Searching Google and Beyond: Tips, Strategies and

Resources

Pam BergerCollege of Information Studies, Syracuse UniversityLibrary/Educational Technology ConsultantInformation SearcherPublisher & Editorpberger@infosearcher.com

Internet searchers are confident, satisfied and trusting – but they are also unaware and naïve.

PEW INTERNET & AMERICAN LIFE PROJECTJanuary 2005

Search Engine Users

Research… 84% of internet users have used search engines.

On any given day, 56% of those online use search engines.

92% of those who use search engines say they are confident about their searching abilities, with over half of them, 52%, saying they’re “very confident”.

87% of searchers say they have successful search experiences most of the time, including some 17% of users who say they always find the information for which they are looking.

68% of users say that search engines are a fair and unbiased source of information; 19% say they don’t place that trust in search engines.

Do you trust search engines? 65% of those with 6 or more years of online

experience say search engines are a fair and unbiased source of information; 73% of others who have been online 5 years or less say so.

64% of those who use engines at least daily say search engines are a fair and unbiased source of information; 71% of those who use search engines less often agree.

38% of searchers are aware of a distinction between paid and unpaid results; 62% are not.

The youngest users, those 18 – 29 years old, who have practically grown up with the internet, are more likely to be searchers.

•search more often•are more confident about their search abilities•rely more on search engines•are more trusting and tolerant of them

Search Engine Users

Instructional Approach Strategy, not a tactical approach Get personal with Google Expand their horizons – use more

than one search engine Understand the differences

Google and Beyond…

What are the unique features of both Google and specialized search engines that support student learning?

What are good tips to teach students for more effective searching?

What are the best resources to teach about search engines and stay current?

Handouts

My blog –http://www.infosearcher.comscroll down left side column; under workshops

Google’s special features Search on synonyms Find definitions Find links and resource websites Google News Google Alert

Find synonyms

Using the query [~inexpensive travel] will give results for cheap, low cost, affordable, or inexpensive travel.

Definitions from the Google Glossary

For a quick definition enter “define” or “what are” along with your term [what are blogs] or [define blog]

Google returns a list of results, with a definition spelled out right at the top of the list, with the web site the definition was taken from

More definitions

If you use the syntax define: such as [define:global warming] Google returns a list of definitions from various web sources

Find links and resource websites

intitle:global intitle:warming (intitle:links l intitle:resources)

Locate websites that contain additional links and resources on specific topics

Google News

When Google finds current news relating to your query, it includes up to three headlines that link to news stories.

The news links, which are placed on the top of the page of hits, include the news item’s published time in relationship to your search (ex. released 53 minutes ago).

Google Alert

Offers email updates of the latest Google results

Google Alerts

Do backwards linking

Find Command

Keeping up to date with Google

http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp

Librarian’s Newsletter

Trends in Search Engines Visual/Graphic Interface

Kartoo Mooter Music Plasma

Clustering Clusty Grokker

Go Global Newseum

Visual/Graphic Interface

Kartoo Mooter

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http://www.kartoo.com

http://www.mooter.com

Clustering

Clusty Grokker

http://www.vivisimo.com

Grokker

http://www.grokker.com

Go Global Newseum

http://www.newseum.org

Search Engines & Subject Directories

Search Engines

Complies sites through computer robots and spiders – commonly called “crawlers”

Better for specific information and pages buried deep in a Web site

Use unique keywords or a combination Allows field searching and limiting More up-to-date and larger than directories

Subject DirectoriesSubject Directories Compile sites through human intervention Better for broad topics Uses directory and sub-directory menus Helpful to see broader content of subjects Good for finding information on general topics,

current events and commercial products

Virtual Libraries Same searching characteristics as a subject directory Have value added – evaluated websites

73

http://lii.org

74

http://www.ipl.org

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http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/

http://www.factmonster.com

The best Web-based resources to support effective searching

Search Engine Watch

http://www.searchenginewatch.com

http://21cif.imsa.edu/

http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html

http://www.infopeople.org/search/chart.html

Teaching Students to Search Integrated into the curriculum An inquiry process, not topic research Searchers preference: independence Best strategies: Collaborative groups,

interactive library Web sites, pathfinders, student reflective blogs

Post search engine strategies and updates on your school library blog!

Thank you!

http://www.infosearcher.com