Step 1

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Praxis Study Guides

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Education Guide

STEP 1-Background Info | Step 2-Start with a few sources | Step 3-Find more sources |

Reference Sources will give you a great overview of your topic. They will help you determine what words to use when searching. Lastly, reference sources have bibliographies that list articles and books about your topic! How's that for saving time!

STEP 1 - Background Info

------------Reference Sources - Online------------

Reference Sources and Background Info

International Encyclopedia of Education (Elsevier)

An essential resource in the field of education. Enter search words to search within the entire encyclopedia or browse the Subject Classification list for topic areas. [more info]

Reference Universe (Paratext)

Search most of JMU's reference collection for background articles from encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, etc. [more info]

Sage Knowledge

Access full-text encyclopedias on subjects ranging from African American Studies to Sociology... [more info]

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online

Contains the complete Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica Student Encyclopedia, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, as well as videos, blogs, news, research tools, and links to editor-selected websites. [more info]

National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. [more info]

Credo Reference (Credo Reference)

Search over 500 reference titles using Credo. [more info]

Opposing Viewpoints In Context (Gale)

Contains secondary and primary sources discussing today's social issues...
[more info]

------------Reference Sources - Books------------

Tip #1 - Try searching for Reference books in JMU Library Catalog

On the LEO search screen, beneath the search boxes, change the location to Carrier Library - Reference and/or Memorial - ETMC Reference.

Tip #2 - Try browsing the Reference shelves

Carrier Library and ETMC have Reference shelves that are separate from the rest of our collection. (It's a smaller collection so you can actually browse the shelves!) The call number "L" is dedicated to the field of Education. (Mostly all the Reference books are at ETMC. The rest of the collection is in Carrier Library, 3rd floor.)

Tip #3 - Try searching for any and all materials in JMU Library Catalog

If the Reference Collection doesn't work out for you, simply search the catalog for any and all materials.

Tip #4 - Keywords

Use the major concepts of your topic as your search words. If you find one great book, you are in luck, because books with a similar call number, shelved near that book, will be on the same topic.

Tip #5 - Subject Headings

Every book is assigned Subject Headings. Use the Subject Headings to find similar books. Click on the Subject tab to search the Subject Headings, or click on a relevant Subject Heading attached to the best books that you find.

JMU Library Catalog