| Nobody
seems to know how many web pages there are, but as of April 2002 there
were 27.7 million registered domains alone (according to
Netfactual.com). Looking for websites, then, can seem like looking for
a needle in an entire universe of haystacks. Savvy web surfers know a
few techniques to make the most efficient use of their research time
and find the resources they need. |
| Step Zero—Have
you ever gotten in the car, started driving and realized you didn't
know where you were going or how to get there? Searching the web
without first thinking about what you want is a bit like that. Decide
what the question is you are asking, what kinds of information you are
seeking before you hit the highway. Bernie Dodge explains further at
Step
Zero: What To Do Before Searching. |
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| Keywords are the
key— If you use accurate keywords and a
little logic to combine them, you will narrow the number of
"hits" and hone in on what you are looking for. Use the plus sign +
(or AND in all caps) to link search terms, for example dolphins+aquariums. Use the minus sign - (or NOT in all caps) to
exclude sites: dolphins-football. Exact phrases can be enclosed in
quote marks " ", and more complex queries can be structured with
parentheses ( ): (dolphins+ aquariums)-"Miami Dolphins". Once
again, Bernie Dodge has developed some great techniques called
Four Nets
for Better Searching. Search Engine Watch describes
Search Engine
Math in more detail. |
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|
Ask Santa—Chances
are that when you wrote up your Christmas list, it was explicit. Think
of the search engine as Santa and ask it for exactly what you want.
If, for example, you want lesson plans for a 4th grade unit on
butterflies, try "4th grade butterfly lesson plans." Or for a
Civil War project, ask for "Robert E. Lee primary sources." Sometimes
being as specific as possible will yield exactly the right source. |
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| Know
the rules—Each search engine
operates with its own set of rules and definitions. Some search
engines look through the entire text, others rely on key search terms
called "metatags." Your primary concern is to understand what
logical operators (the + and - we used before) are supported and how.
Check the engine's FAQs or information page. |
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| Use the
right tool for the job—Google is
a powerful search engine with a clean, easy to use interface. But it's
not the only good application and may not find what you need,
depending on the question you're asking.
NoodleTools offers a comprehensive table of search engine features
and when you might want to use them. The UC Berkeley Library has come
up with the
Best Search Engines (plus a web-searching tutorial and a handy web
jargon glossary). And Bernie Dodge weighs in with
Specialized Search Engines. |
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|
Know when to step away from the computer—While the Internet can
open up a world of information, it isn't the only or always the best
source. As The
Seven Commandments of Highly Effective Web Searching reminds us,
"thou shalt not forsake the old ways." |
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More
information—
Why Use Internet in the Classroom? also offers Utilization
Strategies and Advice from Master Teachers.
Guide to Effective Searching of the Internet is a thorough
tutorial that covers all aspects of using the Internet broken down
into easy to access chunks.
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KidsClick
Worlds of Web
Searching has good information and explanations for all of us.
Just because it's on the internet doesn't
necessarily make it good or true. Project M3's
Evaluating Web Sites recommends useful evaluation resources.
Kid-Friendly Search
Engines
Saving Search Results
in a Word document or in a Favorites folder.
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