Session 4: Effectively Searching the Internet

Focusing Questions

Which search engines should I use?

Which search strategies should I use: Boolean operators? Keywords? Phrases in quotes?

Framing Our Work

All kids love to use computers, but

“contrary to popular belief, kids are easily bored and frustrated by the Web and are less adept at online searches than adults.” (SLJ, 1/1/2006)

Framing Our Work (cont’d)

Today we’re going to to make online searching simple by keeping the focus on search strategies.

Instruction

Teaching

The best way to search is to try different methods: Try the same search terms using two

different search engines.Try two different search strategies using the

same search engine.

SO MANY SEARCH

ENGINES!WHY USE

MORE THAN ONE?

NOT ALL SEARCH ENGINES ARE ALIKE

http://www.bruceclay.com/searchenginerelationshipchart.htm

Google v. Yahoo

Google v. Yahoo

Ranking.Thumbshots.com

CHOOSE YOUR SEARCH STRATEGY

Keywords

Key phrases with quotes

Phrase as a partial answer to your question

Use Boolean operators (AND OR NOT)

SEARCHING WITHOUT QUOTES.

First and third results are irrelevant.

SEARCHING WITH QUOTESis smarter.

First three results are exactly what we want.

Write your question as a partial answer

Phrase your search in the form of a partial answer to your question.

For the question: What games did Ancient Egyptian children play?… The search phrase would be: “Ancient

Egyptian children used to play”

Adapted from Pogue, David. “Google Search Tips.” Newsletter. David Pogue’s: Meet the Googlers.

BOOLEAN WHAT ?

USE BOOLEAN LOGIC

BOOLEAN LOGIC

Boole, George

(1815-1864)

English mathematician whose important work was in the separation of symbols from operations and creation of mathematical logic.

BOOLEAN OPERATORS

Boolean operators consist ofthree logical terms:

AND OR NOT

They help you refine your search so you can find exactly what you want quickly.

They must always be ALL CAPS.

How do I use them?

http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean/#

Still confused ?

Let’s play with Boolean terms

Here are some examples

BOOLEAN OPERATORS:AND

Search Terms Results

poverty 783,447

crime 2,962,165

poverty AND crime 1,677

poverty

crimep + c

BOOLEAN OPERATORS:AND

Search Terms Results

poverty 783,447

crime 2,962,165

poverty AND crime 1,677

poverty AND crime AND gender

76

poverty

crime

gender

p+c+g

BOOLEAN OPERATORS: OR

Search Terms Results

hawks 22,600,000

eagles 57,000,000

Hawks OR eagles 73,500,000

hawks

eagles

BOOLEAN OPERATORS: OR

Search Terms Results

hawks 22,600,000

eagles 57,000,000

hawks OR eagles 73,500,000

hawks OR eagles OR “birds of prey”

79,700,000

HAWKS

EAGLES

BIRDS OF PREY

BOOLEAN OPERATORS: NOT

Search Terms Results

artists 339,000,000

painters 16,400,000

painters NOT artists 9,510,000

artists painters

BOOLEAN OPERATORS AND GOOGLE

Instead of the word AND, use +(search term)

Instead of the word NOT, use -(search term)

“video games” +children

apple –computer “Martin Luther” –King

There are NO spaces between the plus or minus signs and the search word

Always use more than one search engine!

Steps for Smart Searching

Write out your question. Circle key words or key phrases. Use quotes if necessary Phrase your question as a partial answer. Sketch Boolean operator search ideas.

Now you try. What gives you the best results?

Modify your search as you go.

Guided Practice

Let’s use the Steps for Smart Searching to devise a search strategy for the question:

“What effects does breathing air pollution have on your health?”

Guided Practice

What effects does breathing air pollution have on your health?

Key words or key phrases:

In the form of a partial answer:

What Boolean operators will we use?

Let’s try this in AltaVista.

Guided Practice

Let’s modify our search in AltaVista and see what happens.

Guided Practice

Let’s see what happens when we try other search engines.

Yahoo AlltheWeb Ask.com Google Vivisimo Clusty

Guided Practice

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Work Time

Getting Started

Today and everyday, I want you to think about your search strategy, use more than one search engine, and modify your search as you go.

Work Time

We will be working in pairs.

Choose a topic from the NYC Science Scope and Sequence.

From that topic, think of a question you wish to search.

Work Time

Plan your search strategy using the Search Strategy worksheet.

Remember to try your search using two different search engines.

Don’t forget to record your results and modifications.

Share

Today we learned to think and reflect while we search and we tried new ways of searching.

Now we will look at how a few of you modified your searches. This is one of the most important steps.

Share

How search strategies changed:

Share

New York City Curriculum Resources Information Fluency Continuum

Phase: Investigate p. 18Indicator: uses a variety of search engines to do advanced

searching

New York City Performance Standards Applied Learning Standard 3a: Gather information to assist in

completing project work Applied Learning Standard 3b: Use information technology to

assist in gathering, organizing, and presenting information

Standards

Technology StandardsISTE National Educational Technology Standard (NETS)

Standard 5: Technology Research tools: -- Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources -- Students use evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

Standards

Evaluations

Please go to Survey Monkey to fill out the evaluation for today’s sessions.

Thank you