32 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators

A Listing of Recommended
Online Database Resources for
Use in 1:1 Technology Programs
By Fran Luther

T he author provides a review of online databases that may be useful as an increasing number
of educational organizations implement programs that provide hand-held electronic devices
to students. Strengths and drawbacks of each database are included in this article, which was
written in collaboration with the author’s students in a class focused on information literacy and
access.

Access to quality online databases is imperative for school districts adopting a 1:1
program in which each child has one hand-held electronic device. As an example of one
such effort to provide access, the Maryland State Department of Education is spearheading
a consortium of 24 school districts and approximately 100 non-public schools within the
state (http://maslmd.org/about-mdk12/) to bargain with vendors of online databases
for use by students and teachers in the 1:1 program. The consortium helps districts with
lower tax bases to purchase subscriptions to online databases at the same price as districts
with higher tax bases, thus providing more equitable access to these resources across the
state. This article reviews online databases that may be useful in efforts to make access to
resources available.

School 1:1 Programs

An increasing number of school districts are budgeting to implement innovative
technology-integration programs that pair each student with one hand-held computer
device (Downes & Bishop, 2015; Islam & Gronlund, 2016). These devices range from
laptops to tablets (Santarosa & Conforto, 2016). Baltimore County Public School’s
program is called Students and Teachers Access Tomorrow (STAT; http://www.bcps.
org/academics/stat/). Although the impact of 1:1 programs is still debatable (Keane &
Keane, 2016; Richardson, McCloud, & Flora, 2013; Stone, 2016), Downes and Bishop
(2015) contended, “Technology offers teachers innovative and engaging ways for students
to explore group and individual identity, come to know each other and learn to work
together” (p. 12). Stone (2016), however, argued that “… negative perceptions of the
engagement and impacts of the 1:1 laptops may be reflected into a desire to go back to
traditional methods” (p. 25). Network capacities, technical support (Islam & Gronlund,
2016; Stone, 2016), and access to technology (Downes & Bishop, 2015) are considered
key components in implementing 1:1 programs in schools.
Culturally Proficient Leaders 33

Evaluating Resources
In evaluating the following databases, standard print selection criteria such as relevance,
purpose, validity, format, and arrangement (Lanning & Bryner, 2010; Mardis, 2016) were
applied to the electronic resources. Assessing navigability of online databases fell under
the category of arrangement. Treatment of diverse populations was also an emphasis in
evaluating resources. The use of these databases is not limited to 1:1 programs. The listed
resources could be used with stationary computer labs in schools, community centers, or
students’ homes.

Recommended Online Databases

3M Cloud Library. 3M Cloud Library (2014) is a database available through many
public libraries that allows users to borrow audiobooks and e-books without purchasing
them directly. One’s cloud of books is available on a desktop or on a mobile device. This
database is convenient for those who do not have direct access to a physical library. For
an example, readers can visit the Baltimore County Public Library site to see how such a
database works. https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/BCPL/Featured

Biography in Context. Gale  Cengage  Learning’s  Biography in Context  (2016) is a
subscription database, holding 600,000+ resources on 500,000+ notable and diverse
figures from history to present day. This resource is appropriate for students in Grade
6 and older and provides advanced-searching options. However, minor utilization
complications and a yearly subscription rate of approximately $1,000-$2,100 may make it
impractical for most schools. http://assets.cengage.com/pdf/fs_in-context-mar%202016.
pdf

Defined STEM. Defined STEM (2013) is a remarkable resource that takes real-world
topics and combines them with the skills required of a twenty-first century learner. This
resource can be used by K-12 teachers who teach all the core subjects. The Web site has
a unique way of using real world broadcasts and news articles as a basis for performance-
based instruction. This Web site would best serve as a teacher resource due to its difficult
navigation. http://www.definedstem.com/index.cfm

Explora for Secondary Schools. Explora of EBSCO (2017) is a search-interface database
that allows users to find relevant information on articles, essays, and primary sources on
an array of research topics. The colorful images and well-written text are accessible to
students using their mobile devices, with password-protected folders enabling them to save
their searches. https://www.ebcohost.com/us-high-schools/explora

History Reference Center. History Reference Center (2013) is an EBSCOhost
database that focuses on history articles for high school students and is easy to browse,

Dr. Frances D. Luther is a member of Alpha Chapter in Maryland State Organization.

She is tenured faculty at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, in the Department of
Educational Technology and Literacy in the College of Education. fluther@towson.edu

Collaborating Authors (Students in Dr. Luther’s ISTC 651: Information Literacy & Access
Class): Sarah Breslaw, Nathan Connelly, Megan Cooper, Maia Delogu, Brooke Fakunmoju,
Anna Freedman, Ashley Gerke, Alison Gray, Rebecca Hartman, Renee Hartley, Kimberly
Hayward, Tracy Howse, Kristine Nellenbach, Alexa Panayi, Joanne Sobieck-Lingg, and
Amanda Ward.
 34 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators

although the icons are not intuitive. Articles are sorted chronologically by topic and then
alphabetically within the topics, which have one or two in-depth articles. The articles are
from scholarly journals. Topics span prehistory to the modern day. The reading level is
high enough to pose problems for struggling readers. https://www.ebscohost.com/us-
high-schools/history-reference-center

Kid’s Search. Kid’s Search (2014) is colorful,
easy to navigate, and useful for upper-elementary-
The use of these school learners. Students need to identify the
databases subject area of their search and then use key
words to identify resources. Lessons centered
is not limited on searching using key terms would be useful
to 1:1 programs. before one works with the site. Overall, students
in Grades 4-6 would benefit from this type of
The listed database, which is essentially a protected search
resources engine. https://kidssearch.com/

could be used Kids InfoBits. Kids InfoBits (2014) introduces
elementary students to an age-appropriate and
with stationary easy-to-navigate database. Students can find
computer labs curriculum-aligned information on various
subjects and current events. Content is updated
in schools, daily and compiled from books and magazines,
community centers, including Junior Scholastic and Calliope. This
database features text-reader and citation tools, as
or students’ homes. well as text translation into 12 languages. http://
www.gale.com/c/kids-infobits

National Geographic Kids. The National Geographic Kids database (2016) is a useful
site that allows children access to National Geographic magazines, 200 books, and 500
downloadable pictures. This database allows students, ages 6 to 14, to gather information
on science and social studies topics that can be used to enhance the reading of nonfiction
texts. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Students in Grades 6-12 will encounter various
sides of modern issues throughout the curriculum with Opposing Viewpoints in Context
(2017). The 20,100 views, 19,200 articles, 12,700 charts and graphs, and 300 interest
groups promote critical thinking and supported debates. Articles, videos, audio, and
interactive maps allow multimedia learning. http://solutions.cengage.com/InContext
/Opposing-Viewpoints/

PebbleGo. PebbleGo (2014) is a research database for emergent readers in kindergarten
through Grade 2. It is a resource for the science and social studies curriculum as it offers
four different categories for students to search and explore: animals, earth and space,
biographies, and social studies. Some of the features of PebbleGo include reading
of text, definitions of key vocabulary words, photographs, videos, and sound clips.
https://www.pebblego.com/

Culturally Proficient Leaders 35

ProQuest. ProQuest (2014), a database used by many public libraries and schools,
has partnerships with more than 9,000 publishers to allow access to primary resources,
e-books, periodicals, newspapers, college-preparation courses, and multimedia collections.
ProQuest allows users to search keywords but also allows them to search within categories
such as Arts, Film & Music, Genealogy, Historical Newspapers, Social Studies, General
Research, and more. ProQuest’s K-12 resources support Common Core Standards.
http://www.proquest.com/libraries/schools/

Safari Montage. For a fantastic use of digital media in the classroom, Safari Montage
(2013) is a frontrunner and highly recommended. The videos include teacher lesson plans
as well as worksheets for students to follow along with the videos. When logging into Safari
Montage, one is automatically directed to a home school site, and thus Safari Montage
is applicable to all grade levels. Also, the features of a mobile app available for teachers
through the Apple iTunes store include a student response system, formative assessments,
and access to all the content on the server. http://safarimontage.com/

SIRS Discoverer. Users choose a subject such as animals. Pages of literature examples
then pop up with the title underlined, the date published, a summary, the readability score,
and the grade level. Students are challenged by included quizzes. SIRS Discoverer is easy
to navigate, provides a diverse range of material, and is an excellent resource for K-12
school library settings. http://www.proquest.com/products-services/sirs_discoverer.html

TrueFlix. TrueFlix (2014) is a science and social studies database that incorporates
videos and interactive read-alouds. Each topic provides links to related articles, project
ideas, activities, and Web sites. Although limited in topics, TrueFlix correlates with typical
Grades 4 and 5 curricula, such as earth science, ecosystems, and Native Americans. Teacher
resources are also available. http://www.scholastic.com/digital/trueflix.htm

World Book Online. World Book Online (2017) offers five databases for schools:
Timelines, Early World of Learning, Kids, Student, and Spanish Encyclopedia. The targeted
age range is from Pre-K to high school students. Features include resource citations, double
clicking for definitions, reading level for text using Lexile scores, and links to additional
resources https://www.worldbook.com/digital-products.aspx

World Book Kids  is an online  encyclopedia  for  students and early learning. This
resource is simple, fun, and engaging. Students can investigate topics of interest and find
hundreds of photos, multimedia, and easy-to-read articles. Maps, flags, science projects,
and more than 200 educational games and activities are included. Instructors and teachers
will also find this site very useful. This database is highly recommended for students ages
5-10. https://www.worldbook.com/products/kids-online-encyclopedia

Summary
Appropriate online databases are available for use by school students in 1:1 or
stationary computer lab programs. These databases relate to school curricula and could
be used during the school day or for after-school homework or general research assistance.
36 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators

References
Baltimore County Public Schools. (2016). Students and teachers accessing tomorrow. Retrieved from http://www.bcps.org
/academics/stat/

Downes, J. M., & Bishop, P. A. (2015). The intersection between 1:1 laptop implementation and the characteristics of effective middle
schools. RMLE Online: Research in Middle Level Education, 38(7), 1–16.

Islam, M. S., & Gronlund, A. (2016). An international literature review of 1:1 computing in schools. Journal of Educational Change,
17(2), 191–222.

Keane, T., & Keane, W. (2016). Achievements and challenges: Implementing a 1:1 program in a secondary school. Education and
Information Technologies, 21, 1–17.

Lanning, S., & Bryner, J. (2010). Essential references services for today’s school media specialists (2nd ed.). Denver, CO: Libraries
Unlimited.

Mardis, M. A. (2016). The collection program in schools: Concepts & practices (6th ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Maryland Association of School Librarians. (2016). MSDE preparing world class students. Retrieved from http://maslmd.org/about
-mdk12/

Richardson, J. W., McLeod, S., & Flora, K. (2013). Large scale 1:1 computing initiatives: An open access database. International
Journal of Education and Development Using Information and Communication Technology, 9(1), 4–18.
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