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Fall '25 - EDUC 1300- Almanza- by Kara Dixon: Finding Sources

Types of Sources

[icon of kindle reading device] Books and eBooks: Full-length works in print or digital format that can be borrowed or accessed online through the library. They are often used for deep reading, narrative fiction, or exploring historical and topical subjects at length, either in hand or on a device. [image of encyclopedias] Reference: Print or online resources like encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, or manuals that provide quick, authoritative facts or summaries. Typically used for verifying information or gaining an overview of a topic, they are meant for consultation rather than cover-to-cover reading.

Other types of sources: websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, social media posts, etc.

The Layered Web

“Illustration of ‘The Layered Web’ concept showing three levels: (1) the surface web with ships labeled Google and Bing, fishing for small fish labeled Wikipedia, Twitter, Amazon, News, LinkedIn, and Blogs; (2) the deeper web with larger fish labeled Databases and Academic Journals; and (3) the dark web at the bottom with a giant squid grabbing symbols for Political Dissidents, Illegal porn, Drugs, and Stolen Credit Cards. The right side labels each layer: surface web for social media, blogs, online shopping, current news; deep web for research articles and academic information; and dark web for hidden content.”

Databases

Some databases you may already use: Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, Gmail. Elements of ACC Library databases: Scholarly sources, 144 databases, organized alphabetically or by subject, build in tools.

Class Poll

  1. Google or Wikipedia
  2. Library resources (website, databases, journals)
  3. AI tools (like ChatGPT)
  4. Social media or Reddit
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