Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g3FGZHu19686; Mon, 15 Apr 2002 12:35:17 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 12:35:17 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <7ADB45B391BF714283550310C8251A2F19B8F0@exchange1.sos.state.mo.us> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Jones, Karen" <jonesk@sosmail.state.mo.us> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2113] RE: EFF & Navigating Systems X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Status: O Content-Length: 3297 Lines: 69 Dawn wrote:<<I've realized that I need to find out the status of the Congressional bill affecting this issue, but have encountered difficulty when trying to find specific information on the Internet. I have found general info from news articles, but trying to find the bill itself or even its assigned number is frustrating.>> If you connect your class and your friendly local librarian, the librarian might recommend the web site http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html which is a search engine particularly for the national legislative process. It will let you do a keyword search to help you find the bill number and status. It has a section explaining the law-making process and another telling what is going on with a bill once you find the number. If it is a state bill/law you are looking for it also has links to sites for that. Some students will need group work or assistance to handle the literacy demands of the site, but there is a lot of current information there, and since the search engine is specific to the legislative process it takes you straight to the primary documents and eliminates a lot of "false hits." The librarian might also tell your class that the Library of Congress has an electronic help desk with links and that accepts e-mail questions. It's at http://www.loc.gov/help/help-desk.html Unfortunately the reading level is high there, too, but I know teachers have their ways of getting around that problem if low literacy is a factor. I'll also mention that a librarian knows how to sort through other kinds of information, too, whether it is paper or electronic. There are specific indexes for an amazing number of topics. A single field trip to the library probably won't do it, but some on-going contact with a librarian might help. OK, I work in a library and I'm prejudiced, but one of the chief jobs of a reference librarian is to connect people with the specific information they need and most of them have their sources... :) Karen Jones -----Original Message----- From: Dawn Norris [mailto:Dawn_Norris@umit.maine.edu] Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 12:05 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2110] EFF & Navigating Systems I'd love to hear feedback on how teachers have used EFF to address the issue of trying to find specific info within a larger system. Any thoughts? (This topic came up for me as I'm working on my citizen role - see below.) ---------------------------------------------- Here's the latest on my use of the citizen role: I gained a basic understanding of the system that affects my chosen issue by using the skill "Learn Through Research", transferring strategies from my worker role to that of citizen. The transference of skills between roles worked well for me, clarifying how to do what I needed to do. I've realized that I need to find out the status of the Congressional bill affecting this issue, but have encountered difficulty when trying to find specific information on the Internet. I have found general info from news articles, but trying to find the bill itself or even its assigned number is frustrating. Best regards, Dawn Norris EFF National Center Operations Coordinator University of Maine 5766 Shibles Hall Orono, ME 04469 Phone: (207) 581-2402 x11 Fax: (207) 866-0059
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