TexQuest: News & Updates

The TexQuest Navigator was recently updated to a standalone site that allows for accessibility improvements and performance benefits. This new version is much simpler and displays content faster. Nothing is required on the users end to accommodate the updates; simply enjoy the improvements! 

New school year, updated look! 

TexQuest Gale Academic OneFile and General OneFile resources are currently not accessible. In June, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) was alerted to some potential content issues in these two resources, which caused them to pause access to Academic and General OneFile while they assessed them. Academic OneFile will be reinstated on September 1 and TexQuest Support will alert participating TexQuest districts when General OneFile is reinstated.

If any school district would like to “opt out” of using Academic and/or General OneFile for the entire district or for a specific campus(es) you may contact Gale at gale.consortium.installs@cengage.com to customize that access.

If you have any questions and/or concerns, feel free to contact Liz Philippi at lphilippi@tsl.texas.gov or by phone at 512-463-5852.

EBSCO Learning Express promotional materials have been updated. Perfect timing as educators prepare for the new school year!

Visit the Learning Express Support Page to view the new materials. 

TexQuest Basics-Elementary, August 5, 2021 Register in Connect20

TexQuest Basics-Secondary, August 6, 2021 Register in Connect20

TexQuest Basics Flyer

Important: District Password Changes to EBSCO

As part of EBSCO's current username and password requirements, passwords must be updated every 365 days.

To make this annual update, for EBSCO only, easier for TexQuest participants, district EBSCO passwords will be changed between July 1 and July 15, 2021.

For most passwords, 20! will be changed to 21! See EBSCO Access and Customization FAQs for detailed information on new passwords and how this will take place.

NOTE: TexQuest Navigator password will not change.
NOTE: You may receive a password expiration/reset email from EBSCO in June - PLEASE DISREGARD. EBSCO will update all participating TexQuest districts passwords between July 1-15.

After July 15, 2021, new passwords will be emailed from the TexQuest Support Center to district Primary, Librarian, and Technology contacts.

Summer 2021 Program Changes (click on the change for more information or click on the boxes below):

• Gale in Context: Elementary Enhancements
• Update EBSCO Username/Password Information
• EBSCO mobile app now available for iOS and Android devices 
• EBSCO app for Chromebooks to be available 5/17/2021
• Learning Express PrepStep has updated the Computer Courses and available STAAR exams 

Email from the TexQuest Support Center to participating district Primary, Librarian, and Technology contacts:
May 10 letter

Update your district contacts and/or sign up for the TexQuest X-Press to make sure you receive all important information.

Spring 2021 Newsletter
TexQuest Resources Updates flyer

   TexQuest Support Center at ESC-20, virtual exhibit
   EBSCO Information Services, virtual exhibit
   Gale, a Cengage Company, virtual exhibit
   Infobase, virtual exhibit
   ProQuest, virtual exhibit
   TeachingBooks, virtual exhibit
   Texas State Library and Archives Commission, virtual exhibit
 
TexQuest Presentations

TexShare and TexQuest Updates
Thu, Apr 22, 10:15 - 11:15 am, virtual
Karen McElfresh, Elizabeth Philippi, Danielle Plumer, Kate Reagor, and Russlene Waukechon, Texas State Library & Archives Commission

TexQuest Support for College and Career Readiness
Thu, Apr 22, 4:15 - 5:15 pm, virtual
Norma Gutierrez, Education Service Center - Region 20

Use TexQuest Usage Data to Impress School Administrators!
Fri, Apr 23, 10:15 - 11:15 am, virtual
Valicia Greenwood and Elizabeth Philippi, Texas State Library & Archives Commission

Bring Out the Best in Both: TexQuest and Google
Fri, Apr 23, 3:00 - 4:00 pm, virtual
Susan Reeves and Martha Rossi, Education Service Center - Region 20

TexQuest: It’s Elementary
Sat, Apr 24, 1:45 - 2:45 pm, virtual
Desiree Benavides, Harlandale ISD
Norma Gutierrez, Education Service Center - Region 20

TexQuest Resources Updates flyer

On Friday, April 30, 2021, the following enhancements to Gale In Context: Elementary will become available:

• K-5 eBooks from Gale will be accessible within the Gale In Context: Elementary experience (in addition to still appearing in the Gale eBooks platform).
  • If your district has purchased K-5 Gale eBook titles, they will automatically appear in Gale in Context Elementary. If it has not, no eBooks will appear.
• K-5 eBook titles will be fully integrated into the Gale In Context: Elementary search experience, topic pages, and new eBooks homepage tab.   The user experience is optimized for young users and includes a newly redesigned reader that is kid-friendly and includes text-to-speech functionality.
  • A K-5 title is defined as a title with a target audience of grade 5 or lower.
  • K-5 Gale eBooks provided by the TexQuest and/or purchased by a library will automatically appear in the new experience following the launch in early Spring.  No action is required by the consortium for the titles to appear.
• Live Demo of Gale In Context: Elementary Enhancements 5/13/21 - webinar link
• Gale’s Blog regarding Gale in Context: Elementary Enhancements

FAQs
What if a library has K-5 eBooks on their own but uses Gale In Context: Elementary from the consortium?   They will see eBooks appear in their location’s Elementary product experience.

What if a consortium provides K-5 eBooks but a library does not have access to Gale In Context: Elementary? All eBooks will be available through the Gale eBooks platform.   If a school or library wishes to use Gale In Context: Elementary to view these titles, they can contact Gale for more information.

For questions, contact Gale Support.

EBSCO LearningExpress is pleased to announce that PrepSTEP for High Schools is now compatible with Schoology, a virtual learning environment that allows users to create, manage and share content. Once implemented, educators will be able to easily add resources from PrepSTEP to course assignment lists.

Contact EBSCO to initiate the set-up process.

LearningExpress PrepSTEP LMS Integration Guides

Britannica School Insights, the new extension for K-12 schools, enables students and teachers to cut through the noise on the Internet and get trusted and verified information at the top-right corner of their search results page. More information can be found on Britannica's Provider Support page. 

EBSCO has added a few updates to their TexQuest EBSCO LibGuide / Provider Support page.  

• A page called "eBooks on EBSCO Mobile App” has been added under the EBSCO eBooks tab, which provides users with an easy way to download and read titles from their library's EBSCO eBook collections, using the new EBSCO Mobile App.
• The EBSCO Contacts box has been updated with contact information for the new EBSCO Customer Training Specialist for TexQuest, Shana Ashwood-Viala.
• A "LearningExpress Library for Home Schoolers” flyer has been added to the LearningExpress Promotional Resources section.

  TexQuest Support Center (virtual exhibit)
  Britannica Digital Learning (virtual exhibit)
  Gale/Cengage Learning (virtual exhibit)
    

TexQuest Presentations

Supporting the New ELAR Standards with TexQuest Digital Resources, session 210481
Thu, 2/4, 1:00 - 2:00 pm, On-Demand session/Virtual
Norma Gutierrez, Education Service Center, Region 20
Terry Roper, Education Service Center, Region 10

TexQuest, It’s Elementary: Digital Resources for K-5 Classrooms, session 210486
Thu, 2/4, 1:00 - 2:00 pm, On-Demand session/Virtual
Norma Gutierrez, Education Service Center, Region 20
Marie Arce, Northeast ISD
Desiree Benavides, Harlandale ISD

Britannica Introduces New Enhanced Website

Check out the new and improved Britannica website. 

• No action required. Transition should be seamless.

EBSCO eBooks

• EBSCO Academy - short video tutorials providing information about EBSCO resources. You must create an EBSCO Connect account to view the videos and take quizzes associated with them.
• Mobile app - in late November 2020, EBSCO will release the new mobile app for eBooks. The mobile app will provide searching and downloading capabilities.
• DRM-free eBooks - coming November 2020 - many EBSCO eBooks will now have the capability of being downloaded without the need for installation of Adobe Digital Editions.
• eBook Management Portal - January 2021 - customize which eBooks you want and make them available for specific time periods.

LearningExpress

• LearningExpress added a "What's New?" feature that shows only resources that TexQuest participants subscribe to and provides information about content added within the past three months.
  • You must be signed in to your personal LearningExpress account to see the "What's New" link on the dark blue navigation bar at the top of the page.
  • “What’s New?” can be downloaded and distributed as a PDF.
• STAAR Tests - new STAAR tests will be available in LearningExpress in January 2021.
• 1,400 occupational videos are now included in occupational cards in "Explore Occupations" of Job and Career Accelerator center; these are short 1-2 minute clips that introduce a student to an occupation.
• LearningExpress now has links to USAJOBS federal jobs database. Type "federal job search" in the Search box for available resources.
• TSI tests within LearningExpress were updated to TSI 2.0 in January 2021. Visit the "STAAR & TSI Preparation" section in LearningExpress to access the updated practice tests.

Infobase has added a new video Quiz feature in Learn360 which allows Admins, Librarians, and Teachers to create an interactive video Quiz using full videos, segments, custom content and web channels. Questions can be inserted at specific points in a video and then shared with students via Infobase Classes, Google Classes, LMSs such as Schoology, individual email addresses or using a direct link. There are a few different question types and Quiz settings.

To access, create, and share the Learn360 Quiz feature you must be logged in using a teacher, admin, or librarian account.

Video Tutorial
Help Article

For questions, contact Infobase Tech Support or 1-800-322-8755 x6.

Summer 2020 Program Changes (click on the change for more information or click on the boxes below):

• Gale Kids Infobits becomes Gale in Context: Elementary
• Update EBSCO Username/Password Information

Update your district contacts and/or sign up for the TexQuest X-Press to make sure you receive all important information.

TexQuest Navigator and direct provider resource access reminders

• If you access TexQuest resources via the TexQuest Navigator...
  • Link to https://TexQuest.net OR directly to the Navigator
  • Under the Navigator, select Elementary, Middle School, High School or All TexQuest Resources
  • Select a resource
  • Start typing your District name in the drop-down menu and select it
  • Type your district's primary TexQuest password

This will allow you access to ALL TexQuest resources, including EBSCO.

• If you access TexQuest resources via direct provider links...
  • Visit Access TexQuest resources OR access from your district/campus webpages or LMS/SSO systems
  • Type your district or campus TexQuest username and password for each provider
  • Remember for Gale the username is the Gale Loc ID and for EBSCO the password is the EBSCO only password ending in 20!
     
• Your district's EBSCO ONLY password will be used only...
  • If you are accessing via the direct EBSCO TexQuest link, https://gss.ebscohost.com/texshare/texquest.html
  • If you are prompted for an EBSCO username/password to access an EBSCO eBook

https://infotrac.gale.com/itweb/j+TEAnumber?db=ITKE

Beginning May 29, 2020, Gale Kids InfoBits  will undergo product enhancements and become Gale In Context: Elementary. 

Access

• Visit Images and Links for icons to change on district and campus web pages, single sign-on and learning management systems.
• ​Resource will automatically be added to TexQuest Gale pages.
• Resource will be accessed with current Gale credentials.
• Campuses/districts with customized Gale pages should contact Gale or replace icon on Gale pages.

Visit Gale’s blog for more information.
Register for a live demo of Gale In Context: Elementary exclusively for libraries (5/15/20).
Information also available at Gale Support.

Live Gale in Context: Elementary webinar to review interface and tool enhancements
Tuesday, June 2, 2020, 2:30–3:00 PM ET

Summer 2019 Program Changes:

• Add InfoBase Learn360
• Add Gale Infotrac Student
• Remove Britannica eBooks (eSTAX)
• Enable Optional EBSCO eBook collections
• Update EBSCO Username/Password Information
• Learn About Gale Product Enhancements
• Check out the new TeachingBooks website
• Change to new ProQuest SIRS Discoverer platform
• Change Britannica Learning Zone to Britannica Fundamentals

Emails from the TexQuest Support Center to participating district Primary, Librarian, and Technology contacts:

May 13 Letter

June 17 Letter

July 17 Letter

Update your district contacts and/or sign up for the TexQuest X-Press to make sure you receive all important information.

The TexQuest Refresh 2019 slide show will be updated with new information as it's received from our providers.

TexQuest Refresh Virtual Meeting - August 16, 2019  Transcript

Template for Educator Email
Modify this email template to make counselors, teachers, and administrators aware of this new resource.

Access and Use (Handout)

• Add the Learning Express icon and your custom district URL to your district/campus library web page. Check with your library contact or TexQuest Support Center for district url. Icons and generic URL available at TexQuest.net/imagesandlinks.
   
• Click on "Sign In/Register” and create a personal account by confirming institution, providing name and email address, and  creating a password. Returning users enter username and password in the “Sign in to Your Account” section in the lower right corner of the Home page. (Creating a personal account allows each user to access practice exams and view test scores). The user can also click “I'd rather NOT register with my email” on the registration page and use a secret question instead.
   
• Access PrepSTEP for High Schools or Learning Express Library for Public Libraries through your TexQuest log in. They share many resources, but some are unique to an individual collection.
  
  
• Districts can also login to their EBSCO Select Service page to access Learning Express or use the new EBSCO landing page.
   
• Individual campuses accessing their own Select Service page can email texquest@ebsco.com to create a campus profile for Learning Express.​

​More Resources

• Visit the EBSCO TexQuest Learning Express Support Site, for more information, as well as training and support material.
   
• Product Training Videos can be accessed from any page on the Learning Express site by simply clicking the Video Guides tab in the blue horizontal navigation bar.

Effective June 15, 2019, Academic, Business, and History eBook Collections from EBSCO are optional, and must be enabled at the district or campus level. No action is necessary to continue accessing the K-8, High School, and Educator Collections.

If your district or campus would like to enable any or all of optional eBook collections:

• Contact EBSCO Tech Support at texquest@ebsco.com. OR
• Self-administer by visiting EBSCO Admin
  • If you do not have an EBSCO Admin account, email texquest@ebsco.com or call 800-653-2726 x3410.
  • Video on how to enable/disable eBook collections transcript

Note: Campuses must have a customized EBSCO username and password to enable optional EBSCO eBook collection(s) at the campus level.

• To request a customized campus username and password contact texquest@ebsco.com
• For districts with multiple campus customization requests, email a spreadsheet with District Name, City, Campus Name, eBook Collection(s) to be enabled, and Requested Username and Requested Password to texquest@ebsco.com and put "TexQuest Customized Login Request" in the subject line.

"Google Drive" is now available in Britannica School Resources!

Britannica has joined our other providers in adding the "Google Drive" feature to their Britannica School resources. 

                     Elementary level                            Middle & High School levels
                   

To access in the Elementary level, click on the Google Drive icon within an article, image, or video.

To access in the Middle and High School levels, first click on the Send To icon (blue arrow), then click on Google Drive, within an article, image

Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context Chrome Extension!

Enable users to view and access content from Gale’s Opposing Viewpoints In Context within Google results with the new OVIC Chrome Extension.

·        Opposing Viewpoints In Context – Chrome Extension Installation
·        Opposing Viewpoints In Context - Chrome Extension Usage Reporting
·        Opposing Viewpoints In Context - Google Admin Chrome Extension Management
·        Opposing Viewpoints In Context - Chrome Extension Best Practices

Gale blog - OVIC Chrome Extension

Infobase has a new FREE Chrome browser extension that brings Learn360 content to the search engine results. Add Infobase Learn360 extension to Chrome.

New TexQuest Search Portal Opens 8/20/19!

TexQuest Navigator is a portal that allows users to access all TexQuest resources with one log in, as well as narrow provider searches by content level and type.

• From TexQuest.net, participants select preferred resource level
• When participant selects the first resource, a dropdown will prompt for district name
• Participant will type in the primary district password (not the special EBSCO password)
• After entering the first TexQuest resource, participant should be able to access additional resources without signing in.

Note: This alternate search method will be for district access only and cannot be customized for additional resources.

Sign Up for TexQuest X-Press