Searching for Knowledge Can be Fun
Rob Kaulfauss (Middlesex Community College) recommends the following web sites as excellent starting places for students looking for information, explanations, or doing web research on general topics (rather than the usual Google search). He reports that students seem to enjoy using these resources and may continue to visit the sites after their original search has been completed.
About.com
http://about.com/
Volunteer guides put together reference pages of organized links to Web sites on almost every subject you can think of. A more intelligent and thoughtful alternative to Google keyword searches or Yahoo! directories of links for general subjects.
HowStuffWorks.com
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
Covers, not only technology stuff, but entertainment, travel, money, and people. Includes both introductory and in-depth explanations, diagrams, and links to more information on the Web.
SoYouWanna.com
http://www.soyouwanna.com/index.html
"SoYouWanna.com teaches you how to do all the things nobody taught you in school. If you're looking for explanations online, the wild goose chase ends here." [excerpted from the site]