Academic Resources.Net online research and reference

     With the World Wide Web growing at a phenomenal pace, and now containing hundreds of millions of Web pages, it can be very difficult, or almost impossible, to find the information you need.  The most popular approach -- using a major search engine such as Excite or Alta Vista -- may not be effective if you end up with a million hits.  The same can be true with subject directories such as Yahoo, while excellent for browsing general topics, may send the reader off on long and futile searches.  So what is the best way to find what you’re looking for_
     The answer may lie in learning how to use a variety of search tools and resources on the Web because there is no perfect, single source for finding everything.  Handle the search like a librarian  who uses an array of reference materials.  Because each resource contains different data, choosing the correct one can be the main key.  With practice it gets easier to know where to start looking.
     A research site at www.academicresources.net/searchinfo/searchmethods.htm lists a number of resources and methods for finding information.  Examples are given for multi-engine searches, specialized search engines, reference sites, reviewed sites, major sites, academic online journals, etc.  Deciding on which one to choose will depend on what you’re looking for.  Have some fun -- go ahead and try them all.  Experiment with each method to get a feel for what's out there on the Web.
      Reviewed Web sites are a good starting point for locating high-quality sources of information.  These are sites recommended by librarians or editors of organizations who specialize in evaluating Web sites.  Britannica Online and Lycos are two examples of companies that review and rank the best of the Web.  Most of us don’t need (or want) a million mediocre sites -- just the best ones.  A great deal of time can be saved by going directly to these top rated sites.
     As you experiment with these different search methods, print hardcopies and compile the results into a pathfinder.  (See www.academicresources.net/searchinfo/pathfinders.htm for more information).  A teacher, for example, can compile a list of resources for lesson plans, maps, charts, educational software, etc.  Information can be gathered on any subject you’re interested in.  In about an hour, or so, you can compile a pathfinder with links to hundreds of valuable resources.  Hardcopies make it easier to locate details later on.  Use the Bookmark feature on your browser to save the addresses to the most valuable sites.