EDsearch: Education Statistics on Disk, 1993
1. What is it?
- (Note: Title on CD is spelled "disk", even though it is a compact disc.)
- EDsearch is a database of text, tables, and graphs from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It includes the following publications: 1993 Digest of Education Statistics, 1993 and 1992 Condition of Education, Projections of Education Statistics to 2004, Historical Trends: State Education Facts 1969 to 1989, 120 Years of American Education: A Statistical Portrait, Education in States and Nations: Indicators Comparing U. S. States with the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Countries in 1988, 1993 Youth Indicators, and a glossary and guide to sources.
2. Who produces it?
- U. S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
3. Are there guides to using it?
- No, but help is available by pressing the F1 key.
4. Is it updated?
- This is the first edition; a newer edition (1996) was issued in 1997.
5. Can the CD-ROM be checked out?
- Yes.
6. Sudoc number (disc's call number in C. T. Ryan Library):
- ED 1. 334/2: ST 2/CD and ST/996/CD
7. Is there a paper equivalent in C. T. Ryan Library?
- Many of the publications (as listed above) are available in paper. They are in the general call number of ED 1. 100's and ED 1. 300's. The newest editions of several are in the Government Documents Reference Collection. Older ones are in the main Government Documents Collection and may be checked out.
8. Tricks:
USING IT:
- 1. Select "Begin a new search" from the initial menu.
- 2. You may select one of two search methods: Keyword Search or Free Text Search.
- Under keyword search, you may pick "Table of Contents", "Index" or "Saved Search". "Index" works best.
- The table of contents gives chapter and section headings for each document. Use it if you know which title you need.
- Free text search options look for the words/character strings in the titles or tables of contents. They are slower than the other search options and you may not retrieve anything.
- The "Descriptor Term (Keyword) Index" uses ERIC descriptors and NCES index terms.
- There are two methods of searching:
- (1.) Select from the basic alphabetical list initially displayed. Type in the first part of
- a word to go to that area of the index.
- (2.) After selecting a term from the alphabetical list, if you wish, use F5 for a "tree"
- or hierarchical display of broader and narrower terms that are related to the
- one you selected.
- You may also use F4 to "expand" the display to show the term's immediate broader/ narrower/related terms and a definition or scope note.
- A search can be modified by limiting with additional terms [use AND], using alternative terms [use OR], or excluding unwanted terms [use NOT].
- The F2 key will allow you to search for a term in the text you are viewing.
- 3. Next, press F10, "Exit when done".
- 4. Then, from the next menu, select "Display, print or store records found".
- 5. A list of titles matching your search criteria will be shown. Move the highlighting to the one you want and press Enter.
- 6. Other options are available while you are viewing a document. Press F1 to see the list of them.
7. Function keys:
F1 = Help
F2 = Search for word(s) you type in
- F3 = Menu; menu varies depending where you are in a search
-
- F4 = Expand a term, scope note, narrower terms, broader terms
-
- F5 = Display tree for highlighted term (broader/narrower terms) F6 = Change screen setup (leave as is)
- F7 = Print
- F8 = (not used)
- F9 = Discard files - delete files from a set (to revise your search)
HELP:
- Help is available by pressing F1. "Instructions" giving detailed information are available from the initial menu.
PRINTING:
- Press F7 while you are in the file or while it is highlighted on a list.
- Leave the printer settings as they are.
- Answer "yes" when it asks if the printer is ready.
COPYING (DOWNLOADING)
You may "Store to a disk" by using F5. Charts and figures should be downloaded in graphic file formats.
- Press F5 key while you are in the document you want to copy or have its title highlighted on the screen. You may also mark several titles from a list and copy them. Select appropriate choice from F5 menu.
- Change the drive and path from c:\ to (drive letter):\ and give your file a name.
GETTING OUT:
Press Esc key until you reach main menu. Select Quit. Press Enter.
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Format, courtesy of Robert Lopresti, Wilson Library, Western Wash. Univ., Bellingham, WA
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Diana J. Keith
Associate Professor
Head, Government Documents Department
Calvin T. Ryan Library
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE 68849-2249
Revised July, 2009
E-mail: keithdi@unk.edu
Phone: 308-865-8542