Google is the Internet’s most popular search engine. Largest search index Most users of any site

1. Google is the Internet’s most popular search engine. • Largest search index • Most users of any site • Basic Search • Go to google.com • Enter your query, consisting of one or more keywords, into the search box • Click the Google Search button • Review the Search Results Page • Results are ranked by relevancy • Specialized results are displayed in the “one box” • Statistics bar at the top of the results page displays how many results were returned for your search and how long it took to display those results. • Searching Within Your Results • Search within results link below the search results

2. Google Search Tips • Refining your search • Change the order of your keywords • Use AND/OR Operators • Stop Words: And, the, where, how, what, or • Including specific words: Type a plus sign immediately before the word • Excluding specific words: Type a minus sign immediately before the word • Automatic Word Stemming: Google automatically searches for all possible word variations • Search for an exact phrase: Put it in quotes • Restricting your search to specific file types: Type the keyword followed by a colon, the word “filetype:followed by the actual file type extension” (ex: dinosaurs: filetype:doc) • Common file types: • Adobe portable Document Format (pdf) • Microsoft Excel (xls, xlsx) • Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt, pptx) • Microsoft Word (doc, docx) • Rich Text Format (rtf)

3. More Google Search Tips • Restricting your search to a specific domain or website: Type the keyword followed by a space, the word “site.domain name” (ex: birds site.edu) • Common domain names: .com .org .edu .gov • Restricting your search to the page’s title: If your query contains a single word, use intitle: If your query contains multiple words, use allintitle: (ex: intitle:football) • Restricting your search to the pages url: If your query contains a single word, use inurl: If your query contains multiple words, use allinurl: (ex: inurl: football) • Advanced Search Link: Located on Google’s home page. Make your selections on the Advanced Search page, then click the Advanced Search button.

4. Search Engines for Kids • http://quintura.com/ • http://www.kidsclick.org/ • http://www.askkids.com/ • http://cybersleuth-kids.com/ • http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/

5. Google Docs • Google Docs is a suite of applications designed for home, business, and educational use. • Google Docs Word Processor • Google Spreadsheets • Google Presentations • Google Drawings • Google Forms • Google Calendar • Google Groups Google Docs is Web Based!

6. Creating, Editing, and Formatting Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and Drawings • Log into Google Docs • Create a new or open existing Doc, spreadsheet, presentation, or drawing • Work from toolbars and menus • Save • Share: View or Edit Educators love Google Docs!!!

7. Google Forms • A Google Docs Form is an interactive form that you can create using a variety of tools like; text, check boxes, multiple choice, scales and grids. • Forms let you collect information from any-sized group into a single online spreadsheet. • Forms can be used to conduct surveys, gather information, and collect data

8. Steps for Creating, Saving, and E-mailing a form • Create new form: From the main Google Docs window, click the New drop arrow then choose Form. Fill in the required information (title, question title, question type) the click Done. To add another question, click the Add Item drop arrow then choose a question type. • Save a form: From within the form window, click the Save button. Google will save the form and name it according to the first few words of text. You can rename the file later by right clicking on the form and choosing Rename from the menu. • E-mail a form: From within the form window, click the E-mail this form button, enter the required information then click Send.

9. Google Calendar • Google Calendar is a web-based application accessible from any web browser using any computer attached to the Internet. • Calendars can be public or private • Keep track of your schedule and appointments wherever you are • Share with others

10. Setting up and Sharing a Calendar • Setting up a basic calendar: Log into your Google Doc account, click on the Calendar link in the top left corner. The first time using Calendar you will need to enter the necessary information, including your name, time zone, and location. Google Calendar will display your default calendar. The name of this calendar is shown in the Calendars panel on the left of the page. • Sharing your calendar with specific people: When you make your calendar public, anyone can search for it via Google’s web search. If you’d rather share your calendar with only a select group of people, such as your department at work or your family, Google Calendar offers that option and allows you to give them permission to add or edit events on the calendar. From the main Google Calendar page, click the Create link. When the Create New Calendar page appears, enter the calendar’s name, description, location, and other information as normal. In the Share with specific people sections enter the e-mail address of the first person you want to have access to your calendar. Click the Permission Settings list arrow, then specify what type of access you want this person to have: Make changes and manage sharing (add and edit events and invite others to share the calendar); Make changes to event (add and edit events but not invite others to share); See all event details (but not add or edit events); or See only free/busy (hide details – without editing). Click the Add Person button. Repeat the previous steps to share with additional people. Click the Create Calendar button to save this calendar and notify the people you added. Each person will receive an e-mail with the URL of your calendar; they can then access the calendar with the permission level you selected.

11. Calendar views and Adding/Deleting Events • Calendar Views: At the top of the Calendar window you will see tabs: Day, Week, Month, 4 Days, Agenda. Click on the appropriate tab to change the view of your calendar. • Adding an Event to Your Calendar: From the main Google Calendar page, click the hour or day on your calendar from which you’d like to create an event. If you add an event to a daily or weekly calendar, click and drag to select the entire time from of the event. To create a multi-day event in month view, drag to select the days of the event. A new event balloon opens; enter the name of the event into the What box. Click the Calendar list arrow, then select the calendar to which this event belongs. To add more information about the event click the Edit Event Details link to display the event details page. Add any additional details about the event, such as location description, etc. If you’ve added this event to a monthly calendar, you should also enter the time of the event. If you want this event to repeat, select an option from the Repeats list. Click the Save button to add the event to the selected calendar. • Quick Add: This is a short cut to the add events window. From any Google Calendar, type the letter Q. The Quick Add entry box displays, fill in the required information then click Save. • Deleting an Event: Click on the event that you wish to delete, from the event balloon, click Delete.

12. Google Groups • A Google Group is a user-owned group created using the Google Groups service. • Manage and archive your mailing list • Provides opportunity for online communication and collaboration • Generous storage limits • Customizable pages • Unique management options

13. How can I use Google Groups • Google Groups can be used for a variety of functions, and across any group of people looking to share information and build their own place on the web. If you're not sure if you'd like to create a new group or join an existing one, here are some common ways to use Groups: • Organize meetings, conferences or social events among a private list of group members • Collaborate on projects or presentations using customizable wiki pages and file storage sections • Find people with similar hobbies, interests or backgrounds • Learn more about topics of interest such as sports, health or philosophy • Stay in touch with old classmates, coworkers and friends

14. Who needs a Google account to participate? • Activities that don't require a Google Account: • Reading posts in public groups • Searching for groups, posts, or authors • Posting to groups via email if they are unrestricted or you're already a member • Joining a public Google Group via email • Activities that require a Google Account: • Creating and managing your own Google Group • Posting to groups via our web interface • Creating pages and uploading files • Subscribing to a Usenet newsgroup and receiving posts via email • Joining a Google Group via our web interface • Changing your subscription type • Reading a restricted group's posts online

15. Using Google Groups • Create a Google Group: Sign into your Google account, from the main Google Docs window click the “More” list arrow and select groups. Click the Create button, fill in the required information, click “Create My Group” • Start a New Discussion Topic: Click on the link and enter the required information, click “Post Message” • To reply to a post: Click on the post, click the “reply” link, fill in the required information, click “Send” ***Whenever someone posts a reply the entire group will get an e-mail notification • Invite or Add Members: Click on the link and enter the required information, click “Invite Members” • Create some pages: Click on the link and enter the required information, click “Save and Publish” • Upload some files: Click on the link, click on the “Browse” button, locate your file, select it, click open, your file will be uploaded to the group • Tune you group’s settings: Click the link, read the Tabs along the top of the page, click on the one you want to work with and make your changes on that page then click “Save” • Deleting a group: From the groups home page, click “group settings”, click the “Advanced” tab, click the “Delete Group” button • To stop receiving e-mail notifications: Log into Google Docs, click the “Settings” drop arrow, select “Google Account Settings”, to the right of Groups, click “Manage Subscriptions”, select “No E-mail” from the “Subscription Type” drop arrow, click “Save Group Settings”