Riedling lists several geographical resources available online. I took the time to investigate two of the resources lists. Initially I chose to look at the Atlas of World Civilizations. This e-resource is no longer available. This helps to prove the importance of currency. Riedling's text was published in 2005, that is more than 5 years. Riedling's book should be re-evaluated as a teaching tool, as it does not fit the criteria for selection.
The World Time Zone Map shows up 8th on a Google search, if the name is typed in. The home page is simple and has a world map with all the time zones represented. Teacher can print off .pdfs of the map for student or classroom use. The website is easy to navigate with a left-hand toolbar. There are no extra advertisements for distractions, however, this may be visually boring for students.
The World Factbook is available in a 2008 version (whereas Riedling lists the 2001 version). The resource is available at www.bartleby.com/151/. The website is broken into two indexes: by country or by field. The countries are listed in alphabetical order and if clicked on list 9 sub-categories that address special features of each country. With each country page a map of the country is provided as well as the national flag.
Both e-resources would be beneficial to students when doing research. Riedling notes, "These reference materials are used primarily to answer location questions" (2005, 75). She also emphasizes the selection criteria: publisher (authority), scale, currency, indexing, and format. Students must have resources that are reliable and must trust that the information provided is current and accurate.
References:
Riedling, A. (2005). Reference Skills for the School Library Media Specialist:
Tools and tips (2nd ed.). Worthington, OH: Linworth.
I don't think they've managed to find anything to replace Riedling!
ReplyDelete