MillsMNeedsAssessment


 * "Discovering the Database"**
 * Needs Assessment **
 * Overview:**

The Ohio Department of Education Library Technology Benchmark states that students should, “Benchmark C: Understand how to access technology-based school library materials, including library networks and electronic resources, for research.” In even greater detail, the guidelines for grade five state more specific goals, “Grade Five - //Electronic Resources// 1. Identify and describe the purpose of various technology-based school library resources (e.g., computer network, multimedia resources). 2. Understand that technology-based resources may be organized by format or topic (e.g., database of magazine articles, electronic photos, digital video). 3. Examine coverage of information in magazine databases, online biography sources and subject guide sources. 4. Use a username and password to access school library and electronic resource databases remotely from the classroom or home. “

It is vital that with the increase in access to information students are equipped with resources to find and to locate reliable and accurate information. It is crucial for students to learn how to access and to use online database early in their academic lives so that they can utilize the resource to achieve ultimate success on classroom assignments, reports, and projects. Knowing how to utilize and access online databases will help students gather information that is factual, accurate, and academic. Having this power, to obtain factual information from database resources fast, will help learners find success during their academic career.

Middle school students today can easily be overwhelmed by the increased access to information. Information can de delivered and discovered in a variety of places, formats, languages, fonts, and mediums. While this increased access to information is beneficial and revolutionary, it can also overwhelm and discourage users from finding and utilizing the most accurate and reliable sources and resources.
 * Current Situation:**

In wanting to do research for a class assignment, report, or project, the vast majority of middle school students will likely turn to the Internet first in wanting to fulfill their information need. In doing so, middle school students typically “Google it” and use the first few links provided to fulfill their inquiry. The links provided and clicked on contain some accurate information, but also contain some inaccurate information. Middle school students may even click on links with a slanted bias (possibly blogs and discussion boards) and their newly gained information would be tainted. Many middle school students do not know how to properly evaluate a website and because of this middle school students are limited in their search strategies. Without checking the validity of the resource, students often assume the information provided is accurate and are then content in having fulfilled their information search. Because of this incomplete information search, middle school students are at a disadvantage in gaining new information, as their information searches lack credibility, know how, and accuracy and they do not have the tools to properly perform an information search.

For students, daily assignments, report, and projects are constantly being assigned and are expected to be completed with factual, accurate, and up-to-date information. The information provided in the assignment, report, or project is expected to be completed with the help of accurate and reliable resources. It is crucial that students not only know of databases, but that they also have a long history of utilizing this informative resource.
 * Desired Situation:**

While there are many different ways to access a variety of unique databases, there are several similarities among database use that makes the initial steps simplistic. In order for students to use databases, it is important that they know how to locate the database, know why the database is a preferred and helpful resource, know how to sign in to a database, and know how to perform a simple search on the main page of the selected database. Educating middle school students how to properly use a database resource will enhance their assignments, reports, and projects because the information found will be factual and accurate and will therefore allow for a deeper and more fulfilling learning experience. These simple initial steps will provide extensive information that is accurate and trustworthy and will satisfy their “need to know” for years and years to come, as the information provided will be factual and trustworthy.

There is a very large gap between students who know about and utilize the basics of databases and those that have no knowledge of what a database is and how it can ultimately benefit their lives and their studies. This instructional design unit will help middle school students close the gap between those who are “in the know” and those “who are not.” All students have the capability to accurately perform an online database search, but most students have been denied access to these valuable resources due to the lack of instruction and practice.
 * Gap:**

Currently, middle school students are performing information searches with little, if any, background on how to properly evaluate and use quality information and resources. Students want information and they want it now. Students will stop searching when they find a link that will fulfill their information need, but will do this without checking the validity of the website because they have not been taught how to properly evaluate a website. Because of this lack of “know how,” students are at a disadvantage when seeking information because the information found lacks credibility. Therefore, assignments, reports, and projects do not contain the quality and accuracy educators are demanding. This is troubling, as educators want better quality, but without proper instructions on how to gain and find this better information, students and teachers will both be at a strong disadvantage collectively.

The “Discovering the Database” instructional unit will provide middle school students with the opportunity to learn the fundamental structure of what a database is, know how to sign in to a database, and know how to accurately perform a simple database search. Not only will this newly learned skill help as students move from classroom to classroom, but it will also enrich their lives for years to come, as the need for new and accurate information is always alive!

Fifth grade students will be able to properly use online databases to successfully and accurately complete classroom lessons, assignments, and projects.
 * Instructional Goal:**