Hi all,

MeL database provider Gale Cengage has announced two exciting  enhancements to Kids InfoBits (found in MeL Kids Homework Helpers). Kids InfoBits is designed for beginning researchers grades K-5 and covers curriculum related and age appropriate content. Gale partnered with Visual Learning Systems, an educational science publisher … to provide high quality, visual-based content that instructs, challenges, and inspires young learners.

1. Nearly 600 high-quality educational videos on concepts essential to STEM learning have been added to Kids InfoBits. Each is approximately 1-3 minutes in length, and can be easily incorporated into Primary and Elementary classroom instruction. Some even pose critical thinking questions for the learner to contemplate. Videos intended for grades K-2 feature: magnets, nature, the sun, water, and simple machines. Videos intended for grades 3-5 include: energy, planet earth, worms, plants, and the wheel and axle.  After performing a search, available videos are shown under Content Types

2. In response to user feedback, the overall default font size has been increased and a feature to further increase font size for all documents in Kids InfoBits has been added. Once a document has been selected and is displayed, an icon will appear in the right corner and offer the option of changing the font size. The change will remain in effect for the session.

Kids InfoBits features integrated G Suite for Education and Microsoft Office 365 tools. After authentication, users can sign in with their Google or Microsoft account credentials to access Google Drive, Docs and Classroom, in addition to Microsoft OneDrive and OneNote.

MeL Minutes are brought to you by the Library of Michigan.  Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for next week’s MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, email us at contact@mel.org  or visit http://mel.org. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks.

Registration is now open for the next LM/MCLS webinar. Standardized tests are a reality for Michigan students from elementary through High School. MeL databases provides resources which can bolster achievement. Please join us on November 30, at 3:30pm for a 30-minute webinar focused on MeL resources which prepare students for these important examinations. Registration is free and open to all Michigan library staff and other interested users. Read more and register for this webinar.

Eunice

Eunice C. Borrelli

Michigan eLibrary Internet Librarian

Library of Michigan/Michigan Dept. of Education

517-241-4996

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