what is eric?

What is ERIC? | Pinkie | September 14th, 2000

Suzanne asks "What is ERIC?" Here's a reply, together with a couple of other computery things that might be of interest to people:

1) ERIC and downloading abstract series from it to your own computer

2) CD-ROMs with the full text of TESOL journals

3) Scanning articles and sending them as e-mail attachments, and

4) A font for the International Phonetic Alphabet.

1) ERIC is an abstracts database for educational research: it lists the abstracts (summaries) of just about all articles published in this field since 1966. It's available on CD-ROMs, but I think they're too expensive for an individual to buy: ie you basically have to consult the CD-ROMs at a university library or similar. I'm fortunate enough to be able to access it directly via my work computer, through a search program called WebSPIRS. What I did when I started this course was to create text files each containing ALL abstracts published in given journals of interest: for example, I did a search of ERIC specifying only "TESOL Quarterly", then saved the resulting file to disc, so I now have a text file with all TESOL Quarterly abstracts (up to 1999) in it, consultable (and searchable) with my word processor. I guess you could do this even if you don't have regular access to ERIC: ie find a library that allows you to access it, make files of this type, then save them to diskette and transfer them to your computer at home. [By the way, I don't know whether this is strictly legal. If anything, I guess it's only a slightly illegal!].

2) While I'm on about this, it's worth noting a message from Francesca a couple of months ago: she pointed out that she uses a copy of the "ELT Journal" CD-ROM, which gives the FULL texts (not just abstracts) of articles published in this journal over a long period (I can't remember exactly what period). I believe a similar (though substantially more expensive) CD-ROM is available for TESOL Quarterly.

3) Has anyone tried sending scanned articles as e-mail attachments? The other day I did so and it worked. I scanned a photocopy of the article in question as a "black-and-white bit map", saved it in TIF format, and then sent it as an e-mail attachment to the person who'd asked for it. TIF files can be read with (and printed from) Microsoft IMAGING, which comes as an add-on with Windows 98. Of course, all this is only feasible if you have access to a reasonable scanner. I also wonder whether there may be problems because of file size. The file I sent was about 1200 KB, and the recipient received it OK: but files of this size may be too big for some mailboxes, I don't know.

4) I've found a website which offers a free download of a Windows font for the International Phonetic Alphabet (schwas and stuff). I haven't installed the font yet, so I can't guarantee that it works; indeed, for all I know it may give your computer the heeby-jeebies (however you spell that!).

Best,

Pinkie
Spain

What is ERIC? | Suzanne | September 15th, 2000

Hello All! (Especially Pinkie),

Thanks for the info on ERIC. I'm in the process of locating sources at the moment and I had a quick look for ERIC here in Germany. There is only one uni here that offers it. I DID, however, find an online version here.

I would be interested to hear if the service offered here is the same as the one you described in your message.

Suzanne

Re: What is ERIC? | Francesca | September 16 th , 2000

Thanks a lot Pinkie for your computery contribution to our discussion list. A student of mine who was a computer programmer with a passion for phonemes had already installed the phonemic script font on my old computer and I used it regularly and with ease. I didn't have the address to download the file onto my new computer, so when you sent it out I went there straight away and downloaded it again in less than ten minutes ( and my knowledge of computers is extremely limited).

As for the ELT Journal, you can buy 17 years worth of issues (1981 to 1998 ) for a reasonable price ( if one compares with how much we pay for books sent over from the UK ) and I repeat that I have found it to be a really valuable resource, especially as I don't have access to a library where I live in Southern Brazil. For details, go to their website.

By the way, Pinkie, do you know the website address to get information on the TESOL CD ROM, I'd like to know how exorbitant the price is?

Thanks again,

frQntSeska (whoops, I can't find the schwa)

What is ERIC? | James Hobbs | September 18th, 2000

Francesca,

I've also found the ELTJ CD-ROM a big help. For anybody interested in the TESOL Quarterly CD-ROM, which is equally useful, it's available from a company called Cybertech Enterprises in Florida. E-mail: ctech1@ix.netcom.com.

When I bought it, prices were $160 for TESOL Quarterly and $50 for TESOL Journal, plus $20 shipping.

Suzanne, thanks for the info about the ERIC website. I'd never heard of ERIC before, but gave the website a try and was impressed with the results.

James Hobbs

 

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