Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Homework Help on the Web

Over the years, I've received lots of messages from kids looking for information on different topics, usually for their homework assignments. Unfortunately, I don't have time to answer everybody. In this month's column, I'm going to show you how to find the information you need.

The Internet can be a great resource--if you know how to use it effectively. There is so much information on the Internet, but finding the specific facts you need can be like looking for the needle in the proverbial haystack. You need to know where and how to look for different types of information.

Online Encyclopedias

Whether you're looking for quick facts or doing serious research, online encyclopedias are a good place to start. Online encyclopedias are Web versions of print and CDROM products. Typically, they do not include as many articles as the for-sale versions. As off-shoots of reputable products though, they are reliable sources of information.

Encyclopedias, whether in bound volumes at your library or online, allow you to familiarize yourself with your topic, key dates and names, issues, and chronologies of events. They are especially useful when you are just starting to learn about a topic. If your assignment is brief, you may be able to find all of the details you need. Also, by starting with an authoritative source you will be better able to judge the credibility of information you find elsewhere on the Web.

On Berit's Best Sites for Children, you will find a whole section of Homework Helper sites, including encyclopedias. One of my favorites is Fact Monster. This site features an almanac, atlas, dictionary and encyclopedia made especially for kids. There are lots of graphics, a daily famous birthday, daily events in history, and other fun for kids. The Fact Monster is from InfoPlease.com. Another source I like is Compton's Encyclopedia. It has hundreds of articles, pictures, maps, sounds and some RealPlayer slide shows. Both of these encyclopedia sites are arranged alphabetically by topic. Click on the general subject headings to get to more specific subjects. They also feature links to sites where you can find more information.

Britannica.com is frequently recommended to kids as a homework help site, but I find it too academic for most youngsters. It does include the entire contents of the print edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica and thousands of selected reference sites. Some children may find it useful, especially for more unusual topics.

Searching for More

If you didn't find what you were looking for in an online encyclopedia, or are now ready for more in-depth information, you can search the Web. When most people search the Web, they simply type a word or two in a search box, and then click on whatever sites come up. This approach is can be very inefficient and frustrating.

The Ramapo Catskill Library System has created Kids Click! World of Searching, a useful site which teaches you how to search the Internet. World of Searching is designed for children and explains search principles clearly and concisely. There are also lots of illustrations and examples using well-know kids' search sites. It covers subject guides, keyword searching, searching for multimedia, and the differences between types of search sites. Although World of Searching is slightly out-of-date, it does teach you how to improve your searching skills and use the right kind of search site for you needs.

When you use a kids' search site, you're not actually searching the Web. Instead, you are only searching the listings on search site itself. These listings have been pre-screened to ensure that they are suitable for children. There are two main ways to use these kids' search sites—keyword searching and browsing.

Browsing involves clicking on a hierarchy of subject headings, so you gradually get to more specific subjects. Yahooligans is an example of a subject guide. If you are looking for information on Iguanas, you will choose "Science & Nature", then "Animals", "Reptiles & Amphibians", "Lizards", and finally "Iguanas". Yahooligans also allows you to use keyword searching. You type words into a search box and Yahooligans will look for matches in its database. Ask Jeeves for Kids lets you type a whole question in its search box. It will then help you narrow down your topic with a series of other questions.

When you use keyword searching you need to be careful with your spelling; if you spell a word incorrectly, you won't find any sites at all. If you're not sure how to spell a word, then browse through a subject guide instead. I find that keyword searching is best for specific phrases or a narrow topic. Browsing is more useful for general topics, or when I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for.

I have been searching for sites for Berit's Best Sites for Children for six years, and for me, the hardest part of searching is feeling overwhelmed. There is so much information on the Web and all the sites start to look the same. I tend to prefer browsing because subject guides include sites that have been hand-picked by people. People have done some of the sifting for me and hand-picked the better quality sites. Another problem for me is getting sidetracked; it is easy to follow link to link to link and end up lost. I try to be systematic by following all of the links of interest on a page before I move on to the next one. I keep track of useful-looking sites in a word processor document, or a simple database, with a few point form notes for each site.

Citing Online Sources

When you use the Internet for homework, keep in mind that you still need to credit online sources in your bibliography. Yahooligans provides a handy Teacher's Guide: Citation of Sources, which is equally useful for students. It provides guidelines for citing Web pages and email. The instructions vary depending on grade level, with the citation style being more complex for higher grades.

If All Else Fails

Keep the limitations of the Internet in mind too. There may be an incredible amount of information on the Web, but it doesn't include everything, or it may be very hard to find. If you can't find the information you need in a brief period of time, say 20 minutes, you should try something else. There's no need to waste time. You school or local library is still a great source of information, plus there are professional librarians there to help you.

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Berit's Browse is where Berit highlights her favorite sites on various themes and discusses her opinions and observations about kids' sites and kids on the Internet. The column is also a great place for to cover topics that you are interested in. Let her know what you'd like to read about!