Searching the Internet Using Google Tips and Tricks

1. Searching the Internet Using Google Tips and Tricks

2. What is the Internet? • The Internet is the world’s largest network of computers. • A network is a group of two or more computer systems linked together .

3. What is the World Wide Web? • One part of the Internet • Includes text pictures, sounds, and video • Requires browser software to access (Internet Explorer, Foxfire, Netscape)

4. What is a Search Engine? A web page where you can conduct a search of the Web.

5. Examples of Search Engines • www.yahoo.com • www.google.com • www.ask.com • www.askjeeves.com • www.lycos.com • www.dogpile.com • www.clusty.com Meta Search Engines

6. Can I Really Search the Whole Web? • No search site goes out and searches the entire Web. • Each search engine has its own database (set of files).

7. Search Term A word of phrase you type in a text box on a search site’s main page. Search Term goes here.

8. Hit List A list of links to websites produced by a search engine in response to a search term that you have entered.

9. About Hits • A hit list may show no link Modify your search • A hit list may show thousands of links Be more specific • More likely matches at top of list • Top 30-50

10. Easy Google Tips for Searching the Internet

11. Use Boolean Operators • And • Find only those pages that contain both of the words • Or • Find all pages that contain either of the words • Not • Find all pages that contain the word before not, then remove any that also contain the word following not

12. George Boole 1815-1864 Photo courtesy of: http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Boole.html

13. 2. Exact Phrase Match Put multi-word terms in quotes to instruct the site to match only pages that show the same words in the same order.

14. 3. Order of Word Search • The order of your words does matter. • Do you mean: “pizza pepperoni” or “pepperoni pizza”. Pepperoni Pizza Pizza Pepperoni

15. 4. Number Range Search • By using two periods with no spaces between two numbers in the search box, you are using a number range to search.

16. 5. Google Site Search • Allows you to ask Google to search a specific site for you • Type in search box: • site:target.com “patio furniture” • site:lakeviewacademy.com “calendar”

17. 6. Google Define • This feature is handy if you don’t know the spelling of a word. • Just type in define or definition and the word in the search box. • Can be useful to define “buzz words” or phrases that occur commonly.

18. 7. Google Phonebook • Use Google to find a number or address • First name (first initial), last name, city or state • First name (first initial), last name, area code or zip code • Phone number, with area code • Last name, city, state • There is also a name removal link

19. 8. Google Calculator • Use Google to convert measurements, and do simple math problems. • Simply type in a conversion into the search box • Two gallons in liters • 6.2 miles in kilometers • Square root (8912)

20. 9. Google Advanced Search Option • Click this option for a very specific search • Provide as much information as you can • This can narrow down your search to a specific time period or language

21. 10. Google Custom Search Engine • Allows users to select their own websites for use • Can share with others (they can add websites, too) • Users can customize home pages • Click here to get started

22. If all else fails…Think about changing.. Search Engines Search Terms

23. Additional Resources • Google Book Search • Google Universities • Google News • Google Scholar • Google for Educators • Google Cheat Sheet http://websearch.about.com/library/cheatsheet/blgooglecheatsheet.htm • Viewzi http://www.viewzi.com/ • Boolify http://www.boolify.org/