2. Finding and evaluating information

2.7. Beyond the Open Web

As we explained above, web search engines can only access a tiny fraction of what’s available online. For research, many of the most valuable collections are hidden from search engines in what’s sometimes called the “deep web” or the “invisible web.”

There are many ways of searching beyond the open web, but we’ll focus on a few of particular interest to educators. These lists certainly aren’t meant to be exhaustive, but simply to give you an idea of what kinds of resources are available.

Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha doesn’t index the web. Instead, answers your question using a database of information deliberately collected and curated by human experts. Wolfram Alpha also tries to interpret your natural-language query, then explains its interpretation and, if possible, lists alternate interpretations. The service began as a computational tool, and though it has expanded to include a wide range of information, it’s still most powerful with data. For example, if you search for “What is the weather in [your city], North Carolina?” you'll get a forecast, recent weather history, and data on things like cloud cover and precipitation rate — all visually formatted.

Activity

Try the above search — “What is the weather in [your city], North Carolina?” — or another of your own choosing on Wolfram Alpha.

Video Tour

If you wish, you can take a video tour of Wolfram Alpha.

Librarian-selected catalogs

These tools search catalogs created and maintained by librarians who check that every resource included can be considered reliable. Some search individual resources, while others build on existing collections and catalogs.

• NC WiseOwl (NC Online Windows for Learning) provides access to newspaper and magazine articles, e-books, reference materials, and other resources for North Carolina K–12 educators and students. Browse by grade level or subject area to find collections appropriate to your needs.
• ipl2: information you can trust is a database of internet resources reviewed and selected by librarians. All resources in the catalog must be freely available, provide “current, accurate information about the topic,” and have clear statements of credible authorship. There are special collections for kids and teens.
• Infomine, by contrast, provides access to resources not on the open web. It was built by librarians at various research universities to provide access to “databases, electronic journals, electronic books, bulletin boards, mailing lists, online library card catalogs, articles, directories of researchers, and many other types of information.” Its collections will be at too high a level for all but the most advanced high school students, but you may find it useful in your professional development and even for finding classroom resources.
• The Online Book Site from the University of Pennsylvania is a searchable database of more than 1 million books available free online.
• The Internet Archive, unlike those sites above, actually houses the content in its catalog. It is a nonprofit library that offers “permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format.” Resources include digitized texts, audio recordings, and early films.

Activity

Pick one of the collections for education best suited to the search you performed in the prior (standalone) activity [link back to 2.6]. Or, if you prefer, pick the collection that would be most useful to your students and perform a search that they might do in the classroom or as part of an assignment.

Journal your experience: How does using this tool differ from searching the open web? Is it more or less useful to your particular search? How well would it suit your professional needs? your students' needs?