Student Info

The 'what, where and how' of online searching 

What do I need to access online resources?

• UTORid and password (read more about the UTORid) or
• Barcode and PIN  (read more about the Barcode and PIN) 
   

Where do I start my search?

Start by looking for relevant articles on educational topics in the ERIC database or Education Full Text.

Search other databases with articles on education.

Search databases with articles on other topics. Scholars Portal, for example, is one of the databases with a broader range of topics.

Look for relevant books in the library catalogue. (Over 631,000 titles are available electronically).

Other Sources: Education: Key Resources Online  

Where do I learn more about searching online?

• Watch Searching ERIC  for a step-by-step demonstration on doing an online search.
• Take a course. The Virtual Library: Information Retrieval in the Library and Beyond is a course offered online via computer-mediated conferencing by the Library's Information Resources and Services staff, Education Commons, OISE.
• Access other online tutorials and self-guides provided by the UofT Libraries: 

How Do I...? (How do I...find theses and dissertations, access resources from home, research, and much more.)
Create search alerts in ScholarsPortal (ERIC).

• Besides the UofT libraries resources, Google Scholar may sometimes be a useful resource. Keep in mind that if your area is new or pretty small, you may not get a lot of hits in Google Scholar. Find a few useful tips on how to use it efficiently in How to Google.

How do I get help with my online search?

• Access Reference Service via e-mail: askeloise@utoronto.ca.
• Phone the Reference Desk at 416 – 978- 1860.
• Chat online with a UofT librarian: 
• Contact the Distance Education Librarian, Patricia Serafini: pat.serafini@utoronto.ca.

How do I organize my references?

You can organize citations as you research by using RefWorks (similar to EndNote, but free!), a program that manages your bibliographic references.  

More info:

1. More Information about Specific Programs
2. E-Theses Presentation