This month’s focus will be on Biography in Context. I chose this specific database so I can point out many features you will find in the “In Context” databases. Why am I starting with a focus on Biographies? I believe learning about individuals who have or are still managing to have an impact on society at large can empower not only our students but also help us find great information about individuals who have a remarkable story that might inspire us.
Using Biography in Context in your classroom should not only be thought of when you wish to focus on having the students research a specific person. Yes. Biographies are essentially about people but In Context puts in your fingertips so much more that I will break down further on.
Using Biography in Context in your classroom should not only be thought of when you wish to focus on having the students research a specific person. Yes. Biographies are essentially about people but In Context puts in your fingertips so much more that I will break down further on.
Prior to continuing, I would like to share with you this article from The Washington Post regarding a person reading through many biographies to know more about The Presidency. I would also like to share with you this article from The New York Times by a former president talking about the role books have had in his time in The White House.
Biography In Context offers authoritative reference content alongside magazine and journal articles, primary sources, videos, audio podcasts, and images. Covering a vast array of people from historically significant figures to present-day newsmakers, it’s continuously updated to ensure that students have access to the very latest information.
Biography In Context offers authoritative reference content alongside magazine and journal articles, primary sources, videos, audio podcasts, and images. Covering a vast array of people from historically significant figures to present-day newsmakers, it’s continuously updated to ensure that students have access to the very latest information.
Scope and Depth
The challenges, motivations, successes, and failures of history’s notables can educate and inspire students. Biography In Context is built on a foundation of more than 650,000 biographical entries covering more than 400,000 international figures from all time periods and areas of study. Providing coverage of the most-searched and studied people, Biography In Context includes more than 4,500 portal pages on the world’s most remarkable contemporary and historical names.
The challenges, motivations, successes, and failures of history’s notables can educate and inspire students. Biography In Context is built on a foundation of more than 650,000 biographical entries covering more than 400,000 international figures from all time periods and areas of study. Providing coverage of the most-searched and studied people, Biography In Context includes more than 4,500 portal pages on the world’s most remarkable contemporary and historical names.
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Authoritative Content
More than 170 titles from Gale and its publishing partners include:
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News and Multimedia
- Biography In Context brings students face-to-face with their subjects via engaging videos, audio selections, and images of yesterday’s and today’s most studied figures.
- Millions of full-text articles are drawn from hundreds of periodicals and newspapers, including The New York Times, USA Today, Daily Mail (London), and Globe and Mail (Canada).
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Browsing Options:
Biography in Context allows you to browse by groups. Current groups are: Actors, African Americans, American First Ladies, American Presidents, American Revolution, American Supreme Court Justices, American Vice Presidents, Ancient Greeks and Romans, Architects and Designers, Artists, Asian and Pacific Americans, Athletes and Coaches, Aviators, British Royalty, Business Leaders, Children's Writers, Civil War, Contemporary World Leaders, Criminals, Dancers and Choreographers, Educators, Entertainment Industry Notables, Environmentalists, Fashion Designers and Stylists, Filmmakers, Harlem Renaissance, Hispanic Americans, Historic World Leaders, Holocaust Literature, Inventors, Journalists, LGBT Figures, Medical Notables, Military Figures, Musicians, Native Americans, Nobel Peace Prize Winners, Notable Olympians, Notable Women, People in the News, Philanthropists, Philosophers, Poets, Politicians and Dignitaries, Psychologists, Religious Leaders, Renaissance, Scientists, Singers, Social Reformers, Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, World Explorers, World Royalty, World War II, Writers, Young Adult Writers. |
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Features:
On the right side of the Biography In Context page for any person you will find a brief regarding the sections that are on display: Featured Content, Biographies, Reference, Images, News, Audio, Magazines, Academic Journals, Videos, Primary Sources, Websites , and Related Topics |
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Further down you will find an expanded fact box with sections such as: Born, Occupation, Other Occupations, Nationality, Other Names, Gender.
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Further down you will find links to related topics. A search on Gloria Steinem shows links to these related topics: Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, César Chávez, Christian Bale, Robert F. Kennedy, Shirley Chisholm,
Wilma Mankiller. |
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Here are a few examples of lessons you can use with Biography in Context to give you further inspiration:
Talkin’ About My Generation, Nomination Speech, Career Focus on Science and Technology, Historical Figure Research
Talkin’ About My Generation, Nomination Speech, Career Focus on Science and Technology, Historical Figure Research
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Biography In Context Video- Watch this video to learn further at how you can start using this valuable tool in your class/shop.
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