Google's Talk to Books

Google's Talk to Books Blogshare

Reading the phrase "integrating technology into classrooms" can elicit either an overwhelming sense of dread for those who prefer more traditional approaches to teaching, or excitement for those who pride themselves in being tech-savvy. No matter which team you fall under, there is a new, useful tool by Google that can easily be implemented with either a laptop or a phone. With it, students can find literacy and other resources for wiring with minimal effort. Teaching them to cite those resources...well, that may take a little more effort. 

In her May 2019 post “Use Experiments with Google to Spark Discussions and More” from her blog, The Incredibly True Adventures of an Ed Tech Trailblazer, educator, retired librarian, and ISTE Librarians Network President, Nikki Robertson, explores Google’s Talk to Books. It is a database with over 100,000 books, and it allows students to type in a question or statement using casual language such as full sentences instead of keywords. Google’s AI (artificial intelligence) then searches the books for similar phrases in order to produce a list of search results.

 Nikki D. Robertson's Blog http://www.nikkidrobertson.com/2019/05/use-experiments-with-google-to-spark.html

https://books.google.com/talktobooks/

For example, here are the search results for the question, “what is the meaning of life”:

The search results can then be filtered according to book category, or genre. 

In her blog, Robertson (2019) offers advice on how to use the database in a classroom setting. She provides the following lesson idea:

·        Think of your favorite topic of study from this school year

·        Research that topic using Talk to Books

·        In the comments section share at least 5 new facts you gained from this 
   search using Talk to Books

·        Read 3 classmates search results

·        Use Talk to Books to research their topic of choice

·        Add one new fact to each of the 3 classmates posts

Students could also use this database as either a research refresher, as practice on how to incorporate and/or cite sources, or as simply a fun tool to find interesting quotations. However it is incorporated, students will be using technology in a hands-on way to explore over 100,000 books! In Smith’s (2010) “Making the Case for the Leadership Role of School Librarians in Technology Integration,” the writer points out that “technology improves the professional practices of teachers by moving them from structuralism to student-centered constructivist activities.” What better way to do this than a cutting-edge, web-based database that uses AI?

“Technology has become a vital part of the teaching and learning experience,” according to Johnston (2012). Although sometimes, as teachers, it can be difficult to balance the useful incorporation of technology into classroom lessons with the expectations of the district, state, and nation to do so, the benefits are numerous when it comes together. Students get to practice digital literacy, become more comfortable with trying new technology, and learn research skills in a fun and practical way, all within a controlled database instead of the open-internet, which can be especially difficult to navigate for students who are not well-versed in the area of research.

Resources

Johnston, M. (2012). Connecting teacher librarians for technology integration leadership. School Libraries Worldwide, 18(1), 18-33.

Robertson, N. (2019, May 14). Use experiments with Google to spark discussions and more [Blog post]. The Incredibly True Adventures of an Ed Tech Trailblazer. Retrieved from http://www.nikkidrobertson.com/2019/05/use-experiments-with-google-to-spark.html

Smith, D. (2010). Making the case for the leadership role of school librarians in technology integration. Library Hi Tech, 28(4), 617 – 631.