Cutting Through the Clutter

Searching the Web

There is a wealth of information waiting for you on the internet, if you know the right tools to use and the right way to use them. A common problem is finding too much information….lots of “stuff”, just not the specific “stuff” you need.

Understanding the Need for Search Tools

No card catalog for the web 11 billion pages on the web Search engines do not index the entire web Google indexes approximately 8,000,000,000

pages We need multiple tools in order to be

successful searching the web

Comparing Directories to Search Engines

Google is a search engine Yahoo is a search directory

Web Directories Defined

Contain a set of hierarchal menus Categorized by webmasters or directory staff. Sometimes staff are

subject experts; sometimes not. Best for browsing purposes but can be searched. Require significant human effort to develop and maintain.

Examples of popular directory

The value of directories:1. limited peer review

2. serendipitous discovery while browsing through categories.

Search Engines Defined Automated programs, called robots, spiders, search the web

24/7and index web sites. Some index words in the title, URL, introductory paragraphs, or full-

text of all documents on a web site. Some use a combination of these words and phrases, all of which are entered into the search engine's database.

The "spiders" search in different ways - and different parts of the Internet. The same search with different engines will yield different results.

Most popular search engine is

The value of search engines: 1. BIG! 2. full-text searching.

Using a Meta Searcher

Meta searcher searches the big engines and directories

Dogpile is a metasearch site — it searches multiple engines, filters for duplicates, and then presents the results to the user.

Dogpile uses multiple popular search engines, as well as sponsored links.

Using a Meta Searcher Clusty

Clusty is a clustering search engine using innovative software to access and cluster the world's information for better search and discovery.

Does not search Google

Understanding the Benefits of Using Google

Size of the database searched is approximately 5 billion pages

Clean interface “No advertisements” Does not take payment for placement Placement is based on the # of web sites that

link to the web site.

Understanding When Not to use Google

Multimedia Invisible web Audio files

What is the Invisible Web

The invisible web can not be searched by search engines

Pages in the invisible web are behind a data base

Using Beaucoup to Search the Invisible Web

Beaucoup helps you find information not usually searchable in the standard way

Beaucoup is not a search engine it is a connection to other search sites

Finding Specialized Info with Fagan Finder

Use Fagan Finder for specialized searches Fagan Finder’s goal is to help people find

what they are looking for.

Making the Most of Google Searches

Putting the search criteria in the Right Place

Do not put text in address box Average person looks at 3 pages of the

listings.

Using the Basic Google Interface

Search Box Search Options (hyperlinks)

Using Google Preferences

Set the preferences (right side of search box)

Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button

Excludes all but the top search site Use when you are very sure of the search

results

Five Tip for Refining Your Searches

1. Be specific 2. Use quotes “0” to search phrases 3. Use “0” + “0” sign to include 4. Use “0” – “0” sign to exclude 5. Combine symbols often

Refining a Search with Quotes

Compare searches with the without quotes

“African Elephants”

Refining a Google Search with Specific Words

the more you refine your search the better the results

Enter “How many buffalo are in the United States?”

Enter again using “buffalo herd” “united states” current number

Using Synonyms in Searches

Try bison and buffalo in search

Using Symbols (-)

Using the – sign to improve search results

Using Symbols

Using OR to enhance searches“capital punishment” OR “death penalty” +

“minnesota”

Using Symbols

Using Google’s wildcard featureGoogle has automatic stemming it will add endings

to words the * is a wild card as in Three * Mice

Now try three * mice blind

Using the search tab in Google

Web Images, Groups (user groups) Directories (similar to Yahoo)

New 4,500 current news sites

Using Google’s Advanced Search Page

Planets lesson plans moons earth

Extreme Google Searching

Using Google’s Calculator Function

* multiply 100 miles in kilometers 185 pounds in kilograms

Using the Auto Synonym Finder in Google

~ before the word Try ~infant (synonym in bold)

Using Google’s Phonebook Function

reverse lookup type in number type in name and city/state type b phone: (business phone yellow pages)

Using Google’s Travel and Mapping Function

type address United 11 msp airport