Internet Search Strategies How to Navigate the “Net” Effectively Please log into the computers and navigate to Mrs. Harpin’s Blog cobblearning.net/charpin

Before you sit down at a computer  TOPIC…what do you want to know???  Write it as a question (?)  Identify keywords (KW)  Identify synonyms (S)  Topic: Dogs ?: How were dogs domesticated? KW: Dogs, domesticated S: Canines, pets, trained, domestication, domestic animals…

Identify possible resources  Search engines (Google, SweetSearch, Nettrekker)  Databases (Galileo, eLibrary)  Specific Websites  Books  Encyclopedias-print or online (Worldbook, Grolier)

Practice Question Topic: Endangered Species Question: What is the role of zoos in saving endangered species? Key Words:______________________ Synonyms: ______________________

Boolean Operators  AND  OR  NOT

ANDORNOT  LIMITS your search to items that contain ALL of your keywords  Cats AND Dogs  33,400,000 results EXPANDS your search to items that contain EITHER of your keywords –Cats OR Dogs –180,000,000 results LIMITS your search to items that do not contain certain keywords –Cats NOT Dogs –61,300,000 results Just Cats: 96,100,000 results

Advanced Boolean Searching  AND is a given  NOT requires you to think more!!!  What DON’T you want?  OR give you more (results)  Can use combinations of the three operators in a search string:  Cats OR Dogs AND Adoption

Creating a Search String  ?: What are the uses of mercury?  KW: uses, mercury  SS: Mercury AND uses NOT planet

A Very Helpful Symbol  Quotation Marks “”  Search for exact phrases  “Baseball cards”  “Baseball player”  “Baseball rules”  “Baseball fans”

Try the advanced search option when available!

AND “_” OR NOT

Remember! 1. Write a topic question. 2. Identify keywords & synonyms. 3. Create search strings (Boolean). 4. Keep trying until you find what you are looking for! (It’s a good idea to keep a list of search strings you have already used so you don’t waste time)

Now to put it to good use!  Cobblearning.net/charpin  Lessons Tab  Work with your partner to complete the Searching Activity.  Complete as many questions as possible.  Quality is more important that quantity, but we’d like you to finish if possible.

If You Finish…  Brainpop.com  mcclurems, mavericks  Search for: Internet Searching (video)  HOMEWORK: Begin identifying your own keywords and possible search strings.