School computers are known for being relatively limited. Sites can be blocked if content on those sites are considered non-academic or inappropriate. However, some sites can be blocked even if they contain valuable information. For many students, a regular Google or Wikipedia search is sufficient enough in finding information for various assignments. But there is another option.
Recently, English teacher Susan Diohep, who signed the school up for a free trial of the Elton B. Stephens Company database, or more familiarly known as EBSCO. “I found it online and found out that it was a copyrighted database,” Diohep said. The database is the biggest supplier of journal based articles in colleges and universities in the United States as well as serving 50,000 libraries. And before the semester it was also blocked by most school computers. “It was originally a 30-day trial, but they offered it until the end of the semester,” Diohep said. Originally the database was for Diohep’s English classes, but it has expanded to the rest of the school’s population as well.
The opening of the database gives all students a resource of information that can be accessed without restriction at school. It can also have a better chance of getting information than from other sources. A resource that may be blocked on a regular search could be available through the database. Although the database is mainly geared towards information on subjects of history and science overall it can be used for a variety of purposes. “If a student needs to do research, there is information readily available and accessible,” Diohep said. “It teaches (the students) that there is more available on the Web.”
Students in Diohep’s classes have already begun using the database and have become familiar with the site. “We used the EBSCO site to work on our research essays,” said Raven Ramirez, sophomore. “It really helped.”
The site also benefited some students and not just those in Diohep’s classes. “It gives you a variety of topics,” said Nikki Rivera, junior. “It’s more precise and easier than a regular Google search; I will go there again.”
Whether the database will make a comeback next year is still uncertain. “The general database is $500 a year,” said Diohep, “and each different element you choose to add on costs more.” Among the many other features that the database provides additionally are the EBSCO Discovery Service, which provides all of the databases knowledge and e-books (audio books). But the factor that helps the site out the most is student use. The more students going to the site, the more likely it will stay.
