheet, LCD projector, computer, OPAC access, projection screen
Procedures:
1. Motivational Catch: Have you ever wanted to find a certain book, but you couldn't remember the title or author? Would you like to learn how to use the computer to find the book?
2. Demonstration (Ask questions & have student volunteers walk class through the following steps. Where students don't know the answer, demonstrate step for them.):
*How do I get to the internet from a computer?
*Where do I type a Web address? (Once found, type OPAC address.)
*Where do I find Frazer School?
4. Modeling (Walk students through process of title, author, subject and keyword searching, explaining rationale and results for each search.):
*Title search (type in a book title popular with the age group).
*Author search (poll audience for an author to search).
*Subject search (choose a popular subject).
*Keyword search (use one word from a popular book title).
5. Result Review (Discuss with students the following features of results.):
*Availability
*Author
*School
*Call Number
6. Hand out worksheets. Review proceedures and check for understanding.
7. Divide up (2 per computer) to complete worksheet practicing use of OPAC.
Assessment:
1. Direct observation of students completing worksheet.
2. Grade worksheets.
3. Student success in finding a book searched in the OPAC.
Sources:
SCSD OPAC: www.youseemore.com/scsd
