Searching and Evaluating information How should I search for information in the library? Created Angela Luke

What are we going to do? Learn some basic terms when computing Learn some basic terms when computing Develop some “search strategies” to help YOU find information Develop some “search strategies” to help YOU find information Introduce databases and the Internet Introduce databases and the Internet Learn some fancy “tricks” to help you navigate the online databases here at school Learn some fancy “tricks” to help you navigate the online databases here at school

Basic Terms So What is a Search Engine? So What is a Search Engine? Anybody???? Anybody???? A search engine is like a folder, and inside the folder there are individual pages of information. Search Engines allow YOU to type in key words and “phrases” to locate websites that are related to your interest or search. Examples: Search Engine Examples Search Engine Examples Search Engine Examples Search Engine Examples

Basic Terminology (cont.) What is a Website? What is a Website? A website is much like a book. They contain information about people places, and other cool stuff. They are just in electronic format. They have words, images, animations, and information. A website is much like a book. They contain information about people places, and other cool stuff. They are just in electronic format. They have words, images, animations, and information. The Web consists of millions of "pages" or screens of text and graphics that have built-in links to other pages on the Internet. The Web consists of millions of "pages" or screens of text and graphics that have built-in links to other pages on the Internet. A website is similar to a magazine with the first page of the site being the cover. Examples:

CBS television Samurai Jack McDonalds An example of All the different “pages” (websites) inside of the search engine NFL Page Yahooligans

Basic Terminology (cont.) What is a database? What is a database? A large collection of articles, newspapers, and information that is picked by professionals and shared and stored for people to access. A large collection of articles, newspapers, and information that is picked by professionals and shared and stored for people to access. Did you know there are many databases at the Lafayette Homepage? Did you know there are many databases at the Lafayette Homepage? How many? Examples are: Lafayette School Site Databases Lafayette School Site Databases Lafayette School Site Databases Lafayette School Site Databases

Database Vs. Internet Database Information picked by a professional and is reliable Information picked by a professional and is reliable Regulated Information Regulated Information Use keyword search to locate information Use keyword search to locate information Use first when researching Use first when researching Internet Information comes from anybody!!! Information comes from anybody!!! Unregulated Information Unregulated Information Use search engine to locate information sources Use search engine to locate information sources Good Idea to use after you have a base of informtation from a reliable source such as a database. Good Idea to use after you have a base of informtation from a reliable source such as a database.

Searching Terms to help you find information When you are searching for information use “keyword searches”. When you are searching for information use “keyword searches”. A keyword search is a term used to locate what your looking for. It is used for both the Internet and databases. A keyword search is a term used to locate what your looking for. It is used for both the Internet and databases. Lets look at a search we can conduct with both the Internet and a Database. Lets look at a search we can conduct with both the Internet and a Database. Example: Example:

How to Narrow Your Search After typing in your Keyword use AND to help narrow your search!!! After typing in your Keyword use AND to help narrow your search!!! When you use AND the computer will only search sites that have both of your keywords. When you use AND the computer will only search sites that have both of your keywords.

Searching Using AND Skateboarding Tricks

What do we get??? Skateboarding Tricks Skatingboarding Tricks Lets Practice: Novel Database Jr. Edition

Evaluating a Website NOT ALL WEBSITES HAVE GOOD INFORMATION!!!!! NOT ALL WEBSITES HAVE GOOD INFORMATION!!!!! Imagine that, all the sites you look at might not be reliable!!!!! Imagine that, all the sites you look at might not be reliable!!!!! So how do you know if a website is good or not? So how do you know if a website is good or not?

The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation Who: Who wrote the web page? Can you find their name? What kind of education do they have? Who: Who wrote the web page? Can you find their name? What kind of education do they have? What: Does the author say what their purpose of the site is? Is the site easy to navigate? Is there lots of advertisements, text, color, pictures? What: Does the author say what their purpose of the site is? Is the site easy to navigate? Is there lots of advertisements, text, color, pictures? When: When was this site created? Is it updated regularly? Does it have a date on it? When: When was this site created? Is it updated regularly? Does it have a date on it? Where: Where does the information come from? Is the website a.com, Is the information one sided or bias? Where: Where does the information come from? Is the website a.com, Is the information one sided or bias? Why: Why is this information useful? Why is this page better than all the others? Does this page correlate with the databases or print sources information on the subject? Why: Why is this information useful? Why is this page better than all the others? Does this page correlate with the databases or print sources information on the subject?

Some Considerations Be sure you spell the words correctly Be sure you spell the words correctly Do you know how to navigate the search engine your looking at? Do you know how to navigate the search engine your looking at? Try multiple websites, search terms, and databases to get your information Try multiple websites, search terms, and databases to get your information

Lets Practice In partners go through the checklist provided and evaluate these two websites. In partners go through the checklist provided and evaluate these two websites you finish early go into the schooldatabases and search for octopus information. you finish early go into the schooldatabases and search for octopus information.