ERIC News

A quick update on the ERIC database and its contents

ERIC wants to digitize your ERIC document. If you authored an ERIC document published prior to 1992 and would like to make it available in electronic format, go to the ERIC Microfiche Digitization Project page and provide your contact information to ERIC. The ERIC Microfiche Digitization Project has already digitized 63,000 ERIC documents from 1988-1992.

There is a lack of coverage, affectionately referred to as "The Gap", which stems from the ERIC contractual turnover from the Clearinghouses. The Gap refers to the time period 2002-2003, when very few journal citations were added to the ERIC database. ERIC is reviewing and developing an approach to correcting The Gap. However, if you are searching for current research on your topic, I recommend that you also search the database, Education Abstracts, to make sure you have not missed important current published research on your topic.

The eric.ed.gov (free web version of ERIC) continues to improve. You can now create your own account, save records to a "clipboard", and export saved records in EndNote compatible format.

As a result of the ERIC restructuring, all publishers are required to sign a journal agreement with ERIC in order to have their publications indexed in ERIC. There are currently 600 titles indexed in ERIC. This is approximately 75% of the number of titles indexed in ERIC prior to the change in 2002.

Wiley, publisher of journals such as Journal of Research in Science Teaching has not been responding to ERIC's request to sign a journal agreement. If you attend a conference where Wiley is exhibiting, please encourage them to sign the agreement with ERIC.

If you would like to suggest a periodical title for indexing to ERIC, please contact them directly . They want to hear your suggestions!

New Report Available: Closing the Expectations Gap 2007

Achieve, Inc. recently released their report Closing the Expectations Gap 2007
reviewing the alignment of the high school standards, graduation requirements and assessments of 50 states with college and work requirements. It finds that at least 48 states are now actively engaged in reform efforts of some kind.

Achieve, Inc. was created by the nation's governors and business leaders in 1996. It is described as a "bipartisan, non-profit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve assessments and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for postsecondary education, work and citizenship". Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm sits on Achieve, Inc.'s Board of Directors.

Do U IM?

Do you use AIM/AOL's Instant Messaging service (or do your students?) If yes, you can now ASK-A-LIBRARIAN using your own IM account. Add waynelibrarian to your buddy list.

If you don't use IM, you and your students can still chat with a librarian online using our chat software, no IM account or special software required. Just go to our ASK-A-LIBRARIAN page to link up with us.

JSTOR survey says Most Research Begins Online

According to Michael Spinella, executive director of JSTOR (an online database provider), online search is now the usual starting point among education faculty.

At the AERA Scholarly Communication session, he reported that a recent JSTOR survey revealed that only about 3% of faculty begin research in the library building. About 25% start with a general search on the web via Google or Yahoo; about 28% use a library’s online catalog, and about 38% start with a specific electronic resource like a computer database. (originally posted in the EducationPR blog)

Beta Data Analysis System from NCES

The DAS Online 2.0 Beta includes many new features and functions including estimating covariance analyses--both Weighted Least Squares and Logistic regressions. A Winsor filter has been added to filter out cases with extreme values. (NCES Newsflash Service)

You can also access several completed tables focusing on postsecondary education data

New Study Released on Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software

"The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, in the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, has released a major study of the effectiveness of education technology. The report, ‘Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products: Findings from the First Student Cohort’ which was mandated by Congress, uses scientifically based research methods and control groups to focus on the impact of technology on student academic achievement."

The report is available at: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20074005
(IES Newsflash Service)