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MS 8 - Leadership Class - Ed Talk: Home

Tips and Tricks

Creating a word bank:

  • Write down as many ideas as you can for search terms, start with synonyms of your topic. This can include definitions and similar ideas.
  • Next, think about key concepts, related issues, specific examples, broader ideas.
  • As you research, add in any new words that you discover as you grow your understanding of your topic.

 

Sample Word Bank for topic "year-round school"

  • traditional calendar
  • academic calendar
  • continuous learning
  • learning loss
  • schedule
  • summer slide
  • instructional time
  • family impact 

Where do I start searching?

Start with the databases, they have your most accurate information!

  • browse through the topics to see if they have yours
  • use the word and in your searching to connect ideas
  • look at filters for specific type of information
  • look for "search within" box to narrow your results

Searching the news websites

  • use the power of Google searching by doing a site search:
    • site:nytimes.com "school choice"
    • site:reuters.com  "early childhood education" access
  • scroll through the results, looking at the titles
  • remember you are looking for both facts and opinions, pro and con

Searching Google

  • you can string together words without using and
  • you can add "quotation marks" to specify a whole phrase
    • "early childhood education" access
  • you can string together synonyms using OR (make sure to capitalize OR)
  • you can narrow results by adding a minus sign to eliminate an idea or specific word 
    • "year round school" -covid

​You need to asses your source!​​​​​​​

  • Think in terms of credibility and authority
  • Type of organization - consumer group? political lobby? government group? who is giving you this information? have you ever heard of them?
  • Is there an author? Do they provide credentials? 
  • Publication Date - is it provided? is it recent?
  • Can you spot the point of view? Is there obvious bias?

Spotting Bias

  • look at the headlines - is there a clear slant?
  • think about loaded language - are adjectives used to show positive or negative beliefs?
    • ​​​​​​​policy vs. much needed policy vs. over reaching policy

 

 

 

Database Resource ideas

Jumping off point for each topic

These links are only a place to start, not your only choice! You can learn other search terms and find information to get you started.

 

School Choice topic from Points of View
Student Loan Forgiveness an article from "The Chronicle of Higher Education"
Book Banning topic from Opposing Viewpoints

Early Childhood education access

 an article from "Historic US Events"

Violence prevention in schools

 topic from Points of View
Same-sex Schooling an article from " Gender Issues and Sexuality: Essential Primary Sources"
Devices in schools (phones, 1:1) topic from Opposing Viewpoints
AI in schools an article from "Education Week"
School uniforms/ Dress Code topic from Opposing Viewpoints
Standardized Testing topic from Opposing Viewpoints
Compensating college athletes topic from Opposing Viewpoints

 

Website Resource Ideas

Getting a NY Times subscription

The CLS Library provides each student and teacher an online subscription to the New York Times.
To activate your NY Times Pass, please follow these steps:
1. To grab a pass click HERE. Create a free NYTimes.com account using your school email address.

2. After you grab a pass, a confirmation will be sent to your school email.

3. Check your email for the confirmation message, click on the link to validate your email address and claim your Pass. (If the confirmation email didn’t arrive, check your spam folder. If it isn’t there, send an email to edu@nytimes.com from your school email address to request confirmation.)

4. You have successfully claimed a Pass when you see the "Start Your Access" screen. Now you can enjoy full access to NYTimes.com, INYT.com and NYT mobile apps from any location, on or off campus, just by logging into your NYTimes.com account. You may download NYTimes mobile apps at nytimes.com/mobile.

HINT: Remain logged into your NYTimes.com account to have seamless access to NYTimes.com and our mobile apps for the duration of your Pass. Visit nytimes.com/passes to view your Pass expiration timestamp at any time.