Internet Search Skills
Searching for information on the Internet can be very tricky and challenging. If you learn a variety of skills to help you search, you will find it much easier to find the information that you're looking for. Not only that - but you will be able to find reliable, trustworthy sources of information.
This page contains a variety of useful links and resources for both teachers and students about Internet search skills.
This page contains a variety of useful links and resources for both teachers and students about Internet search skills.
Links and Resources for Students
Search Sites
Sweet Search
http://sweetsearch.com
Sweet Search is BY FAR the best search engine made for students that I have used so far. It searches a collection of 35,000 Web sites that are evaluated and approved by a staff of research experts, librarians and teachers.
If you look under the search box on the home page, you will see links to several other versions of Sweet Search such as "SweetSearch4Me" (a version of Sweet Search designed for younger users) and "SweetSearch Biographies" (for searching biographical information).
Safe Search Kids
http://www.safesearchkids.com/google.html
This search engine is powered by Google but has some filters built in to filter out inappropriate material. It also seems to find more kid-friendly websites than using the regular version of Google.
Boolean Search Logic
The Boolean Machine
http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean/# (the new version)
http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean/original/ (the original version)
This simple "machine" helps demonstrate what boolean logic is.
Boolify Project
http://boolify.org/
A highly visual, interactive search site that helps you learn boolean search logic.
Multimedia
Common Craft: Web Search Strategies
http://www.commoncraft.com/video/web-search-strategies
This Common Craft video shows some simple, effective search strategies that can be used on almost any search site.
"Get More Out of Google" Infographic from HackCollege.com
http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2011/11/23/infographic-get-more-out-of-google.html
This excellent Infographic shares some neat functions in Google that will make research on Google much more effective.
Welcome to the Web
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/welcome/start.htm
This website is a great, simple tutorial to teach students the basics of the Web.
Sweet Search
http://sweetsearch.com
Sweet Search is BY FAR the best search engine made for students that I have used so far. It searches a collection of 35,000 Web sites that are evaluated and approved by a staff of research experts, librarians and teachers.
If you look under the search box on the home page, you will see links to several other versions of Sweet Search such as "SweetSearch4Me" (a version of Sweet Search designed for younger users) and "SweetSearch Biographies" (for searching biographical information).
Safe Search Kids
http://www.safesearchkids.com/google.html
This search engine is powered by Google but has some filters built in to filter out inappropriate material. It also seems to find more kid-friendly websites than using the regular version of Google.
Boolean Search Logic
The Boolean Machine
http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean/# (the new version)
http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean/original/ (the original version)
This simple "machine" helps demonstrate what boolean logic is.
Boolify Project
http://boolify.org/
A highly visual, interactive search site that helps you learn boolean search logic.
Multimedia
Common Craft: Web Search Strategies
http://www.commoncraft.com/video/web-search-strategies
This Common Craft video shows some simple, effective search strategies that can be used on almost any search site.
"Get More Out of Google" Infographic from HackCollege.com
http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2011/11/23/infographic-get-more-out-of-google.html
This excellent Infographic shares some neat functions in Google that will make research on Google much more effective.
Welcome to the Web
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/welcome/start.htm
This website is a great, simple tutorial to teach students the basics of the Web.
Links and Resources for Teachers
Free Technology for Teachers Blog
This edublog is written by high school teacher Richard Byrne. His blog is brimming with an immense amount of helpful information and resources to help teachers teach search skills effectively. Some of the specific posts that I've found particularly useful are posted below:
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/01/good-list-of-google-search-tricks.html
The "Teaching the Ten Steps to Better Web Research" presentation that is embedded in this post should definitely be viewed. It was in this presentation that I found the SweetSearch search engine that I have listed under the student resources above.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/07/introduction-to-advanced-google-search.html
Points out the advanced search features of Google that help users to narrow down results to what they need.
Finding Dulcinea
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/
Nicknamed "The Librarian of the Internet", this is an excellent website for teachers and older students. "[Their] mission is to bring users the best information on the Web for any topic, employing human insight and methodical review. FindingDulcinea presents only credible, high-quality and trustworthy Web sites, saving time for the novice and the experienced user alike." The team behind FindingDulcinea are also the creators of the SweetSearch search engine.
Some specific pages on FD that I found useful:
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Technology/Internet/Dulcineas-Guide-to-Searching-on-the-Web.html
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/edu/Make-Search-Engines-Work-for-You--Tips-for-Better-Searches.html
This edublog is written by high school teacher Richard Byrne. His blog is brimming with an immense amount of helpful information and resources to help teachers teach search skills effectively. Some of the specific posts that I've found particularly useful are posted below:
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/01/good-list-of-google-search-tricks.html
The "Teaching the Ten Steps to Better Web Research" presentation that is embedded in this post should definitely be viewed. It was in this presentation that I found the SweetSearch search engine that I have listed under the student resources above.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/07/introduction-to-advanced-google-search.html
Points out the advanced search features of Google that help users to narrow down results to what they need.
Finding Dulcinea
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/
Nicknamed "The Librarian of the Internet", this is an excellent website for teachers and older students. "[Their] mission is to bring users the best information on the Web for any topic, employing human insight and methodical review. FindingDulcinea presents only credible, high-quality and trustworthy Web sites, saving time for the novice and the experienced user alike." The team behind FindingDulcinea are also the creators of the SweetSearch search engine.
Some specific pages on FD that I found useful:
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Technology/Internet/Dulcineas-Guide-to-Searching-on-the-Web.html
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/edu/Make-Search-Engines-Work-for-You--Tips-for-Better-Searches.html
Tips for Better Searches.pdf (from FindingDulcinea) | |
File Size: | 35 kb |
File Type: |
Common Sense Media
http://www.commonsensemedia.org
I have been using Common Sense Media's collection of unit and lesson plans for teaching students a variety of skills to stay smart, safe and secure online. Their units include some great lessons on teaching Internet search skills.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org
I have been using Common Sense Media's collection of unit and lesson plans for teaching students a variety of skills to stay smart, safe and secure online. Their units include some great lessons on teaching Internet search skills.