Transcript Getting what you want from the Web - LETA-Learning

GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
FROM THE WEB
Ken Messersmith – Tommy Hansen
University of Nebraska @ Kearney
Search tools
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Search Directories – yahoo, Google directory
 Indexed by humans
Search engines – Google, Ask, MSN
 use automated spiders or crawlers to find pages
Meta search engines – Search.com, Pandia
 get results from other search engines
Source: http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/2.html
To Google or NOT to Google
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Use search directories when you are not sure about
what you are seeking
Use search engines if you have a specific goal
It really doesn’t matter much
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Teach students to use one tool efficiently
We will concentrate on Google
Preparing your search
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STEP 1: STATE WHAT YOU WANT TO FIND
 First, in one or two sentences, state what you want to find on
the Internet.
STEP 2: IDENTIFY KEYWORDS
 Next, underline the main concepts in the statement. ?
STEP 3: SELECT SYNONYMS AND VARIANT WORD
FORMS
 List synonyms, alternate spellings, and variant word forms of
each keyword.
Source: http://www.learnwebskills.com/search/prepare.html
Using the Google advanced search options
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Exact phrases – enclose in quotes – “I have a
dream”
Excluding words – use minus operator
 Tigers –missouri –detroit –clemson - auburn
From a specific domain
 admissions
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Specific format
 wikis
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site:unk.edu
filetype:ppt
Pages linked to a page
 link:unk.edu
Available on the Advanced Search Page
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Google Advanced Search Page
Other specialized searches
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:define
Calculator
The Deep Web
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Only about 5% of the Web is actually indexed by
Google
The “Deep Web”
 Libraries - UNK
 Information behind firewalls and passwordsNebraska Access
 Proprietary databases - Lexis Nexis
Searching is easy but…
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HOW DO WE teach our students to determine the validity of
information?
Is the information reliable?
Check the author's credentials and affiliation. Is the author an expert in
the field?
Does the resource have a reputable organization or expert behind it?
Are the sources of information stated? Can you verify the information?
Can the author be contacted for clarification?
Is the information factual or opinion?
Does the site contain original information or simply links?
How frequently is the resource updated?
Does the site have clear and obvious pointers to new content?
Excellent resources at
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The Center for Media Literacy - Medialit.org
Kathy Schrock’s Web site –
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http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/eval.html
This presentation available at:
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The LETA-Learning Wiki at:
http://leta-learning.wikispaces.com/
Contact information:
 Ken
Messersmith – [email protected]
 Tommy Hansen – [email protected]
Questions?