Research Guides: Middle Grades Education: Find web resources

Google Search and alternatives

Although there are many search engines available, Google is the best known and one of the most accurate.

Advanced Google Search
Try the Advanced Google Search for additional options.

Other Search Engines:

Bing
Bing is Microsoft's latest entry into the search engine market.
Dogpile
Powered by Metasearch technology, Dogpile searches different search engines, decides which are the most relevant to your search, eliminates duplicates and reveals them to you.
DuckDuckGo
A regular search engine that has an extraordinary privacy policy: not to collect or share any of your personal information.
Yahoo
One of the first sites that provided a means to search for information on the web, Yahoo! is a good starting point to begin your research.

Websites and datasets on Middle School education

Middle School Performance Standards (GaDOE)
Defines and describes middle schools, and explains their relation with Georgia Career, Technical and Agricultural Education.
Georgia Middle School Association
"Georgia Middle School Association is the only middle level organization in the state that embraces teachers, administrators, teacher educators and teacher candidates." [from homepage]
Georgia School Grades Reports
Find school reports and data for all public elementary, middle, and high schools in Georgia, created by The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA). "Based on performance on statewide assessments, the make-up of the school’s student body, the graduation rate, and additional academic information." [About Page]
Making the Middle Grades Matter - Speech, June 2011
Then Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the National Forum’s Annual Schools to Watch Conference.

Internet Extensions (domains)

The domain is an extension of a website indicates the type of body who created it; an indicator of credibility. In advanced web search forms, like Google Advanced Search, you can restrict your search to a particular domain. Note that you can only restrict your search to one domain at a time. Here are common domains:

.com - commercial

Commercial websites - websites that are running for a profit
Apply caution. Commercial sites are often trying to sell you an idea or a product.

.org - organization

Tends to refer to non-profit organizations
Tend to be less biased than commercial sites, however, still apply some caution. Some non-profit organizations provide misinformation.

.net - network

.edu - education

Refers to websites from educational institutions, from pre-school to higher education.
Tends to be less biased, but again, apply some caution. Different education institutions have different philosophies and are promoting theirs, for example, a Montessori school's website.

.gov - government (US)

Refers to websites by the US government.

.mil - military (US)

.int - intergovernmental

Different countries have different extensions.

Evaluating Websites: The CRAAP Test & more

CRAAP Test

We all know there is a wealth of information available, whether that information comes from the Internet or the bookshelf.

The problem with searching for information, and especially on the Internet, is that we don't always know where it comes from and whether or not it is worth trusting.

Be selective and evaluate the information you find by:

Consider the information source, and give the content a critical look over.
Using a tool to guide to guide you in evaluating the source for credibility and relevance.

You can use the CRAAP Test linked in the PDF above, or zoom onto the infographic on the right, to help you decide whether or not you should use the information you find for ANY source, not just for the Internet.

More Source Evaluation Guidelines