Unlocking the Secrets to Internet Searching

1
Unlocking the Secrets to Internet Searching
2
Introduction Problems with searching the Internet

• There are over 1 trillion internet pages
• There is no standardized, international tool for
  searching the internet.
• There are hundreds (if not thousands) of tools
  available for searching the Internet.
• Finding the information you need can be
  time-consuming and challenging.
• Finding quality information can be tough.

3
The Task Learn some searching skills

• Your task is to use the resources presented in
  the next few slides to learn some basic
  information about the types of internet searching
  tools available.
• You will use the information you learn to answer
  the questions on the handout provided. You will
  complete tasks that appear in RED print.

4
Expectations

• You will visit all of the sites listed under
  resources.
• You will answer, to the best of your ability, the
  questions on the handout, using the information
  you find on the web pages listed under
  resources.

5
Task 1 Planning your research

• Assume you are going to do a research report on
  the origins of the Santa Claus tradition.
• In order to plan this research project well, you
  will need to follow a series of steps.

6
Step 1 Identifying and defining your topic

• Listing what you already know about a topic can
  help you identify what you need to find out about
  it.
• Under Task 1 on your handout, list or explain
  briefly what you already know about Santa Claus.

7
STEP 2 What terms can I use to search for
information about this topic?

• Your goal is to make a list of terms that you can
  use to search for information.
• These terms can be more general (American
  holidays) or more specific (North Pole )
• The more search terms you have, the better.
• Write as many search terms as you can on the
  handout under Task 2 Identifying search terms.
  (Search terms are words and phrases related to
  the topicSanta Clausthat you could also use in
  searching the Internet.)

8
STEP3 What do I need or want to know about my
topic?

• What would you like to know about the origins of
  the Santa Claus and the associated traditions.?
• Start with the journalistic questions
• Who? (For example, Who came up with the idea of
  Santa Claus?
• What?
• Where?
• When?
• Why?
• How?
• Note When using the journalistic questions,
  using only the single word (who? What? Etc) is
  NOT enough. Your question must ask for specific
  information
• Under Task 3 on the handout, write 5 questions
  about this topic.

9
Step 4 Identifying sources of information

• In the library, there are many places you can
  search for information books, encyclopedias,
  magazines, and the Internet.
• Today, we are going to focus on using the
  Internet to find information about Santa Claus.
• Under Task 4, list at least 5 starting places
  (search engines or other search tools) for
  searching on the Internet.

10
Step 5 Accessing and gathering information

• Chances are, your list of possible Internet
  search tools included several commonly used
  search engines and search directories, such as
  Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, Ask Jeeves, Hotbot, and
  Altavista.
• Task 5 is to identify which of these search
  engines you plan to use to find out more
  information about Santa Claus. Write those under
  task 5 on your sheet.

11
Step 6 Gathering Information

• Using your SEARCH TERMS (listed under task 2) and
  your QUESTIONS (listed under task 3), search the
  internet search tools listed under task 4) to
  answer your questions about Santa Claus.
• Write 5 facts (answers to your 5 questions) under
  Task 6 on your handout.

12
LAST step!

• If you were really writing a research paper (or
  creating a poster, a brochure, or some other
  product), you would use the information you
  collected to complete your project.
• But youre not.
• Well share some of the Santa facts as time
  permits. Youre done! Good job!