WorldBook Online

WorldBook Online Reference Center

Database.

Reading/Interest Level: Ages 13+

Curriculum ties: Art, English/language arts, computers, current issues, health, history, math, science, social studies, sports, technology

Booktalk Ideas: Homework assistance: Highlight the pathfinders section. Advertise as the students own personal librarian, finding sources for them on a selected topic including encyclopedia articles, websites, magazine articles, media, and more.

Challenge Issues: N/A

Challenge Response: First Defense File

Reader’s Annotation:

When a homework assignment is looming, the World Book Online Reference Center is there to make the research portion a little easier.

About the Database:

This databases can be an important tool for students as they work on class projects and research various topics. The computer and web tutorial section helps teach users about various computer basics such as using web browsers, searching the internet, using e-mail and instant messaging, software, social networking, internet safety, and using devices other than computers online.

The life skills section helps students prepare to find and keep jobs, learn about finances, and preparing to live on their own as they prepare for college. This database also has a news section that lists important current events, explains how to do research and correctly cite material, includes a variety of encyclopedia-like articles for reference and some very helpful pathfinders that students can use both to browse topics they may want to research, and to also find resources for their research. The databases also continently classifies search results into sections such as encyclopedia articles, tables, pictures, historic articles, and special reports.

Critical Evaluation:

This is fairly user friendly site to use, and provides many different resources for students as they do their research. For example, when I pulled up an article on Pyongyang, there was a handy box on the right that said “Related Information” and had links for websites, magazine articles, and an interactive map all related to Pyongyang. When I did the same thing for an article on Christmas there was also link for books to read that gave full citations for a variety of books, and had them split into Level I and Level II.

Honestly, this feels like an interactive encyclopedia. It’s similar but not quite the same as Wikipedia, and is more likely to be accepted by teachers as a resource. I think WorldBook is trying to make this comparable to Wikipedia, but it’s not quite there yet. It doesn’t have the same amount of articles, and isn’t updated as often as Wikipedia, but a few things it has going for it that Wikipedia can’t compete with is that it gives the Lexile measure for each article, and checks every article against the user’s state curriculum content standards. It appears that it automatically detects the user’s state either by their location, or by the location of the providing library. This might be helpful for students, but probably more likely to be helpful for teachers.

About the Author:

N/A

Justification of Selection:

World Book has a great reputation, and with their online stie there are a ton of useful resources, especially the pathfinder section. The various tutorials and articles are a great starting point for students just becoming familiar with new topics.