I. USEFUL KEYWORDS:
     adult learning, adult learning theories, adult learning and theories, adult learning and principles,
     adult and educational theories, adult development, developmental stages,  individual development,
     student development, adult education, adult educators, adult students, educational environment,
     cognitive styles, behaviorism, cognitive theories, transformation theory, aging and individuals,
     college students, teaching methods, teaching conditions, self concept, student attitudes, teaching
     and program effectiveness, teachers & training, strategies & teaching, evaluation and learning

II. Searching TIPs and Strategies
     a) Truncation - words sharing the same root.
         E.g. theor* (will find theory, theories, theorist, theoratical..)

     b) TITLE field
         An database search will match the terms you enter, in the default search-able fields. You can
         also select your own fields. When you have too many hits and want to narrow it down to what
         you are looking for, select TITLE field.

     C) Descriptors
         Most records will have a category called DESCRIPTORS or SUBJECTS - these are the concepts
         or terms assigned by indexers or people (vs text in a document). Using these descriptors or
         subjects may increase your results relevancy.

     D) One or two phrases at a time
         Start searching with one set of concept, then combine the next, search again, and then the
         next search again. Make the first search as broad as possible, and then adding other set
         to narrow it down.

III. TOPICS & RESOURCES
     Topics:
   - Define learning and development
   - Link learning with development
   - Major theories of adult learning
   - Teaching with developmental intentions
   - Strategies for learning
   - any other education-related topics

      Recommended Resources (click on the link to get in)
 
    Google Scholar - an excellent starting point for any topics
       Example:     adult learning
  
       TIPS:
        1) Find both books and articles
        2) Results ranked by citations [optional - click on the citation links to find related articles]
        3) Key authors listed at the bottom
        4) Use the "fulltext@tamu" link to get full text

    Education FullText (Wilson) - a database with excellent full text coverage on education topics   
        Example:  adult learning AND theories  

        TIPS:
        1) To limit results to scholarly sources, select LIMIT TO "Peer Reviewed"
        2) On the left sidebar menu, browse the related subjects to refine your searches.

    ERIC (Ebsco) - the primary source and database for any education topics
        Example:   SU "Learning Theories" AND adult learning

       TIPS
       1) One can do a regular keyword search such as "learning theories" and adult learning
           or use the database' descriptors or subject terms to search as in the example above.
       2) Use findtext@tamu to locate full text articles   

   PsycINFO (CSA) - primary source for learning, developmental, & psychology topics
       Example: adult learning       

IV. THEORIES
       Books - Go to libcat.tamu.edu, type in adult education, or other keywords
                   See this canned search link for books on adult education

       Articles -
       Encyclopedia of Britannica
             Examples:
           - adult education
           - theories of development  (or try this link http://search.eb.com/eb/article-24909)

       ERIC (Ebsco) and PsycINFO (CSA) are also excellent sources for theories          

V. THEORISTS - BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
        Marquis Who's Who on the Web
         Example: piaget
      Encyclopedia of Britannica
         Example: Piaget Jean
       Contemporary Authors (Gale)
       Biography Resource Center - Reference Content (Gale)
       Dictionary of Literary Biography (Gale)
       Gale Literary Databases    
       Biography and Genealogy Master Index
       or Google it
       or search libcat.tamu.edu for books on theorists
       or search Google Books with a theorist name, example, Erikson, Erik
       or see this link http://search.eb.com/eb/article-24909, a 40 pages-long entry in Britannica
       which includes many theorists. Use the left sidebar menu to select the desired topics

VI. HOW TO GET FULL TEXT
     Method 1 (from the current database)-Click the html or pdf links provided
     Method 2 (from other databases)-Click on the Findtext@tamu link
     Method 3 (from Library journals)-Click Check for this item in your catalog LibCat in Findtext@tamu
     Method 4 (from other institutions)-Make an inter-library loan request (the Get It button)

VII. CHAT WITH US - Online Chat with a Librarian
      If you have any questions, go to library.tamu.edu, click on Chat with Us