Your Librarian
Vanya Gallimore:
BA, MA, MCLIP
Academic Liaison Librarian for the Department of Education
Email: vanya.gallimore@york.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1904 32-4490
Appointments: I am very happy to meet with students, either individually or in groups, to talk about library services and resources. If you would like to meet with me please contact me by email or telephone to arrange a mutually-convenient time to meet up. I am based in the library's Harry Fairhurst Building, on the 1st floor.
I can help you learn to:
- Search effectively in your subject area;
- Use print and electronic resources;
- Evaluate what you find;
- Reference your work correctly.
Please let me know:
- How you would like the Library services to be improved;
- If you have any suggestions for additions to the Library collection;
- If there are any other ways in which I can help you.
Worksheets/Guides
| Title | Worksheet 1 (PDF  , 444kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet 1: Introduction and Overview | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | Worksheet 2 (PDF , 505kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet 2: What information do you need to find? | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | Worksheet 3 (PDF , 542kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet 3: Creating your search strategy | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | Worksheet 4 (PDF , 1,508kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet 4: Finding information for Education: where to look | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | Worksheet 5 (PDF , 426kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet 5: Evaluating information | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | Worksheet 6 (PDF , 347kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet 6: Keeping up-to-date with information | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | Worksheet for MA TEYL (PDF , 636kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Worksheet for MA TEYL students | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | ProQuest Quick Guide (PDF , 3,618kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The main databases for Education (British Education Index, ERIC and the Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts) are available on the new ProQuest platform. This is a quick guide to using ProQuest but is not specific to education. | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
| Title | ProQuest User Guide (PDF , 5,358kb) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The main databases for Education (British Education Index, ERIC and the Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts) are available on the new ProQuest platform. This is the main user guide to using ProQuest but is not specific to education. | ||
| Author | Vanya Gallimore | Updated | Sept 2011 |
Education Resources
Resources in the library
Books on Education are shelved on the first floor of the library in the K section. There are also some general reference works on Education in the Reference section located on the first floor of the library. Printed journals are shelved in Compact Store 1. Use YorSearch to find out which books and journals the library holds, and where they are shelved.
The following is a summary of the main subject divisions relevant to Education as arranged in the Library. It is not a comprehensive list of all subjects covered and you may find that other relevant materials are shelved in different sections of the library (e.g. law or sociology).
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| Peggy Janiurek Collection | Children's literature. Shelved at the end of section K. |
| Examination Papers (1971-1996) | GCSE, GCE and CSE papers, syllabuses and regulations. Incomplete. Shelved in Compact Store 2. |
| Theses | Educational Studies theses are fully searchable on YorSearch and must be booked in advance online. |
Electronic journals
- Electronic Journals at York
Provides links to an alphabetical list of full text electronic journals available at York, subject listings of full-text and other electronic journals, publishers' collections of electronic journals, online newspapers and news services, and directories of electronic journals. - Education Guardian Weekly - full text of feature articles from the current edition of the Education Guardian, and a searchable database of current job adverts. Includes SchoolsLinks: a teacher's and parents' guide to using the Internet, incorporating a substantial directory of recommended websites, listed by curriculum area.
- Teaching Times - a free UK-based daily news service for teachers, including links to related websites for each story and an on-line discussion forum.
- Times Educational Supplement - "news, reviews and analysis of education in Britain and abroad". Unrestricted access to brief highlights from this week's edition (including the Teacher magazine), a searchable full text archive of articles from 1994-, plus a database of recent job adverts. Site also incorporates the Staffroom discussion forum (access requires registration - free), plus advice for NQTs, a directory of useful websites, etc.
Databases and datasets
- MetaLib (York users only)
A gateway to bibliographic databases, statistical datasets, electronic journals and other Web resources available to members of the University. Includes guides and links to help. Also allows cross-searching of resources and Alerts. Login with your University username and password to access all of these features. The key datases for Education are: British Education Index, ERIC and the Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts. - British Education Index - "an authoritative index to the contents of 300 education and training journals published in the British Isles, together with certain internationally published periodicals." This site contains information about the printed and electronic versions of the Index, plus selected references for browsing.
Important Note: Members of the University of York have access to the full electronic version of BEI via MetaLib (see above). - Education-line - "a freely accessible database of the full text of conference papers, working papers and electronic literature which supports educational research, policy and practice." Documents are fully indexed and can be searched by author, title or subject. A nationally-funded service maintained by the University of Leeds.
- ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) - American site, supported by the U.S. Department of Education. Includes information about the ERIC bibliographic database, plus the Educator's Reference Desk - an archive of useful websites, lesson plans, hints and tips etc.
Important Note: Members of the University of York have access to the full electronic version of ERIC via MetaLib (see above).
Directories of resources for educational studies
Please note that there are more suggestions for weblinks from the education course pages on the University's VLE, Yorkshare.
- British Education Internet Resource Catalogue - under development by the compilers of the British Education Index (see above). Searchable collection of links to websites and documents, mostly authored in the UK, with an emphasis on resources for academic use.
- Yahoo: Education - very large, U.S.-designed, classified, searchable collection of links to internet resources. This version hosted in the UK: it's possible to limit searches to UK/Irish resources, but generally a strong U.S. bias. Classification scheme does not distinguish between resources for education professionals and resources with an educational content for the general public.
Academic sites for educational studies
Please note that there are more suggestions for weblinks from the education course pages on the University's VLE, Yorkshare.
- Institute for Urban and Minority Education - at Columbia University, USA. "IUME provides the knowledge necessary for establishing government policies and designing educational programs to support the development of ethnically and linguistically diverse groups". Site provides information about the Institute's projects and publications.
- Institute of Education - at the University of London "has earned a distinguished international reputation as a leader in the field for its research and programmes of study for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds." The Institute incorporates a large number of specialist research centres and units, each with detailed information about activities and publications. Site includes the free online journal Learning Matters, to "disseminate the results of research into learning and teaching undertaken by staff at the Institute."
- Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics (LOT) - English language site describing the research and teaching interests of LOT, a collaborative venture between 6 Dutch universities which incorporates 400 staff and 200 PhD students. All student dissertations and other publications are free-to-access online.
- Universities' Council for the Education of Teachers - "UCET acts as a national forum for the discussion of matters relating to the education of teachers and to the study of education in the university sector and contributes to the formulation of policy in these fields. Its members are the universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland involved in teacher education, and a number of colleges of higher education in the university sector." Site includes information about publications and events, full texts of discussion papers on current issues, and links to related sites.
UK Government departments and agencies
Please note that there are more suggestions for weblinks from the education course pages on the University's VLE, Yorkshare.
- Department for Education, formed in May 2010 by the coalition government. The site includes:
- School and college achievement and attainment tables. An extensive list of (mostly downloadable) publications
- Research Programme - outlines of current projects commissioned by the DfCSF and carried out by independent organisations or academics. Publications in the Research Reports and Research Briefs series are available in full to download. Research conferences are held annually and Conference reports are also available to download.
- Statistics compiled by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, with the Department for Education - key summary statistics for LEAs and further data collected to support the Department's research publications.
- The UK Government Web Archive - not actually part of the Department for Education site, but included here as an independent archive of the Department's online publications. The National Archives was formed in 2003, and is "responsible for looking after the records of central government and the courts of law" throughout the United Kingdom, ensuring accessibility to all.
- Directgov: Education and learning - part of the Directgov Cabinet Office service to facilitate access to all UK government websites. A directory of public agencies, covering FE and HE as well as the schools sector.
- Examining bodies:
- Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) - site provides an online library of past papers and mark schemes (2002-), plus qualification specifications, administration procedures, and general support and guidance for teachers.
- EdExcel - browse the alphabetical Subject Index for programme specifications and specimen papers.
- OCR (a merger of the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA boards) - "recognised as having the most integrated offering of qualifications, covering General, Vocationally-Related and Occupational." Site includes a limited archive of recent past papers and mark schemes.
- Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) - site does not currently include any free-to-download past papers, merely programme specifications and additional information for candidates/examiners.
- Learning and Skills Network - "an independent not-for-profit organisation committed to making a difference to education and training." Site includes a searchable database of publications (many are free-to-download) and a directory of online resources produced to support teachers, learners and managers.
- Lifelong Learning - "the UK's official site on the Internet for the encouragement, promotion and development of Lifelong Learning," supported by the Department for Education. Full texts of relevant Government reports, plus supplementary news and information for education professionals and the general public.
- National Curriculum - the complete National Curriculum for 5 to 16 year olds for all the required subjects in England - revised version issued August 2000. Site includes supporting resources such as schemes of work, links to useful websites for teachers etc, plus Learning Across the Curriculum - a searchable database of support materials under development, for cross-curricular topics such as Key Skills, moral and social development etc.
- National Educational Research Forum - An independent organisation formed by the Secretary of State for Education in 1996 and brought to an end in 2006, NERF aimed to develop a national strategy for educational research. This site remains as an archive of NERF's activities and publications.
- Ofsted (UK Office for Standards in Education) - "Ofsted's remit is to inspect, report on and improve standards of achievement and quality of education through regular independent inspection, public reporting and informed advice." Site includes press notices and a database of reports.
- Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency - an organisation brought into being by the 1997 Education Act with "a core remit to promote quality and coherence in education and training... [by providing] a unique overview of curriculum, assessment and qualifications across the whole of education and training, from pre-school to higher vocational levels." A developing site designed for the general public as well as education professionals: offers background information, data analyses etc, plus a publications catalogue.
- Training and Development Agency for Schools (formerly the Teacher Training Agency) - information about qualifications and courses for anyone considering a teaching career, plus training opportunities for practicing teachers and teaching assistants. Includes the full text of many recent TDA publications, plus materials to support the QTS Skills Test.
International agencies
Please note that there are more suggestions for weblinks from the education course pages on the University's VLE, Yorkshare.
- British Association for International and Comparative Education - "BAICE promotes teaching, research, policy and development in all aspects of international and comparative education." Site includes information about conferences, research and publications, plus links to other related organisations and resources.
- Council of Europe: Education - site in English and French brings together news, policy documents, information about conferences and committees, and links to Ministries of Education in member states.
- EURYDICE - the Information Network on Education in Europe, supported by the European Commission "to promote the exchange and the production of reliable and comparable information on education systems and on national policies". Information in English, French and German includes full texts of EC documentation, links to other related organisations, and EURYBASE: a directory of facts and data relating to education systems in all the EC countries.
- OECD Education (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) - sponsored by the OECD Directorate for Education "to make lifelong learning a reality for all." Site includes some free documents and statistics, plus contents pages and introductions to printed publications such as the annual Education at a Glance collection of indicators on the current state of education internationally. [
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- UNESCO Institute for Education (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) - website of the UIE, one of six educational institutes of UNESCO, "a non-profit international research, training, information, documentation and publishing centre on literacy, non-formal education, adult and lifelong learning."
See also UNESCO Education for All - international movement founded in 1990, bringing together governments, NGOs, donor agencies and the media to promote "the cause of providing basic education for all children, youth and adults." This site includes full text of publications, background information and news of events, including information on the E-Network on Educational Planning and Management (E-MAP), a virtual network which aims "to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among UNESCO Offices worldwide, Member States, researchers and people working in this field."
Research societies and other professional organisations
Please note that there are more suggestions for weblinks from the education course pages on the University's VLE, Yorkshare.
- British Educational Research Association - "aims to sustain and promote a vital research culture in education by encouraging an active community of educational researchers." Site includes information about BERA publications, plus links to other useful organisations.
- EPPI-centre - supported by the government and the research funding council, "the EPPI-centre is dedicated to making reliable research findings about health, education and welfare available to the people who need them." Staff carry out systematic reviews to assess the quality of research, these can be searched or browsed in the online Evidence Library.
- International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement - "The IEA has carried out international comparative studies focusing on educational policies and practices, and covering topics like mathematics and science education, reading literacy and computers in education." Site provides information about current projects, plus a catalogue of previous publications (listed by author, not searchable).
- International Association for Research on Textbooks and Educational Media (IARTEM) - "a non-profit organization, independent of any institutional or commercial interest" which holds biannual conferences and publishes research. Site includes news of activities plus links to other related sites (some including full-text reports).
- National Association for Special Educational Needs (UK) - The National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) aims to promote the interests of those with exceptional learning needs and/or disabilities, to provide a forum for those actively involved with exceptional learning needs and/or disabilities and to contribute to the formulation and development of policy in the area. This website provides details of the organisation and events and also the text of its two newsletters - one for school governors and the other for special educational needs coordinators in school. NASEN responses to recent DfCSF consultation papers are also available.
- National Foundation for Educational Research(UK) - "an independent body undertaking research and development projects in all sectors of the public education system." Site includes:
- detailed information about publications, some of which are free to download, including selected articles from the journal Practical Research for Education (formerly Topic);
- a searchable database of in-house Research Projects (both completed and currently in progress);
- OnTheWeb - a free monthly current-awareness service compiled by NFER staff, highlighting "recent reports, publications and useful documents from prominent educational research-related websites" (UK and international).
- Scottish Council for Research in Education - "an independent national body, whose aims are to conduct and communicate research to support policy-making and practice in education and to assist others (including teachers and policymakers) to make the most effective use of research methods and research-based information". Site includes a newsletter, annual reports, research summaries and a publications catalogue. Please note that this website is currently undergoing maintenance.
Resources for teaching:
Please note that there are more suggestions for weblinks from the education course pages on the University's VLE, Yorkshare.
General
- BBC Learning- part of the BBCi site, this substantial collection of pages aims to provide something of interest for all readers, including supplementary information about BBC educational programmes and documentaries. See also:
- BBC Schools Online - "the Learning Station: a service for children, teachers and parents at school and at home", which duplicates many of the features offered at the main BBC Education site, but also includes more material aimed specifically at teachers;
- BBC World Class - a twinning initiative for schools, offering teachers a platform for sharing and developing innovative teaching practice with partner schools in the UK and abroad;
- CBBC - the Children's BBC site offering information about programmes, activities, and contact opportunities for children;
- Newsround Newsroom - summaries of current stories, plus background information on topical issues.
- Behaviour 4 Learning - a TDA-funded, professional resource network in Behaviour Management for initial teacher training, led by staff at Nottingham Trent University. The "focus of the initiative is upon developing trainee skills and insights which foster a classroom ethos of 'behaviour for learning'". Information and resources can be accessed by using the search screen. Additional features and services are available to those who register on the website.
- BT Education - showcase site from British Telecom "to give you information about the variety of ways that BT applications, products and services can help education and educationalists". Includes the full text of Learning News, their free magazine for schools, plus other news items and promotions.
- Channel 4 Learning - "supporting Channel 4's schools programmes and providing multimedia solutions for teachers, pupils, and home learners". Site includes a searchable database of programme details and support materials available, plus a free news bulletin available via email upon registration.
- Education Index - "an annotated guide to the best education-related sites on the Web, sorted by subject and lifestage." Developed by U.S. software company College View, but good selection of non-U.S. resources. Friendly descriptions of resources make it suitable for pupils to browse, although rather slow to load due to graphics.
- education-jobs - maintained by UK commercial organisation Alexander Advertising Ltd. Adverts are arranged by subject area. No registration necessary.
- Multiverse - supported by the TDA, this website "provides teacher educators, student teachers and trainees with a wealth of resources that focus on enhancing the educational achievement of pupils from diverse backgrounds." Information can be accessed by using the search screen. Additional resources and services are available to those who register for an individual login (no charge).
- TeacherNet - developed by the UK Department for Education and Skills "to help education professionals find the information they need". Includes lesson plans and free classroom resources, a selection of relevant articles from professional and academic journals, links to useful sites, and a bulletin board and chatroom (requires registration - no charge - in order to be able to post messages). The Briefing area offers up-to-date information on recent Government educational policy.
The entire site has been archived for posterity at least twice a year since the launch in 2003, by the UK Central Government Web Archive. Please note that content in this site may change following the establishment of the new Department for Education in May 2010. - Teachers' TV - **NOW HOSTED BY THE TES** Teachers TV was a government funded TV and online video service that operated until April 2011. In agreement with the Department of Education all 3,500 Teachers TV programmes are now available on TES Resources. TTV supports the professional development of anyone working in school, enabling them to widen their skills, develop their practice, and connect with others in the field. By going inside classrooms and into schools Teachers TV offers professional development videos and resources with practical tips and the lesson ideas to save you time.
- uk-schools - email discussion list "for teachers and others interested in the use of the Internet in UK schools and for general discussion about anything concerning international classroom connections." Hosted by the UK JISCMail service, with instructions for contributors (registration necessary, but no charge) and searchable archives of messages.
- Yahoo Kids - "the web guide for kids." Junior version of the well-known U.S.-based Yahoo searchable internet directory. Websites of interest are classified under headings such as 'Around the World', 'Computers and Games', 'Entertainment'. Most sites listed are genuinely educational rather than commercial in intent, but considerable U.S. bias. Also includes a Teacher's Guide to internet literacy, and opportunities to contact other users (with guidance for children and parents on maintaining privacy).
English
- Children's Literature: Resources for Teachers - compiled as part of the Children's Literature Web Guide by David K. Brown, a librarian at the University of Calgary. Links to publishers' guides for teachers, lesson plan archives, teachers' own websites etc. Almost all sites listed are North American-based.
- The English and Media Centre - Camden-based organisation which "provides training and publications for English, Media and Drama teachers who work with pupils from 9 to 19 years of age." Website includes information about publications and professional development courses, and links to other useful sites.
- Exploring English - part of the Knowledge Explorer Centre hosted by non-commercial Canadian outfit Shared Visions Unlimited. Suitable resource for pupils to browse, with information about grammar, style, spelling etc.
See also Exploring Literature, which introduces pupils to the study of literature, and provides synopses and criticism of well-known novels. - International Reading Association - based in the USA, the International Reading Association "seeks to promote high levels of literacy for all by improving the quality of reading instruction." Site provides news of research projects and publications, recommended booklists for young readers (some US bias) and links to other related sites.
- NATE (National Association for the Teaching of English, UK) - "aims to support effective teaching and learning, to keep teachers informed about current developments and to provide them with a national voice." Site includes information about publications, conferences etc., plus links to other sites of interest to English teachers. NATE members can gain access to the Members' Area, offering full texts of reports and reviews.
- National Centre for Language and Literacy - formerly the Reading and Language Information Centre at the University of Reading, "the home of a unique exhibition of almost 15,000 in-print books for children and other educational resources, which is open to the public." Site includes information about staff research interests in the area of language and literacy, plus details of publications, courses and conferences for education professionals.
- National Literacy Trust - an independent UK charity "dedicated to building a literate nation." Site provides information about the Trust's research and projects (such as the National Reading Campaign), including a large collection of material to support staff in the secondary sector.
See also York Information Connections: English and Related Literature Information Sources for sites selected for University students, but which may include materials suitable for classroom use.
History
- 24 Hour Museum: the National Virtual Museum - information and images relating to "UK museums, galleries and heritage", including a searchable database of museum collections, and a teachers' resource pack to support a project "developing a museum in the classroom."
- BBCi: History - substantial collection of articles on topics ranging from Ancient Egypt to September 11 in Context, each with images and further links, and versions formatted for easy printing available. Educational content primarily aimed at adult readers but site includes a section of interactive activities For Kids and a link to the BBC Schools History section covering topics specifically related to the 11-16 curriculum.
- City of York Council Heritage and History - text and images describing the history of York, plus links to local history groups and websites. See also the Imagine York archive of photographic images - searchable, annotated and free to download for incorporation into teaching materials.
- Group for Education in Museums - UK-based organisation "aims to promote the exchange of information, ideas and research relating to the practice of museum education." Site provides information about activities and publications, selected articles from the newsletter GEM News, links to official reports and other related sites, and an email discussion list.
- Historical Association - site promotes the Teaching History magazine (including some articles in full), and provides careers information and links to useful websites for teachers.
- The History Channel UK - promotes this British Sky Broadcasting channel. Searchable site includes background articles (some are interactive) on topics featured in the current viewing schedule, reviews of new books and exhibitions, and opportunities to get involved in local/national projects.
- History Online - registration is necessary, and an annual subscription fee is charged to use this "Internet service specially designed to meet the needs of secondary school history teachers... in their work in the classroom" (free trial available). Site updated monthly by specialist website designers Actis (with support from the Historical Association) to provide classroom resources, professional development materials and reviews.
- The History Place - U.S. site, but of potential value to pupils and teachers in the UK. Themed multimedia "exhibits" incorporate timelines, biographies of major figures, photo archives, sound clips, links to related sites etc. Images are initially displayed in miniature so that pages load at a reasonable speed.
See also York Information Connections: History Information Sources for sites selected for University students, but which may include materials suitable for classroom use.
Citizenship
- Association for Citizenship Teaching - UK professional association aiming for "furtherance of mutual support, knowledge and good practice, skills and resources for the teaching and learning of Citizenship in schools and colleges." Site includes case studies and reviews of resources submitted by practitioners, plus information about how to join the Association.
- citizED - a TTA funded, collaborative project on citizenship teacher education, led by staff at Canterbury Christ Church University. It "seeks to develop the professional knowledge of citizenship education teachers through research and development in professional learning." From the home-page, information and resources can be accessed by using the search option or by browsing through the strand specific pages. The site links to the online journal of citizED, the Citizenship Teaching and Learning, which is initially being made accessible without subscription.
- Citizenship Foundation - UK independent charity aiming "to encourage understanding of the rights and duties of citizenship." The Teaching Support section includes classroom materials, good practice case studies, information about training opportunities and links to other relevant sites.
- Community Service Volunteers - UK charity "dedicated to giving everyone the chance to play an active part in their community, through volunteering, training, education and the media." Site includes information about publications "to support schools in implementing citizenship", and other resources such as case studies of projects, links to further useful sites etc.
- Development Education Association- "national umbrella body working with over 240 member and partner organisations in the UK and overseas. It aims to raise awareness and understanding of how global issues affect the everyday lives of individuals, communities and societies and how all of us can and do influence the global." Site includes a number of free-to-download publications, information about projects and training programmes, and links to other related organisations.
- The DEA also manages the Global Dimension - developed in collaboration with DfID, "a guide to books, videos, posters and websites with a global dimension." This database of resources can be searched by curriculum area, age range, price, etc., and includes links to Development Education Centres which can loan resources locally.
- Electoral Commission - The Electoral Commission is an independent body that was set up by the UK Parliament, with the aim "to foster public confidence and participation by promoting integrity, involvement and effectiveness in the democratic process." Site includes a sub-section 'Do Politics'that aims to encourage young people to get motivated and involved in political political issues. See also:
- Y-Vote Mock Elections 2005 - a project of the Hansard Society in association with the Electoral Commission. It aims to encourage school children and students to participate in politics by setting up a series of mock elections. It includes a package of materials which teachers can download plus a student section with quizzes and facts about the British electoral system.
- Institute for Citizenship - UK independent charitable trust aiming "to promote informed, active citizenship and greater participation in democracy and society through a combination of community projects, research, education and discussion and debate." The Education section includes schemes of work, guidelines for interpreting the National Curriculum, and information about training programmes and resource packs to purchase.
- National Archives: Citizenship - the Citizenship area of the National Archives site. The National Archives was formed in 2003, and is "responsible for looking after the records of central government and the courts of law" throughout the United Kingdom, ensuring accessibility to all. The Citizenship area "explores what it has meant to be a citizen throughout a millennium of British history", and is arranged chronologically, presenting a selection of related documents from The National Archives and Parliamentary Archives, many made available online for the first time.
- 21st Century Citizen - site under development by the British Library to provide "a stimulating and contemporary collection of online resources to support the new Citizenship curriculum for school students aged 11-16 in the UK." Designed for students to browse, with structured activities, but also includes supporting materials for teachers.
See also York Information Connections: Politics Information Sources, and Development Studies Information Sources, for sites selected for University students, but which may include materials suitable for classroom use.
Sciences & Maths
- Advancing Physics Teacher Web-base - site developed by the Institute of Physics to support and promote use of their Advancing Physics course programme on CD-ROM for AS/A2 students. Teachers have contributed schemes of work, lesson materials and tests, related to specific chapters of the programme and free to access. See also the accompanying Student Resources and Technician Resources, plus background information about the course.
- Association for Science Education - UK society "for teachers, advisers, technicians, industrialists and others contributing to science education." Site includes information about publications, bulletin boards, links to professional and policy-making bodies, and a collection of resources for teachers such as web links and information about the Science Year project.
- Association of Teachers of Mathematics - UK society which "aims to relate mathematical education more closely to the powers and needs of the learner" and "provides opportunities to bring together all concerned with mathematical education for all age ranges." Site includes information about the ATM's activities and publications, plus a few links.
- British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics - information about the Society's activities and publications, plus links to other relevant sites.
- Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching - based at the University of Plymouth, the Centre is "a focus for research and curriculum development... with the aim of unifying and enhancing mathematical progress in schools and colleges." Site provides material to support the Centre's Mathematics Enhancement Programme for Key Stages 1-4, including free-to-download GCSE texts, diagnostic tests and research reports.
- Count On - part of the UK National Grid for Learning, a collection of interactive games and mathematics learning resources suitable for children to browse, incorporating a Teachers' Index identifying selected activities as appropriate for specific stages of the National Curriculum.
- EnviroLink Network for Change - "the most comprehensive resource of environmental information available on the internet", provided by a U.S. non-profit organisation. The Educational Resources section is a substantial searchable directory of internet sites (mostly U.S.-based), listed alphabetically and described in detail.
- MathsNet - created by Brian Dye, head of Maths at a Norwich comprehensive. Searchable site with areas suitable for pupils to browse, including puzzles and interactive demonstrations (Netscape 2.0 / Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher required), plus articles for teachers, reviews of books and software, and links to other sites.
- Natural History Museum education pages contain information about museum activities as well as lots of resources for teachers and pupils.
- NRich -"thousands of free mathematics enrichment materials (problems, articles and games) for teachers and learners from ages 5 to 19 years. All the resources are designed to develop subject knowledge, problem-solving and mathematical thinking skills." These resources are particularly useful for talented and gifted children.
- Science Museum Teachers' Area - information about the Museum's events, resources and publications to support teaching at all levels, including free-to-download activity sheets and gallery guides. See also the Pieces of Science pages, an online gallery of educational resources suitable for students to browse, created as a collaboration between the Science Museum, London, and the Franklin Institute Science Museum in the USA.
- STEM Centre resources - online resources for the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, organised by the National Stem Centre in York.
See also York Information Connections: Science and Technology for sites selected for University students, but which may include materials suitable for classroom use.
MFL & TESOL
- Association for Language Learning - "the major subject association for those involved in teaching modern foreign languages at all levels and in all languages." Site includes information about the Association's events and publications, including links to other related sites.
- British Council: Teach English - support for TESOL teachers including lesson plans and other classroom resources, chatrooms and bulletin boards, information about career development/training, and a vacancies bulletin. All free to access.
- Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (CILT) - "the national centre of expertise on language teaching... [aiming to] promote a greater national capability in languages, and to support the work of all those concerned with language teaching and learning." Site includes Information Sheets providing resource lists and useful addresses, details of research and training programmes, discussion lists, and the Lingu@NET directory of links to other useful sites for language teachers.
- ESL Online - site under development by the ESL Employment recruitment agency, to bring together information about jobs, resources for teachers and students, and a peer-reviewed e-journal. Includes a discussion forum for professionals (requires registration; free) and a directory of links to other related sites.
- Foreign Language Resource Centers - a combined site for 14 institutions funded by the US Department of Education to serve as a "national resource through teacher training, research, materials development, and dissemination projects." Search the whole site, or follow the links to individual institutions to find information about research projects and some free publications. Emphasis on less-commonly taught languages.
- International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language - site primarily designed for members (no publications freely available), but includes information about the Association's activities, joining instructions and links to other relevant sites.
- LearningLanguages.Net - created and maintained at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), as part of the Internet Scout Project, "a portal that brings together the best online foreign language resources for English-speaking K-12 students and teachers." Site requires registration (free) in order to enable users to customise the information displayed to meet their own personal interests. Resources are described in detail and regularly updated.
- TESOL Online - US professional body whose "mission is to develop the expertise of its members and others involved in teaching English to speakers of other languages to help them foster effective communication in diverse settings while respecting individuals' language rights". Site includes a careers centre with advice about qualifications and job-finding, free-to-access resources for teachers and researchers, and opportunities to join the institute and meet other members.
Members of the University of York: the University Library has a print archive of the institute's journal TESOL Quarterly from 2002-, and electronic access from 1967-. To access, start from YorSearch (n.b. you will need to do a search for T.E.S.O.L quarterly rather than TESOL quarterly). - TIRF (TESOL International Research Foundation) - US-based non-profit research institute "concerned with investigating issues in language learning and teaching." Background information about the institute's mission, plus synopses of current research projects.
- Useful Links to TESOL/CALL Websites - a substantial, classified list of free websites for TESOL teachers' professional use, sorted by category e.g. "Email Exchange Groups", "Quizzes", "Business English" etc. Compiled by Christine Bauer-Ramazani, ESL Instructor at St Michael's College, Vermont, USA.
- YAHOO UK & Ireland: English as a Second Language - comprehensive, searchable directory of links to high quality websites (mainly selected for teachers rather than students).
See also
- York Information Connections: Language and linguistic science information sources which includes sites relating to the theory of language teaching;
- Languages for All, University of York - site includes a substantial directory of links to websites useful for language learners and teachers, sorted by language and covering culture and travel information as well as scholarly resources.
