Don't worry about asking stupid questions. I'm sure a bunch of other people we wondering the same thing and just never asked. It's usually a ceramic pot inside of a larger pot with a heating element. It's a slow cooking method. They're nice in that you can throw in the ingredients and then leave it be for a few hours.
How they work: There's heating coil on the bottom that heats the ceramic pot and cooks the food. There are usually a few settings.
You've probably seen them at some potlucks. People usually throw those little sausages or meatballs in them to keep warm.
Here's link to some:
http://www.rivalproducts.com/eStore/...ategoryId=1186