Resources for K-12 Students
TexShare offers databases that students can use as a resource to help them complete assignments. The following are best suited to student needs:
What is a Database?
A database is an organized collection of information stored on a computer, that can be searched for by a computer. Users can search databases by typing in words that describe the information they are looking for. Think of a huge closet of clothes, shoes, and hats. It would be organized for you, perhaps, by article of clothing (shirts, pants, shorts), color, and/or size. If you wanted to get all the denim jeans you owned from this closet, you could ask for a list of the pairs of jeans you owned.
Why should students use TexShare and the databases it offers for their school work?
TexShare databases do some of the work for you by looking for articles, biographies, pictures- all from a collection of different types of sources. It searches through magazines and information from books depending on which database you choose. The databases that Texshare offers are usually focused on a theme and include information that is much more trustworthy, complete, and up-to-date than the information found using a search engine on the Internet.
The Texshare databases contain a great deal of information. The articles and information in the databases can be read online, printed out, or sometimes emailed. Which one should you use? Students should search and find the best information available for their school work. To get started on your database search you can ask yourself the Big6 Model questions.
Below are groups divided by grade level. Following each group are a list of age-appropriate databases.
For All students
- Handbook of Texas
- MasterFile for Children
- Student Resource Center Gold
For Students in Elementary School
- Handbook of Texas
- MasterFile for Children
For Students in Middle School
- Handbook of Texas
- Literature Resource Center
- MasterFile for Children
For Students in High School
- Contemporary Authors
- Contemporary Literary Criticism
- Dictionary of Literary Biography
- Literature Resource Center
- Handbook of Texas
About the Databases:
Student Resource Center Gold
This database has full-text (complete) articles from more than 1,200 magazines. The subject areas covered are history, literature, science, and social studies. For example, is there a writer, scientist, or president, you need to write a report or learn more about? This database has 85,000 biographies, essays, and overviews (summaries).
You can also get online access to several types of documents like:
Newspapers
Periodicals (magazines and journals)
Photographs & maps
Primary documents, which includes original speeches, letters, interviews, and diaries.
RESOURCES
Multimedia
This database provides thousands of graphics, animation, audio and video clips.
MasterFILE for Children
This database is for elementary and middle-school students and provides information on a number of broad, general subjects.
Handbook of Texas
This database is an encyclopedia covering Texas history, geography, and culture. It holds more than 23,000 articles on people, places, events, historical themes, institutions, and more. It contains short and reliable articles that provide facts on Texas history and culture. The information is collected by the Texas State Historical Association.
Literature Resource Center
This databse provides information on authors and their works, biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses from every age and literary subject. It includes novelists, poets, essayists, journalists, and other writers such as philosophers, filmmakers, and anthropologists.
Contemporary Literary Criticism
This database is a collection of critical essays on contemporary authors, with biographical, critical, and main works.
Contemporary Authors
This database provides complete biographical and bibliographical information on hundreds of international authors.
Dictionary of Literary Biography
This database contains biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of influential literary figures from all time periods and genres.
To cite information found on these databases:
Visit the University of Maryland's Virtual Academic Laboratory at http://www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/cip/vail/students/citation/examples.html
Terms:
database- A structured set of data held in a computer; online collections of journals and other information sources that may be searched at the same time. Each database has its own information, usually having a subject or focus.
Adapted from The Oxford American Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press, 1999.
search engine- A program that lets you search the Internet using keywords. It tries to index or file web sites of information and finds web sites based on the words that match the words that a person typed into the search box. Examples: AltaVista and Google.
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2004.
For further information on TexShare databases send questions and comments to texshare@tsl.state.tx.us.
This page was written by Ana C. Loya in Spring 2006.
INF 382S: Library Instruction and Information Literacy, taught by Dr. Loriene Roy
School of Information,
The University of Texas at Austin