Team+2,+ref+log+4b

Grainger, G.S. (2010, March 24). //Dewey browse//. Retrieved from []
 * Team 2, Reference log 4b: Directories ||  ||<   ||
 * Reviewed by Sarah ||

Looking up “directories” in a dictionary, I found that the description is a way to organize information. This site is just that. Dewey Browse is a site dedicated to links from within the Dewey framework. Quite simplistic in design, it belies what is behind each link. Looking here at first, one could be fooled into thinking that there is not much information here. That could not be farther from the truth. The main page has a grid showing the main categories that Mr. Dewey set up originally. Within this framework are many links to other online resources available for use. Take, for example, the links within the 000-099 category. Clicking on that, one is taken to another page where we again scrolled down. Finding call number 004.67, one can then click on that link which takes you to the //Virtual Reference Desk.// This is then an additional resource that has so much information it is simply mind boggling. Each link that I clicked on was good and incorporated so much information I could not take it all in. Each piece of the grid from the original page includes as much information as the first link does. Mrs. Grainger is to be commended for this site. Although set up originally was likely not easy, the current state of the page makes it appear as though that was the case. Every link that I clicked on was a good link and leads to something educational and interesting for both teachers and students. Additionally, there is a teacher resource link at the base of the grid on the main page. Thinking that the main page and its accompaniments were amazing, the teacher resource page is simply incredible. Link after link after link is included here for teachers, with subjects covered from the Arts to Webquests. I simply cannot believe that all of this is in one place and most teachers are not aware of it. We spend much time researching and looking at many items to decide if they are appropriate. Almost any site that one could think of to use is included here and all are educationally sound. Easy to use, simple to navigate, straightforward and easy to understand, I highly recommend that everyone bookmark this site and tell all their teacher friends. I have bookmarked it for repeated use in my daily travels over the internet. Having coworkers do the same is a grand idea. There will not be an unhappy soul in the house! Age/grade level: K-12
 * Subject area(s): Any and all**
 * Overall rating: 10**
 * ||< //Sabrina's// comment :You are right!! This is a GREAT website!!! I had never even heard of this but, as you said, the possibilities are endless. I love the fact that it is very straightforward. It isn't focused on being cutesy. Instead it is just lists of amazing sites for teachers and students. I have already saved this site in my booksmarks, and will do so on my school computer as soon as I get there tomorrow! Thank you Sarah for sharing this great site with us!!

//Lisa's// comment : Sarah, what a treasure! I can not wait to share this site with teachers at my school either. I browsed the 800 section, and did not get very far before I realized a 1/2 hour had passed. I did find a couple of links that were dead, but they were posted on sites recommended by the original author from this site. I found one neat site that lists over a hundred children's literature awards from around the world and the corresponding links to those sites. Great stuff on other literature as well. I agree about the vast possibilities of uses for teachers. This site is definitely a bookmark for me -- thanks! || Bookwire.com. (2010). R.R. Bowker, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2010 from www.bookwire.com  || Powered by Bowker’s Books in Print database, Bookwire.com is a source of over 20 million book titles that makes it easier for people “to discover, evaluate, order, and experience books.” The home page features the week’s bestsellers and titles to watch, along with the cover images of the book. Having the images of the book is a great way to encourage reading. As sad as it is to admit, a lot of people really do “judge a book by its cover” and are drawn to a book based on what it looks like. Main categories for the site include author pages and author indexes that include biographies and links to all titles available on Bookwire, new releases, romances, business, cookbooks, food, wine, children’s, and mystery. When a title is chosen, you are taken to an seo title card. Here is where users find the information for the book: author, publisher, publication date, ISBN, binding type, pages, and description. There is an option to email to a friends or share on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Some title cards give the option to see inside the book and, one of my favorite parts of this site, an option to see “other titles by this author.” I really enjoyed learning about and reviewing this source because it can be used by anyone and will be a great tool for media specialists to use when a patron asks for suggestions on what to read.
 * Reviewed by //Sabrina//

Grade Level: 5-12 Subject Area: English/Lang. Arts Quality Ranking: 8 (wish it had longer summaries) ||< //Sarah's// comment :

//Lisa's// comment : I enjoyed Bookwire as well for the quick reference it holds for people looking for books to read. However, I was disappointed by the lack of information provided for titles and seeming "out-datedness." I looked up Sent by Margaret Haddix, and there were no other titles listed for this author who has written countless other books. On the home page, the new releases books were published up to 6 years ago. The concept of the site is great, but I found much more information about books when clicking on the Buy It Now link to amazon.com. || //Peterson’s college planner: Student edition//. (2010). Retrieved March 20, 2010, from [|www.petersons.com]
 * Reviewed by //Lisa// ||

Peterson’s is a free directory of colleges and a student planner. One should click on “College Planner” at the homepage to access the student edition homepage, which is outlined in this review. Here, there are several tools available to students including application advice, finding a school (college, graduate, technical), test preparation advice, and financial planning advice. All planners are accessible from the homepage. The student deciding on college options will find this website extremely useful.

In the “Get started” section, the current month is listed with activities students should be performing in order to get ready for college, such as financial aid forms for March. There are articles for the month highlighting interests or concerns, such as the “senior slump.” Additionally, there are motivational words for students deciding whether or not to go to college, for example. Finally, on the right-hand side of the page, the user has the option to switch to the parent edition of international edition.

One can either find a school through the directory or find a college by program of study. Whichever the user chooses, there are questions one must answer about preferences such as rural or urban settings, religious affiliations for colleges, and student body size. One also can type in the name of the college of interest or search by program of interest. I typed in my alma mater, Emory University. A screen appeared listing both Emory and its junior college, Oxford College. The results table shows the following information: name of institution, location, if free information is available, enrollment numbers, mid-50% SAT and ACT scores, in-state and out-of-state tuitions, and entrance difficulty. If a school has a star symbol (ê) next to it, the user can access extended information complete with virtual tours, pictures, and live chats. Neither of these had those options. When the student clicks on the school name, a new screen comes up with a menu of options for comprehensive information on admissions and campus life, for example. Also, a box with names of similar institutions appears on the right.

The test preparation tool has the prep classes and guides for purchase. Additionally, there is a box at the top right which contains a word of the day, quick quiz, tips, test information and dates, last minute study tips and a free practice test. My curiosity led me to selecting the “Quick quiz” to see what it was like. There were questions on reading comprehension, sentence completion, math, and essay writing. The last-minute study tips covered topics of sleep and diet.

Finally, the financial aid planner contains extensive information on planning, tips for families, and listings of scholarships, both national and state, for example. This particular section is critical for students applying for schools who know they will need help paying for college. The box of helpful tips that was on each of the other pages is here too: there are tips, helpful information on work-study programs, and a narrative of three various financial situations and families.

Students in high school would be well served to check out this website at least by one’s junior year, but I believe sooner would be better for planning purposes. Teachers and counselors should know about this website as a helpful resource tool for students interested in education after high school. It is a comprehensive site, and I chose it myself after finding other ones that did not have many schools listed in their databases. Peterson’s has the most comprehensive listings of schools I came across in my search for potential college directories to review.

Grades: //10-12// Subject(s): ALL Rating: // 10 // Thanks for the link. It will certainly be useful. Those kindergarten students that I am with all day will be ready for this site before we know it!
 * ||< //Sarah's// comment : What a find! I have put this site in my bookmarks for use in a couple of years as my own child readies for college. I have heard of Peterson's and used them for various items, but had not visited the site. I visited my own alma mater, Berry College, and it does not have that star symbol, so I just clicked on the link. As I read all about it, I realized that some other colleges appear in the sidebar on the right, which was an interesting note to me. It would give students looking at one particular college some other ideas of places that could be rated simlarly.

//Sabrina's// comment: I reviewed the print version of this resource and I'm glad to see there is an online version available. Both seem to be a great resource, but I like the idea of having access online. This will allow teachers to use it with students (even when print versions can't be bought), and it can be more up-to-date. It also a WIDE variety of information, all of which can be very beneficial. Thanks for this review!! ||