The original intent of the database was to develop a pedagogical tool for creating thematic lessons and multidisciplinary curriculum resources for children. The database has the potential to bring together students and faculty from multiple departments and disciplines at Miami University and beyond. For example, on-campus and off-campus patrons have the ability to enhance the development and implementation of literature-based lessons for elementary children, preschool to grade three. The database may help teacher education majors at Miami University to read a wider range of book titles before completing assignments for coursework, methods block, and student teaching. Off-campus users such as classroom teachers and librarians can perform database searches to obtain booklists on topics, concepts, and skills which may add depth and breadth to what they are already teaching.

For specific ways on how the database was developed and used in different ways in preservice elementary education classes at Miami University, please contact the Project Director, Valerie Ubbes, by telephone at (513) 529-2736 or by e-mail on this site.

How does the CPBD@ MU contribute to scholarship?

Though the CPBD@MU began as a teaching and learning project in a teacher education course, the database has also evolved into a research tool. Hence, the database is both a pedagogical tool and a research tool. The ways in which the database is used for both teaching and research are in the developmental stages.

The keyword list (n = 860) of the CPBD@MU has been validated against the Library of Congress Subject Headings in a recent study by Ubbes (1996). Results of the study showed that 88% of the keywords used by the CPBD@MU matched the keywords used by the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Only 12% of the keywords used by the CPBD@MU had no known comparison word or the use of a different word was suggested. These findings are favorable given the fact that the database was developed by library patrons, namely faculty and elementary education majors who are our next generation of teachers.

The database has the potential to facilitate other scholarly projects for students and faculty. Examples of these projects include, but are not limited to:

1) a survey of topics and concepts taught in elementary schools in southwest Ohio, and how many of these topics and concepts are available as keywords in the CPBD@MU (Ubbes, 1996);

2) a study that investigates how the topical and conceptual keywords of the CPBD@MU connect and define multiple disciplines;

3) a study that validates the placement of keywords by content specialists into a hierarchical search structure, so that library patrons do not need to know a keyword to complete a search;

4) a study of users which compares the type of keywords selected through alphabetical and hierarchical search parameters versus keywords selected through boolean search parameters;

5) a study in which preservice teachers with a preferential ranking of disciplinary interests "sees" or "reads" similar or different topics and skills from a storyline, i.e., Can a preservice teacher with an interest in science use a picture book with richer instructional lessons in science?

6) an CPBD@MU inservice of teachers, faculty, and librarians to explore their notions of what a database is, what it can do and not do, and how it can be used in professional preparation assignments with their students;

7) a qualitative study to understand conceptual, higher-order thinking patterns of learners, and how such thinking affects the best practices of curriculum and instruction, i.e., Can storylines in children's picture books help learners to construct new meaning and understanding about topics, concepts, and skills?

Scholarly applications of the database requires on-going dialogue with faculty, teachers, and students. For more information on any of the above research or any new ideas for research and development, please contact Valerie Ubbes, Project Director, by telephone at (513) 529-2736 or by e-mail on this site.

How does the CPBD@ MU contribute to service?

Prior to the development of the CPBD@MU, the Instructional Material Center (IMC) in the Miami University Library System did not have a complete electronic listing of its children's picture book holdings. Thus, librarians and patrons could not access a complete booklist of Easy Readers held by the IMC. Now the CPBD@MU provides this service to on-campus and off-campus users. The database is already being used by southwest Ohio elementary schools from the World Wide Web. Local elementary teachers and community users can borrow picture books (and other holdings) from the IMC collection after obtaining a library card which is issued on the second floor of Miami University's King Library. A proof of Ohio residency is required. Local elementary teachers and community users are also encouraged to check for the availability of each book title by clicking on the Lane Library (Butler County, OH) interface and the Cincinnati Public Library (Hamilton County, OH) interface. Both of these library systems offer a Teacher Collection Card option which facilitates the pulling of titles for teachers for either pick-up or delivery by bookmobile. For further information, please call the libraries directly.

Ongoing updates and editing are involved during the maintenance stage of the database. Your feedback on the quality, originality, and impact of the database is encouraged. Please send your comments and suggestions via e-mail to the Project Director, Valerie A. Ubbes, Ph.D., CHES, and John Millard, the Website Manager.