Internet Search StrategiesHow to Navigate the “Net” Effectively

Please log into the computers and navigate to Mrs. Harpin’s Blog

cobblearning.net/charpin

Before you sit down at a computer TOPIC…what do you want to know???

Write it as a question (?) Identify keywords (KW) Identify synonyms (S)

Topic: Dogs?: How were dogs domesticated?KW: Dogs, domesticatedS: Canines, pets, trained, domestication,

domestic animals…

Identify possible resources Search engines (Google, SweetSearch,

Nettrekker) Databases (Galileo, eLibrary) Specific Websites Books Encyclopedias-print or online

(Worldbook, Grolier)

Practice QuestionTopic: Endangered SpeciesQuestion: What is the role of zoos in

saving endangered species?Key Words:______________________Synonyms: ______________________

Boolean OperatorsANDORNOT

AND OR NOTLIMITS your

search to items that contain ALL of your keywords Cats AND

Dogs 33,400,00

0 results

• EXPANDS your search to items that contain EITHER of your keywords– Cats OR

Dogs– 180,000,000

results

• LIMITS your search to items that do not contain certain keywords– Cats NOT

Dogs – 61,300,000

results

Just Cats: 96,100,000 results

Advanced Boolean SearchingAND is a givenNOT requires you to think more!!!

What DON’T you want?OR give you more (results)Can use combinations of the three

operators in a search string:Cats OR Dogs AND Adoption

Creating a Search String?: What are the uses of mercury?

KW: uses, mercurySS: Mercury AND uses NOT planet

A Very Helpful SymbolQuotation Marks “”

Search for exact phrases“Baseball cards”“Baseball player”“Baseball rules”“Baseball fans”

Try the advanced search option when available!

AND

“_”

OR

NOT

Remember!1. Write a topic question.2. Identify keywords & synonyms.3. Create search strings (Boolean).4. Keep trying until you find what you are

looking for!(It’s a good idea to keep a list of search

strings you have already used so you don’t waste time)

Now to put it to good use! Cobblearning.net/charpin Lessons Tab Work with your partner to complete the

Searching Activity. Complete as many questions as possible. Quality is more important that quantity,

but we’d like you to finish if possible.

If You Finish… Brainpop.com

mcclurems, mavericks Search for: Internet Searching (video)

HOMEWORK: Begin identifying your own keywords and possible search strings.