Currently, the World Wide Web contains an estimated 7.4 million sites (OCLC, 2001). Yet even the most experienced searcher, using the most robust search engines, can access only about 16% of these pages (Dahn, 2001). The other 84% of the publicly available information on the Web is referred to as the "hidden,""invisible," or…

This digest provides information and advice for accessing information from the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database, a federally funded information network designed to provide users with ready access to education literature. It describes the database, the best ways to access ERIC, the thesaurus of ERIC descriptors, and the use…

This digest offers tips for both new and experienced users of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database. It describes ERIC as a federally funded, nationwide information network providing access to papers, curriculum and teaching guides, conference proceedings, literature reviews, curricular materials, and journal articles in the…

No matter what their role, knowing how to identify, select, and evaluate information resources are important processes for adult educators. Two of the main sources of information related to adult education are information databases and clearinghouses or resource centers. Two comprehensive references that can be used to select the most appropriate…

Too often, search engines don't see and directories can overlook clearinghouses, digital libraries, full-text databases, and learning objects. In contrast, the hidden Web is rich with these high quality and cutting-edge learning materials. By integrating resources from the hidden Web into the classroom, educators extend their instruction in new…

Since professional development schools (PDSs) emerged in the mid-1980s as a promising approach to improving teacher education and P-12 schooling, information about these institutions has become more abundant and more accessible. Four primary sources of PDS information are discussed in this digest: the ERIC database, electronic resources, fugitive…

This ERIC Digest examines the uses of databases in the social studies, including what a database is and how to use it, types of databases available for social studies classroom use, and the role this educational tool can play in achieving the goals and objectives of the social studies. A distinction between print and computerized database files…

This digest is designed to aid those wishing to learn more about how to use information technology to access electronic education resources. Starting points for locating magazines and journals online are summarized; suggested strategies include visiting the World Wide Web sites of journal publishers, using search engines, and accessing virtual…