SourceFinder: Course preparation via linguistically targeted web search

The use of the Internet for course preparation is ill served by traditional, content-based search engines. This paper describes SourceFinder, a web search engine that locates text material based on linguistic characteristics, such as reading level. Combining SourceFinder with content-based searches may allow instructors more easily to identify material relevant for their courses. We present examples from the teaching of reading comprehension, history, and statistics of how SourceFinder might aid instructors’ use of the Internet for course preparation.