session 4: effectively searching the internet
DESCRIPTION
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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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