1. Effective search techniques
Powerpoints can be found at:
arts.kmutt.ac.th/call/Workshop_Doc.htm
Richard Watson Todd
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

2. General Internet searches
Search engines
Using Google (
Directories for general information
Using Wikipedia
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

3. Click here if you want
everything in
English
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

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5. Choosing keywords for searches
Situation:
You are writing an article about teaching, where you want to find information about what sorts of principles should govern how teachers give feedback in the classroom.
What keywords will you use?
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

6. Keywords or key phrases?
What’s the difference between typing:
giving feedback
AND
“giving feedback” ?
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

7. 23,900,000 hits
Giving feedback
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8. 183,000 hits
“giving feedback”
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9. Adding more keywords giving feedback “giving feedback”
“giving feedback” classroom
“giving feedback” classroom “English language teaching”
“giving feedback” classroom guidelines English
“giving feedback” teacher guidelines English
“how to give feedback” teacher guidelines English
“how to give feedback” teacher English
24 million hits: only first relevant
183,000 hits: same
33,100 hits: few relevant
250 hits: most about teacher training courses
7,720 hits: few relevant pages
9,950 hits: some relevant pages
145 hits: 2 relevant pages
393 hits: several relevant
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

10. Principles for choosing keywords
Where set phrases are generally accepted, use them
If you get too many returns, add more keywords
Play with different ways of expressing the same concept
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

11. Advanced searching
If you get too many hits, restrict your search using Advanced Search
If you get too many hits focusing on one irrelevant topic, restrict your search by deleting that irrelevant topic
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13. Advanced search situation 1
You want to know what the biggest dog in the world is.
You enter the key phrase:
“biggest dog in the world”
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15. Without Digby
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17. Advanced search situation 2
You want to go to England to study a course at a university in digital marketing
You enter the keywords
“digital marketing” university England
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19. Domain = ac.uk
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21. Alternative to Google
If you can’t find the information you want from Google (even using different keywords), try another search engine
Use
Use the Advanced search
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24. Dealing with results 1 Don’t automatically click on the first result
Read through the summaries
Look at the URLs (especially domains)
You may need to look through the first 3 or 4 pages of results
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

25. Dealing with results 2
When you have lots of possible relevant websites, use the right mouse button to “Open in new window”
Keep an eye on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen (or the tabs at the top of the screen)
Work through the pages you have selected after finishing with Google
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

26. An example of dealing with results
You want to find 10 examples of funny headlines to put in the lifts (or to give to Ajarn Harvey to put in the lifts)
You search for:
“amusing headlines”
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

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28. Searching for pictures
Using Google, choose ‘Images’
Use the same searching strategies as when searching for information
With results, left-clicking allows you to see the picture more clearly (you can then right-click to save)
Right-clicking allows you to save a thumbnail
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

29. Click here to search for pictures
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30. Notice that ‘Images’ is now in bold
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31. Some differences here
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32. Searching for “King Mongkut”
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34. Right-click and look for “Save Picture as”
Note: this saves a thumbnail
only
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36. Click here to see the original page
What you see if you
left-click on a
picture
Right-click on the
picture to save the full
picture
©2006 Richard Watson Todd

37. Finding background information
For a topic where you would like to gain a general overview, searching can produce results that are too specific
Use an alternative, such as Wikipedia:
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38. Enter your search term here
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41. Task
Think of some piece of information you would like to know (don’t make it too straightforward)
Will you use a search engine or a directory?
What keywords/phrases will you use?
Will you use advanced searching?
How will you deal with the results?
TRY IT!
©2006 Richard Watson Todd