BHCC Library
& Learning Commons  

Reference area silent study area Reference area

Library Instructor: Diane Smith

 

Getting Started: Using the Internet to bring resources for educators to your desktop.

This online tutorial was created as a support tool for reviewing the material offered in the library workshop sessions for educators and administrators held in the Bunker Hill Community College Library throughout 2000-2001. It is updated routinely so please forward suggestions and ideas to Diane Smith - smith@noblenet.org as they occur to you. This file focuses on using the Internet for research, tapping specialized, online databases and accessing the BHCC library and other libraries from your desktop, on and off campus. It differs from the the disk version (which may be picked up by members of the BHCC faculty, staff and administrators, from the Reserve section behind the circulation desk) in that the disk includes passwords (in context) that cannot be posted on the Internet for general release.

Many will find that, even without passwords for extended access, the following file still contains a lot of useful information for those interested in doing research in the area of education. It is designed as an introductory session for those who want to investigate how integrating the World Wide Web and its offerings might enhance your efforts when looking for education related information.

Begin by getting comfortable using a little of what you already know. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back and take a quick look at today's news.

Check the headlines in today's NY Times . Of course, let's not forget The Boston Globe for what's going on right next door. And why stop there? You can just as easily GO to newspapers across the nation and around the world for your information warm-up.

REMEMBER, this document is written using hypertext links so you can skip around selecting what you need and want to know instead of simply plodding through from start to finish. Practice this nonlinear approach to information as part of your WWW experience.

Okay, now let's get to work.

This session is designed as a follow-up workshop supplementing the basic information covered in the library introductory sessions titled:

Finding Your Own Answers Parts 1 & 2.

First, decide on several specific topics and more general subject areas within the field of education. Sources like EBSCO and the library catalog database, are useful for searching a wide range of topics including issues in Education, but when you're using ERIC or tapping into a FirstSearch database, you'll find that searching a subject which relates directly to the specific resource makes the best use of your time by generating the most useful results.

By now you may have realized that some things are free on the WWW while other sites require fees, registration, or some other form of licensed access. Anyone can use the NOBLE home page site as a gateway to the Internet, but if you want to search the EBSCO database for citations, abstracts and full text articles from over 3,000 publications then you'll need to enter the 14 digit number on the back of your BHCC ID card.

Click on this link to access EBSCO. When you are off-campus and wish to access any of the databases, you will be asked to enter your 14-digit library barcode number and your last name. If you have a library barcode on your ID already, go ahead and give it a try.

You may also want to try searching through a field specific Web site. For example, if your topic is finance you could explore the Web site OSU Virtual Finance Library Developed and maintained by Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University this site provides many links to finance found on the World Wide Web.

Titles Related to Education

Next, click on the following hypertext link to go to the NOBLE Web Page to use the World Wide Web for research on the topic of Education. This can be a useful place to begin searching since it usually loads quickly and is predictably consistent in its design and layout.

Once you're at the web page, notice that the top of the page provides you with search options for finding books in the BHCC library and eight other academic libraries in the NOBLE consortium. You can come back and experiment with this web version of our catalog when you want to locate books on your topic but for now, scroll down the left side of the NOBLE page, looking for the subject heading EDUCATION. This section links to some useful Internet sites, some of which may become old favorites very quickly. Not everything will be of interest but if you're looking for Academe This Week, FEDIX, MOLIS or quick links to the state or federal Boards of Higher Education, you'll find this section a convenient place to begin your search. Scroll down looking for the Associations, Organizations, & Agencies and the Higher Ed sections for a quick look at how these links can be of use to you.

When you have the idea, go back to the list of topics on the NOBLE web page and click the link for the Internet search tools. This takes you to search tools so you can do a little serendipity and focused searching for web sites that pertain to "EDUCATION" on your own.

Take a few minutes to investigate some of the tools that can be genuine time savers once you get a little experience using them. There are indexes like Yahoo and Infomine, parallel search tools like Inference Find and search engines like Alta Vista, InfoSeek and Excite. You will soon discover the ones best suited to your average research needs. Search.com provides a useful overview that will propel you on your way.

Never hesitate to search for new sites when time allows. Useful data and services are added to the World Wide Web everyday. There are many paths to the same ends on the web and you'll begin to recognize the sites that overlap soon enough. For those times when you know what you need and you want to go straight to it, here's a short list of links. Bookmark your favorites so the addresses are always right there in your browser for quick and easy access.

The following is not in any particular order of importance. Once you've spent a little time sorting through the list and investigating where the links will lead, you'll find the best will rise to the top of your own list.

Periodicals

In addition to the journal and magazine articles you can find in EBSCO and the InfoTrac Web databases, the BHCC library has a paid subscription to some online publications like The Chronicle of Higher Education but you need a login ID (XXXXXXXX) and a password (XXXXXXXX). Again, these are NOT for general release, so check with the library which releases passwords and related license restrictions to individuals upon request.

Free and subscription online journals related to education include:

Other periodical titles available in the BHCC Library include:

People on the Web

Electronic conferences and discussions go on all the time on the Internet. Search the Directory of Scholarly and Professional E-Conferences for groups related to the category of Education to see what's available. A few of interest for educators are:

Other Resources

There's Usually More....

Many online guides for educators will become apparent in your searches on the World Wide Web which are dedicated to EDUCATION.

A few on-hand here in the BHCC library are:

Check our online BHCC Library Catalog by clicking on Combined Search and entering the keyword EDUCATION in the search field.

You can also explore other NOBLE consortium library catalogs Full Catalog for additional resources.

Ask questions and take the time to discuss your concerns with the Library staff.

Library Workshops

The Bunker Hill Community College Library workshops for faculty, staff and administrators are held in the Library (E319). Meet at the Reference Desk near the center of the Library. Plan to spend approximately one and one half hours participating in a hands-on workshop focused on increasing your awareness of library resources and exercising the skills necessary for getting the most out of what is at hand.

Tuesdays 2:00pm to 3:30pm, Wednesdays 12:30pm to 2:00 pm and 6:30pm to 8:00pm, and Fridays 10:00am to 11:30am.

Continuing workshop sessions include but are not limited to:

Hope to see you there!

NOTE: Although the library posts a regular schedule of workshops designed to work with the institution's calendar, the library staff is open to scheduling sessions accordingto the changing needs of individuals. Requests for workshop sessions outside the regular schedule should be submitted at least one week in advance of the planned meeting.

And Remember!

ID & password combinations are available in the library. DO NOT hestitate to look into what is on-hand for your use.