This paper reviews indexing theory and suggests that information retrieval can be significantly improved by applying basic indexing criteria. Indexing practices are described, including the three main types of indexes: pre-coordinate, post-coordinate, and variants of both. Design features of indexes are summarized, including accuracy, consistency, exhaustivity, and specificity. World Wide Web-based indexing is addressed, focusing on the use of meta tags. Two meta tag schemes currently in use, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and the Dublin Core Metadata set, are discussed as a means for implementing indexing theory for Web-based documents. A project using the Dublin Core in support of a survey class in educational practice and pedagogy at Northern Illinois University is presented. (Contains 14 references.) (MES)