1. Search Tools

· Search tools provide access to searchable indexes to some of the Web’s over 70 million pages. Some search tools use software that searches the Web for new pages. Others accept registrations. For some search tools, indexing is fully automated and some are indexed by real live human beings.

· A simple Internet search engine uses keywords you supply to seek out specific references to the information you’re looking for within the web pages it has in its database.

· A subject directory organizes indexed sites into hierarchical categories.

· A portal offers “value added” features such as bookmarks, news, or email.

· Most search tools now offer some combination of the above 3 types.

· Remember that each search engine has its own database so you may not get the same search results from any two search engines.

2. Searching Tips

· Use a directory search for general topics. Use keyword search when looking for specific information.

· Make sure your spelling is correct. Use synonyms if necessary.

· Be as specific and as descriptive as possible with your keywords.

· Use lower case unless you specifically want to match an upper case letter.

· Commonly used search language and syntax:

(NOTE: not all of these options are supported by all search sites; always check the search instructions at a new site. Visit http://searchenginewatch.com and select “Web Searching Tips,” then “Search Features Chart”)

· Use quotation marks to enclose a phrase. Pages must contain the phrase exactly as typed.

· Use Boolean operators:

· for a broader search use the word OR. (For example: “Native Americans” or “American Indians”)

· for a narrower search that combines topics use the word AND or the + sign. (For example: “Billy Mills” and Olympic, “Billy Mills” +Olympic)

· for a narrower search that excludes topics use the word NOT or the - sign. (For example: England not London, England –London)

· Use parentheses to nest terms and control the order of operations

· Use a truncation or wild card character (often “*”) to encompass alternate forms of search terms or to find any file with a given extension (For example: child* would retrieve child, children, childhood, childless, etc.; *.jpg would search for graphics in .jpg format)

· To find graphics in any format, type “image:[search term]” or use http://www.hotbot.com and click the “Pages must include image” box.

· Visit the following web site for help:

http://thewebtools.com/tutorial/tutorial.htm

Search Tool	URL
Alta Vista	http://www.altavista.com
HotBot	http://hotbot.lycos.com
Google	http://google.com
AskJeeves	http://www.askjeeves.com

3. Meta Search Engines (or Metacrawlers)

· Meta search engines search other search engines and show you a list that draws from a combination of sources.

Meta Search Engine	URL
Go2Net (MetaCrawler)	http://www.go2net.com
Dogpile (also runs MetaFind)	http://www.dogpile.com
Search.com	http://www.search.com
ProFusion	http://www.profusion.com
Mamma	http://www.mamma.com

Guide to websites

Racial/Ethnic Diversity

http://www.globalindex.com/kwanzaa/welcome.htm Kwanzaa information website gives a brief history and overview of this holiday and provides resources such as the Kwanzaa information center.

http://www.yahooligans.com/school_Bell/Social_Studies/Cultures/ Links to many cultures such as Native Americans, provides pictures to illustrate concepts presented, information about clothing, celebrations, etc.

http://www.afn.org/~native Lists federally recognized tribes and connects to tribal homepages.

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/multipup.htm Multicultural resources for children and teachers, and links to multiple sites highlighting many cultures.

http://www.jwindow.com/ Information on Japanese culture, schooling, folk tales, and picture dictionary containing Japanese pronunciation of words.

http://library.advanced.org/10854/time16.html African American and Maryland history, religion, customs, time line and quotes.

http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html The African American Mosaic is the Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture.

http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson023.shtml Hispanic heritage, activities, statistics for graphing, census facts with related links.

http://www.hisp.com/edlinks.html Hispanic Online: Latino Links lists numerous educational resources and organizations.

http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lib/homework/natamhc.html Native American Megasite includes clothing by Indian tribe, and focuses on the way Native Americans use their natural resources.

http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm Judaism 101, links to other sites, genealogy link.

http://www.teachersfirst.com Multicultural website for teachers includes classroom resource link.

http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed333620.html Information regarding multiculturalism.

http://www.coe.uga.edu/ingear/contents.html Multicultural information and resources.

http://www.scu.edu/SCU/Programs/Diversity/wwwasian.html Numerous web links, some general and other about specific Asian groups.

Gender and Sexual Orientation

http://tc.unl.edu/tcforum/gen9.html Informational website for teachers relating to gender issues. Literature is listed for both teacher and student use, teaching practices, bulletin board to post questions and answers.

http://www.academic.org/index.html “Expect the best from a girl, and that’s what you’ll get” lists practical tips for parents and teachers.

http://www.businessexperts.net/booher/gender.htm Gender articles and communication differences between males and females.

http://www.genderequity.org/index.html Website devoted to gender equity allows users to read about real people and their jobs.

http://www.nwhp.org National Women’s History Project is a comprehensive source of information about a wide range of women’s history topics and resources.

http://www.edc.org/WomensEquity Resources and information about the Women’s Education Equity Act (WEEA) Resource Center providing gender-fair multicultural materials, training and research.

http://www.glsen.org Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is a national group that works to end bigotry toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students in K-12 schools.

http://www.pflag.org Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has resources, chapter contacts, and special topics such as “Focus on Safe Schools” (including a brochure for educators).

Socio-Economic Diversity

http://www.msde.state.md.us Maryland State Department of education with information on MSPAP scores http://mdk12.org/ that can be sorted by race and socio-economic status.

http://center.butler.brown.edu/ATTC-NE/diversity/groups/soec.html Resources for individuals facing socio-economic hardship including welfare laws and homelessness.

http://www.edtrust.org/main/index.asp The Education Trust works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels, kindergarten through college, and forever closing the achievement gaps that separate low-income students and students of color from other youth.

Intellectual Differences

http://www.ed.psu.edu Penn State site containing information regarding multiple intelligences.

http://seriweb.com/ Guide to special education resources on the Internet.

http://www.active-learning-site.com/ Website devoted to different learning styles with a self-survey/inventory (VARK) that can be used by students.

People with Disabilities

http://www.kidstogether.org Kids Together Inc., inclusion perspectives

http://www.hellofriend.com This website is dedicated to helping people learn about Ennis William Cosby, about the foundation established in his memory and about learning differences.

http://www.ldresources.com Frequently updated website that chronicles the “current events” in learning disabilities and assisting those who have them.

http://www.abilityinfo.com Information for professionals about students with disabilities.

Communication Disorders

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/ National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders

http://dirt.netscape.com/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Communication_Disorders/Deafblindness/ Directory of resources pertaining to the deafblind population.

http://oingo.com/topic/13/13854.html Lists specific topics related to communication disorders as well as web resources.

Behavioral Disorders

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/text/behavioral_disorder.html Strategies for teaching students with behavioral disorders as well as indicators for specific disorders.

http://oitcourses.sfasu.edu/spe329/unitslides/Chapter5Slides/index.htm Online PowerPoint presentation discussing behavioral disorders and how they relate to teachers.

http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed358674.html A brief overview from ERIC identifying disorders and suggesting remediation strategies.

Other Resources

http://www.hrweb.org Human Rights Web contains information regarding human rights, legal and political documents.

http://edweb.gsn.org Information about educational reform and information technology in other countries. Also has information about multiple intelligences.

http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/Diversity The University of MD Diversity Database provides a reference on resource materials related to a wide range of diversity issues.

http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/ National Clearinghouse on Bilingual Education has information on bilingual education resources, policies and research.

http://www.splcenter.org Information from the Southern Policy Law Center about “Teaching Tolerance” educational activities and monitoring of hate/violence incidents and groups.

http://www.teachingtolerance.org Activities for different age groups, site of the magazine “Teaching Tolerance.”

http://mcreview.com Magazine that reviews current issues in multicultural education.

http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/education/cybereducator/cybpart08a.html#2 McGraw Hill’s Cyber Educator Online offers many links to sites including:

L Student Diversity in Schools and Classrooms

L Socio-Economic Diversity

L Multicultural Education

L Limited-English-Proficient Students

L Urban Education

L Achieving Diversity, Equity, and Pluralism

L Studying Cultural, Ethnic, and Racial Diversity

L Addressing Student Exceptionalities

Handout available online http://training.fcps.org/tt1/multi.htm