Searching the Searching the World Wide WebWorld Wide Web

““The Computer as an Educational Tool: The Computer as an Educational Tool:

Productivity and Problem Solving”Productivity and Problem Solving” ©©Richard C. Forcier and Don E. DescyRichard C. Forcier and Don E. Descy

TopicsTopics

Why search the Web?Why search the Web? Types of search toolsTypes of search tools Search strategiesSearch strategies ConclusionsConclusions

Why use the Web?Why use the Web?

Large amount of informationLarge amount of information Instant accessInstant access Up-to-dateUp-to-date

Problems Using the WebProblems Using the Web

Much information is not reviewed.Much information is not reviewed. Only a small percentage Only a small percentage

catalogedcataloged Difficult to accessDifficult to access Questionable qualityQuestionable quality Paid search positionsPaid search positions

Types of Search ToolsTypes of Search Tools

Search enginesSearch engines DirectoriesDirectories Meta-search enginesMeta-search engines

Search Engines (1)Search Engines (1)

Index of Web site wordsIndex of Web site words SpiderSpider or or robotrobot software gathers software gathers

site information. site information. Usually not hand checked: May Usually not hand checked: May

have dead linkshave dead links Keyword and Boolean searchesKeyword and Boolean searches

Search Engines (2)Search Engines (2)

Examples: Lycos, Excite, Snap, Examples: Lycos, Excite, Snap, Alta VistaAlta Vista

May have option for filtered May have option for filtered “child friendly” search“child friendly” search

Search their database onlySearch their database only

DirectoriesDirectories

Logical arrangement by subject Logical arrangement by subject or categoryor category

Usually with some human helpUsually with some human help Example: Yahoo, NetscapeExample: Yahoo, Netscape Younger students: YahooligansYounger students: Yahooligans Search their database onlySearch their database only

Meta-search EnginesMeta-search Engines

Search other search enginesSearch other search engines Very superficial search (perhaps Very superficial search (perhaps

10% of desired sites)10% of desired sites) MetaCrawler, DogPile, Ixquick, MetaCrawler, DogPile, Ixquick,

MetorMetor

Search Strategies: Boolean LogicSearch Strategies: Boolean Logic

Uses: ‘Uses: ‘andand’ ‘’ ‘notnot’ ‘ ’ ‘ ( )( )’ ‘’ ‘**’ ’ What will the results be for the following What will the results be for the following

searches?searches?

school scienceschool science

school and scienceschool and science

school not scienceschool not science

(school science)(school science)

school*school*

Search: school scienceSearch: school science

Search: school scienceSearch: school science

Outcome: All sites in database Outcome: All sites in database containing school and sciencecontaining school and science

Search: school and scienceSearch: school and science

Search: school and scienceSearch: school and science

Outcome: All sites in database Outcome: All sites in database containing both school and sciencecontaining both school and science

Search: school not scienceSearch: school not science

Search: school not scienceSearch: school not science

Outcome: All sites in database Outcome: All sites in database containing school but not sciencecontaining school but not science

Search: (school science)Search: (school science)

Search: (school science)Search: (school science)

Outcome: All sites in database Outcome: All sites in database containing phrase “school science”containing phrase “school science”

Search: school*Search: school*

Search: school*Search: school*

Outcome: All sites in database containing Outcome: All sites in database containing word starting with “school...word starting with “school...””

Other OptionsOther Options

““school” will find all sites in school” will find all sites in database containing “school”database containing “school”

““School” will find only sites in School” will find only sites in database with initial uppercase database with initial uppercase SchoolSchool

Some use other connectors: & + =Some use other connectors: & + =

Be Sure to READ the Be Sure to READ the Search Site Search Site

“How to..” Page“How to..” Page

Last-Minute HintsLast-Minute Hints

Read the “How to Search” Read the “How to Search” document on the sitedocument on the site

Use multiple search sitesUse multiple search sites Remember that some sites pay Remember that some sites pay

for placementfor placement Always presearch: Never search Always presearch: Never search

for the first time in a classfor the first time in a class

Questions?Questions?