Searching Competency Three: Academic Search Complete and Building Block

Database: Academic Search Complete

Search Strategy: Building Block

Initial Question: What techniques are effective in developing successful book clubs for children?

Rationale: For the third of four searching competencies, I chose the Academic Search Complete database, which I had recently used for the first time as a requirement for Module Seven. While using this database for the required element of the course, I found it fairly easy to use and thought it had the potential for producing a variety of resources to meet my information needs.

Using the building block strategy, I first identified the main facets of my questions, then brainstormed possible descriptors for each facet, and finally used the Subject Terms feature on Academic Search Complete to identify synonymous thesaurus terms the database would recognize.

Key Terms/Facets:

Key Terms or Facets	techniques	book clubs	children
Descriptors	▪strategies ▪methods	▪literature circles ▪book discussion groups ▪literature clubs	▪kids ▪elementary students
Academic Search Complete Thesaurus Terms	▪teaching methods ▪strategy	▪book clubs ▪discussion groups ▪group reading	▪children

After identifying all thesaurus terms, I continued to follow the building block strategy by using Boolean logic to express the facets as a Boolean search string and began searching using the Subject Terms search.

Search 1:

(teaching methods OR strategy) AND (book clubs OR discussion groups OR group reading) AND (children)

Records Retrieved: 7

Reflection: This search succeeded in producing a limited number of results, but most of the records produced were focused more on reading strategies than on book clubs. While I did find a couple of pertinent records, I decided I needed to refine my search slightly to eliminate the heavy focus on strategies.

Pertinent Records Citations:

Anderson, P. & Corbett, L. (2008). Literature circles for students with learning disabilities. Intervention in School & Clinic, 44(1), 25 – 33.

Paxton-Buursma, D. & Walker, M. (2008). Piggybacking. Teaching Exceptional Children, 40(3), 28 – 34.

Search 2:

Reflecting upon my first search, I decided to eliminate the 'strategy' and 'teaching methods' facets as well as to refine the 'discussion groups' facet to 'book discussion groups.'

(book clubs OR book discussion groups OR group reading) AND (children)

Records Retrieved: 68

Reflection: This search produced significantly more results than my first search had and there were also many more pertinent records.

Pertinent Records Citations:

DeVault, N. (2009). Literature circles in library class. Library Media Connection, 28(1), 24 – 25.

Hill, R.A. (2009). Lunchtime book clubs. Book Links, 18(3), 12 – 13.

Patalano, T. (2008). Join the club. Scholastic Parent & Child, 15(8), 92.

Sennett, F. (2006). Book clubs turn the page to learning. Curriculum Review, 46(2), 14 – 15.

Bianchi, J. (2006). Book clubs for kids. Good Housekeeping, 243(1), 103.

Preis, A. (2006). Going clubbing. School Library Journal, 52(4), 37.

King, C. (2001). "I like group reading because we can share ideas": The role of talk within the literature circle. Reading, 35(1), 32 – 37.

The little O's book club. (1998). Reading Today, 16(2), 1 – 2.

Conclusion: I was very pleased with the records produced using the building block strategy and the Academic Search Complete database. This search was successful in producing more pertinent records than any other database search I have performed thus far. The Academic Search Complete database was very easy to use and had a wide variety of journals and other resources to from which records were accessed. The building block strategy was a great tactic for organizing my search and pertinent results were located efficiently with no frustration.