Utilize the database to its fullest extent. Read the abstracts!
By default, your results will display by what the database considers most "relevant" to your search. The dates of publication will be all mixed up. If you want to see the newest items first (your assignment may limit you to items from the last few years), then change the relevance option to "Date Newest".
Here is some of the detailed information for an ERIC record.
When you find an item you really like, and want to keep it, click the folder icon at the upper right of each citation.
This will put the item in your folder at the top of the ERIC screen (blue bar, right side)
This folder has something in it. If it is empty, no paper shows at the top.
Important Note: The Folder is only a temporary storage place. If you close the browser window, contents of the folder will be gone. Poof!
Look at the Saving things tab for what to do with things once you put them in a folder.