Searching the Internet with a focus on Google searching...this is the PowerPoint used during our Get Your Google On! workshop.

1. Developed by Jen Farr

2. An Internet tool that
searches for web
sites containing the
word(s) that you
designate in search
term(s)
Search engines
search their own
databases of
information

3. Search engines use
automated software
programs knows as
spiders or bots to
survey the Web and
build their databases.
Each search engine has
its own way of doing
things.

4. Taking a
closer look at
how a search
engine
works…

5. Developed by Jennifer Farr, Farr-Out Links to Learning
Search engine’s “spiders” or
“bots” find the site on their
gathering missions.
Publishers of documents
register their sites with
search engines.
Website developers/companies
pay to have their sites listed.
How does a search engine
“know” about the documents
on the web?

6. • A search tool that
organizes Internet sites
by subject
• Users work down a
series of menus
• Smaller in scope than
search engines
• A search tool
maintained by human
beings

7. Taking a
closer look at
how a
directory
works…

8. Developed by Jennifer Farr, Farr-Out Links to Learning
• The WWW Virtual Library
• JoeAnt
• Academic Info.
• Best of the Web

9. Personal preference
Directories
allow the
user to form
the search,
but may not
use
common
terms
Search
engines allow
the user to
use common
language, but
may lead to
lots of
irrelevant
hits.

10. Formulate your
search question
carefully
Identify important
concepts within the
question
Identify keywords to
describe these
topics and think of
related synonyms

11. Know how to use your
browser
Check your spelling
Consider the source
Remember some web
sites pay to be listed

12. Developed by Jennifer Farr, Farr-Out Links to Learning
Know your search tool
(read the help section
and use the advanced
search features)
Use wildcard searches
Learn about Boolean
searching

13. Wildcard SearchesWildcard SearchesWildcard SearchesWildcard Searches
A special symbol which allows you to
search simultaneously for several
words with the same stem
educator
educat* educators
education
educational

14. Developed by Jennifer Farr, Farr-Out Links to Learning
Boolean SearchesBoolean SearchesBoolean SearchesBoolean Searches
Allow you to
broaden a search
Allow you to
narrow a search
Are designated
differently in each
search engine

15. How do I narrow a searchHow do I narrow a search
using “using “andand”?”?
How do I narrow a searchHow do I narrow a search
using “using “andand”?”?
Using and will only provide links to sites
which have BOTH of these words present
To perform this
search in Google
you would type
heart +disease

16. How do I narrow a searchHow do I narrow a search
even more?even more?
How do I narrow a searchHow do I narrow a search
even more?even more?
Using and twice
will limit the search
even more
You will only get
pages that include
all THREE of the
terms

17. How do I narrow a searchHow do I narrow a search
using “using “notnot”?”?
How do I narrow a searchHow do I narrow a search
using “using “notnot”?”?
Using not narrows
the search by telling
the search engine to
exclude certain
words
To perform this
search in Google
you would type
schools -middle

18. Can I combine two differentCan I combine two different
operators?operators?
Can I combine two differentCan I combine two different
operators?operators?
You can
combine
different
operators
to limit or
broaden
a search

19. How do I broaden a search?How do I broaden a search?How do I broaden a search?How do I broaden a search?
Use of the word or
will broaden a
search
Use or if two words
may be used
interchangeably
Can use or more
than once to get
very broad results

20. How do search tools deal withHow do search tools deal with
Boolean operators?Boolean operators?
How do search tools deal withHow do search tools deal with
Boolean operators?Boolean operators?
• Not consistent among search engines
(example: to exclude a term some search
tools use “–” [minus sign] and some
prefer that you write out the word “not”)
• May enter it by hand or via a pop-up box
• May have to go to an “advanced” page
• The default is usually and or or

21. ~ (synonyms) Let Google “think” of
synonyms
• Example: ~food finds pages with recipes, nutrition,
cooking
.. (number ranges)
• Example: DVD player $250..350 finds pages with DVD
players priced between $250 and $350
• Example: “babe ruth” 1919..1925 finds pages with
information about Babe Ruth in the years from 1919 to
1925

22. Stemming more than one word does not
require * -- Google automatically stems
more than one word (unless the words
appear in quotes)
• Example: reading plan finds pages with read, reading,
reads, and plan, plans, planning
• Example: “reading plan” will only find pages with
reading and plan

23. * (Full-word wildcard within quotes) Find
variants of expressions or expressions
you are unsure of.
• Example: ”it’s all in the *”
Proximity searches…the number of “*”
represents the number of intervening
words.
• Example: “bush * iraq” (within 1)
“bush ** iraq” (within 2)
“bush *** iraq” (within 3)

24. Check out the many additional tips I have
included in your handout!

25. Try synonyms and variant
forms of words
• Example: popular, common,
favorite
Combine synonyms, keywords
and variant forms of words
• Example: “methods” or “ways”
or “techniques”

26. In the address bar of your browser…
Begin by typing www.
Type the name or acronym of the organization
(scholastic)
Add the domain (most often .com, or .edu,
.org, .gov, .mil, .net)
URL GuessingURL Guessing

27. This technique works best when you find
a resource that you like but would like to
know if the site offers additional related
information on a different page.
(Obviously, you will want to look for links
first…if you don’t see any links…)
TruncationTruncation

28. Look for the address on the toolbar and start deleting
text from right to left – stop and enter whenever you
reach a “/” [slash]
http://farr-
integratingit.net/Trainings/Searching/s
ubjectdirectory-def.htm Delete and press Enter
By the way, this technique does not always work, but
it is a strategy you can try!
Truncation Continued…Truncation Continued…

29. Was the information developed by a
credible source (example: a news
magazine, a trusted publication…)
Is the content valid?
Have you checked other resources,
especially if the information is not
familiar to you?

31. Internet Search Strategies
http://alamo.nmsu.edu/library/samples.html#dir
Internet Searching Samples
http://www.buddyproject.org/tool/search/default.asp
Searching Home Page by Tammy Payton
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/searching/
Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Searching the Internet
http://home.sprintmail.com/~debflanagan/main.html
Finding It Online: Web Search Strategies
http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/strat/strat1.html
The Spider’s Apprentice
http://www.monash.com/spidap4.html

32. Feel free to ask for additional help
or make an appointment to spend
more time with Jen.