Assignment #1 - Evaluation and Replacement of a Referaterial

 Part One

The Library Learning Commons (LLC) I will be using for this assignment has a population of about 500 students. It is located in an elementary school that ranges from kindergarten to grade 5. In the LLC the physical reference section is housed in a small back room. As a current grade 3 and 4 teacher I choose to look at a reference collection called Wildlife of the World published by the Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 

Vol. 2 front cover, Wildlife of the World

Content Scope: Wildlife of the World is a 13 volume collection that introduces 300 different animals from around the world. Every animal featured gets at least a full double page describing the animals habitat, behaviour and adaptations. The content aligns quite well with the curricular content of elementary school children. However, the curricular competencies state that teachers should focus on the local environment and adding First Peoples perspectives and that content is not included (BC curriculum)

Accuracy, Authority and Bias: Looking at the inside cover page there is a list of people who produced this collection and who took the photos. These indicators suggest that this collection has good authority. The information presented in this collection is old and for that reason it is doubtful that it is fully accurate. For example, there are maps indicating natural habitat but habitats could be changing due to climate change. 

Arrangement and Presentation: This collection is well laid out. Each book starts with an introduction about what living things are included in the animal kingdom. There is a colour guide that dictates the phylum each animal belongs to. There is also a contents page that includes all 13 volumes, a how to read this book page, and a page for each individual animal. On the animal page there are coloured images, a map, subtitles, and a key facts box. I cannot fault the layout of this resource. 

Vol. 2 pg. 84 & 85, Wildlife of the World

Relation to Similar Work: In the current LLC there is a collection of non-fiction books that has individual books dedicated to animals. They are more current, which appeals more to students based on the outer appearance of the resource. Also it is easier for students to have their own book instead of sharing a book with about 25 animals in it. 

Timeless and Permanence: As stated above this book was published in 1994, which makes it almost 30 years old. The reason it is still floating in the LLC is because it was such a well liked and used resource but it is time to update. Riedling states that reference books over 5 years old are outdated (24). 

Accessibility and Diversity: This collection physically in the LLC is not accessible for students. It is hidden away in a small side room where students rarely visit. The reading level is challenging for most elementary aged students and there are no adaptations in this collection to support low reading levels. 

Cost: This collection is longer being printed and there is no information on how much a collection like this would have cost. 

Evaluation Rubric

	Below Standard	Acceptable	Exemplary
Content Scope	Information does not align with the BC curriculum	Information mostly aligns the BC curriculum	Information fully aligns with the BC curriculum and competencies regarding inquiry and research
Accuracy, Authority and Bias	Content comes from an unreliable source with little authority Content is inaccurate and is presented with biases	Content comes from a reliable source with good authority Content is somewhat accurate and presented with fairness and objectivity	Content comes from a reliable source with great authority Content is accurate and is presented without bias
Arrangement and Presentation	Content does not have a good layout and there are minimal to no images throughout. Content is not organized with an index and there is no sequence of information through the resource	Content has a good layout with some photographs, images, and illustrations throughout. Content is organized with an index and there is somewhat of a familiar sequence through the resource	Content has an easy to follow layout with a variety of engaging photographs, images, and illustrations. Content is well organized with an index and a familiar sequence of information through the resource
Relation to Similar Work	Contains the same information as resources that are already in the LLC	Contains some additional information that will be of value to the student population	Contains new or unseen information that will encompass student learning
Timeless and Permanence	Resource is more than 5 years since the publishing date	Resource is less than 5 years since the publishing date	Resource is within a year since the publishing date
Accessibility/Diversity (reading level, cultural perspectives, languages, differing formats, inclusive)	Resource does not meet the needs of the majority of the student population	Resource meets most of the needs of the student population	Resource meet a variety of needs of the whole student population
Cost	Above budget with a high yearly subscription or multiple subscriptions needed	On budget with a one time cost or minimal yearly subscription	Minimal to no cost

Part Two

    A resource to replace Wildlife of the World would be the digital resource National Geographic Kids.This resource would replace the physical resource and more. This resource allows students to research a variety of science topics from animals to space to matter phases. National Geographic Kid can completely replace the 30 year old Wildlife of the World completely and there would be no gaps in the information.

Home page, National Geographic Kids

Content Scope: National Geographic Kids is a great digital resource that will support the learning of all elementary students in the school community. It aligns with the BC curriculum and competency goals. There are videos that will spark curiosity and leap students into inquiries. 

Accuracy, Authority and Bias:  The National Geographic society is well known throughout the world. Since 1996 they have been sharing world issues and facts with people all over the world. Each animal I search there is an author present to tell the reader who wrote the information. The website contains some advertisements for the  Nat Geo Kid magazine subscription.

Arrangement and Presentation: The website is very well laid out and engaging for students. There are quick links at the top for games, videos, animals, explore more and subscribe. There is also a search button. The search button takes you to a  large texted search par and below are “popular searches” that students could start with if they were just browsing. The “Animal” button takes you to a page that separates the animals in the phylums to narrow the search. There are pictures and text included when browsing animals to look at. Once an animal is selected there are photos, a dedicated quick fact box, detailed information, a map of habitat and sometimes a video.  

Blue Whale, National Geographic Kids

Relation to Similar Work: National Geographic is similar to Wildlife of the World. However, National Geographic encompasses more information about a wide variety of topics. An example is the “How Things Work” videos. One of these videos is called how gecko feet work. This video would help teach adaptations to students. 

Timeless and Permanence: The copyright date at the bottom of the website says 2015-2023. This is a range of less than 10 years so it is definitely more up to date then the Wildlife of the World collection.

Accessibility and Diversity: National Geographic Kids has a wide range of accessible features. Students are able to access this digital resource at school and there is a way to log on at home. There are lots of colourful visual images and videos that can support non readers. The text is large and has a good word count. There is also a big green box with quick facts about every animal. In the text there are also underlined words that are linked to a page with more information about that word. For example, if you click rainforest it takes you to a page about the rainforest habitat. 

Cost: It has been challenging to find the cost of a school subscription. Our school district luckily already pays for this subscription so it would be of no cost to the school.

Evaluation Rubric

	Below Standard	Acceptable	Exemplary
Content Scope	Information does not align with the BC curriculum	Information mostly aligns the BC curriculum	Information fully aligns with the BC curriculum and competencies regarding inquiry and research
Accuracy, Authority and Bias	Content comes from an unreliable source with little authority Content is inaccurate and is presented with biases	Content comes from a reliable source with good authority Content is mostly accurate and presented with fairness and objectivity	Content comes from a reliable source with great authority Content is accurate and is presented without bias
Arrangement and Presentation	Content does not have a good layout and there are minimal to no images throughout. Content is not organized with an index and there is no sequence of information through the resource	Content has a good layout with some photographs, images, and illustrations throughout. Content is organized with an index and there is somewhat of a familiar sequence through the resource	Content has an easy to follow layout with a variety of engaging photographs, images, and illustrations. Content is well organized with an index and a familiar sequence of information through the resource
Relation to Similar Work	Contains the same information as resources that are already in the LLC	Contains some additional information that will be of value to the student population	Contains new or unseen information that will encompass student learning
Timeless and Permanence	Resource is more than 5 years since the publishing date	Resource is less than 5 years since the publishing date	Resource is within a year since the publishing date
Accessibility/Diversity (reading level, cultural perspectives, languages, differing formats, inclusive)	Resource does not meet the needs of the majority of the student population	Resource meets most of the needs of the student population	Resource meet a variety of needs of the whole student population
Cost	Above budget with a high yearly subscription or multiple subscriptions needed	On budget with a one time cost or minimal yearly subscription	Minimal to no cost

Work Cited:

National Geographic Kids. National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ 

Marshall Cavendish Corporation. (1994). Wildlife of the world. Marshall Cavendish.

Riedling, Ann, Reference skills for the school library media specialist: Tools and tips, 

(Third Edition). Linworth.

Science. Building Student Success - B.C. Curriculum. (2016). Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science