Read Up on Banned Books with Bloom’s Literature

You’ve no doubt heard about it in the news: a massive uptick in book challenges in institutions nationwide. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked more than 1,269 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2022 alone—an unprecedented amount compared to previous years. But why? And what books were banned […]

Battle of the Teutoburg Forest: A Historical Controversy from Issues & Controversies in History

Was the “Varian disaster” responsible for Rome’s eventual failure to conquer Germania? Be sure to check out Issues & Controversies in History’s complete and unbiased coverage of this issue. Learn more about the issue and check out a sample of the pro/con arguments on both sides below. THE ISSUE In 9 CE, Arminius and a […]

Introduce Students to Great Literature Classics…with Video

When you’re interested in watching a movie and want to learn more about it beforehand, what do you do? Well, you’re not likely to go into the theater cold, so you might watch the film’s trailer, clips from the film, or a video review to get a sense of whether or not you might be […]

Haitian Revolution: A Historical Controversy from Issues & Controversies in History

The Haitian Revolution: Did this uprising successfully advance or ultimately thwart the cause of human rights? Be sure to check out Issues & Controversies in History’s complete and unbiased coverage of this issue. Learn more about the issue and check out a sample of the pro/con arguments on both sides below. THE ISSUE In 1791, […]

Labor Unions: A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies

An International Workers’ Day Spotlight from Issues & Controversies: Labor Unions: Do Labor Unions Benefit American Workers and the U.S. Economy? Do labor unions help the U.S. economy and American workers? Be sure to check out Issues & Controversies’ complete and unbiased coverage of this important issue. Here is a sample of the pro/con arguments […]

Can ChatGPT Really Write Your Students’ English Essays?

ChatGPT is terrifyingly good at lots of things, but not at understanding literature—and we have the test scores to prove it. It’s been widely reported that the latest version of the artificial intelligence chatbot was assigned a number of standardized tests, including the SAT, the Bar exam, and a variety of Advanced Placement tests, and […]

Berlin Wall: A Historical Controversy from Issues & Controversies in History

Should the Berlin Wall have been built? Be sure to check out Issues & Controversies in History’s complete and unbiased coverage of this issue. Learn more about the issue and check out a sample of the pro/con arguments on both sides below. THE ISSUE In 1961, the East German government closed the border between East Berlin […]

The Best Love Poems for Valentine’s Day

Some claim that poetry is useless, to which we at Infobase respond: “Not on Valentine’s Day.” Anyone who’s received a classic love poem in a note—or better, been the subject of an all-new one—knows that poetry is the surest way to get a lover’s full attention. Here at Infobase, we aim to provide our users […]

Teach Controversial Topics in the Classroom with Issues & Controversies

In an era of increasing polarization, critical-thinking skills are more essential than ever. Educators can use controversial issues in the news to help students develop these skills by providing reliable information, presenting both sides of the argument fairly, and encouraging learners to reach their own conclusions and communicate their ideas effectively and independently. But, with […]

Differentiated Learning: How Databases Can Help

As any teacher can tell you, one foundation of creating lesson plans is considering your students’ individual needs—in other words, strategies teachers use to differentiate the delivery of content. This consideration requires obtaining a certain amount of knowledge about their students, which often leads teachers to administering surveys. Insert the likelihood of a discussion of […]

Today’s Science Brings Home the Platinum Modern Library Award

Ask any scientist what they know about platinum, and they’d tell you that it’s a dense but malleable precious silver-white metal with a high melting point. They may even know its chemical symbol (Pt) and atomic number (78). But thanks to LibraryWorks’ ninth annual Modern Library Awards (MLAs), Platinum is also the distinction awarded to […]

Database Instruction 101: Taking Students Beyond Google

I can’t tell you how many times I have taught a lesson to a class about using particular databases for an assignment, and while I’m walking around helping students individually after whole-class instruction, I realize that they’ve just opened a Google tab instead of using the database.  It’s not exactly their own fault. Google is […]