Using the OPAC

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Technology

Grade Level(s):

• 3rd-4th Grade

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:

pencils, worksheet, LCD projector, computer, OPAC access, projection screen

Sources:

SCSD OPAC: www.youseemore.com/scsd

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.

Supporting Files:

• OPAC.doc
  This worksheet helps the students review and practice skills taught during the OPAC lesson by participating in various assigned searches in the OPAC.

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Planning

• Formulates a search strategy

Exploration

• Locates and accesses information resources
• Subject: K-12: Technology

National Content Standards (K-12)

• Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems
• Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs