1 Web Searching An Easy, Practical Guide for Parents

2 Plan Your Search How much time do you have? (use one or two keywords for quick search) Has your topic already been indexed for you? (use a directory vs. a search engine) What is the age group of your audience/users? (some directories are indexed for children, see slides 11 & 12)

3 What Kind of Information are You Looking For? Search engines & ‘keyword’ searching How do they work? Good for General Information searches: »Weather »Maps »Addresses »Businesses & Organizations »Schools »Topics of interest to many people

4 Choosing Keywords Choose your search terms carefully. For example, middle school students were researching the economic depression of the 1930’s. Here’s what can happen: Keyword, depression Keywords, “great depression”

5 Pinpointing Your Search: Advanced Googling Advanced Googling Advanced Googling  More search terms reduces the number of hits (more equals less)  colonial america  “colonial america” (in quotes)  occupations  trade  apprentice  Use Quotations (“ “) to search for exact phrases and narrow your search  “to be or not to be” / “run around sue” (to find poems, book passages, songs, etc.)  Use quotes around student work that you suspect is plagiarized

6 More Search Tips!  Use intitle: or inurl: before keywords (no space) to narrow results (compare “colonial america” to / intitle:“colonial america”, or dolphins to / inurl:dolphins)  Limit your search to specific “domains” keyword and site:gov (for statistics, gov. info) keyword and site:gov (for statistics, gov. info) keyword and site:edu or site:org (for curriculum topics or social issues, concerns…think non-profit) keyword and site:edu or site:org (for curriculum topics or social issues, concerns…think non-profit) keyword and site:sandomenico.org ( to search specific sites for information, e.g. webquest) keyword and site:sandomenico.org ( to search specific sites for information, e.g. webquest)

7 Search Tidbits  Ctrl F (or Cmd F on Macs) will find the word you’re searching for in the document or web page (keyword search on dolphins, click on the link, Dolphin - Wikipedia, hold down the CRTL key and press F, type in ‘blowhole’ and click the “Find next” button)  Use the operator OR to include either of two keywords (cancer therapy OR treatment)  Use minus sign ( - ) to exclude words (dolphins –miami)  For date or number range search put two periods in between the dates or numbers (e.g. “civil war” )

8 Google Search Engine Shortcuts  The word ‘define’ and a space before a word finds a definition  Calculator (+ – * / are the arithmetic symbols, also ‘%of’’ and, ‘^’ for power of)  Maps/Directions (enter address or cross streets and city or zip code)  Phonebook (name and zip or address)  For more information go to : ce.html ce.htmlhttp:// ce.html

9 Ask a Librarian Collaborating with your librarian may save you time and effort Use the Library’s Bookmarked SitesBookmarked Sites –Ask for help creating a web ‘Hotlist’ –Ex. Book Reviews / Suggested ReadingBook Reviews / Suggested Reading

10 Search Engines vs. Directories –A Practice Search – california “gold rush” »YahooYahoo »Librarians Internet IndexLibrarians Internet Index »KidsclickKidsclick –More Info About Search EnginesMore Info About Search Engines

11 Kid-Friendly Directories (Organized, hierarchical web information. Someone has done the work for you) –Kidsclick (for younger students, good org.) –700+ Great Sites (ALA compiled, good organization) Great Siteshttp:// –Yahoo Kids (huge site, some dead links) Kids

12 Directories for Older Students & Adults –Librarians Index to the Internet (freedom from choice, fewer sites, reliable) Index to the Internet –Internet Public Library (great sites, general reference tools) Public Libraryhttp:// –Digital Librarian - (Comprehensive, easy to navigate.) /Digital Librarian /

13 Internet Safety for Kids Review NetNanny’s Top 10 Internet Safety Tips Internet Safety Software - Reviews There is NO perfect system of protection. Planning and Vigilance works best! Security settings on your Browser (> ‘Tools’ > ‘Internet Options’ > ‘Security’) How to check online History (> View > Explorer Bar > History)

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