Download Search

Searching the
World Wide Web
“The Computer as an Educational Tool:
Productivity and Problem Solving”
©Richard C. Forcier and Don E. Descy
Topics
Why search the Web?
 Types of search tools
 Search strategies
 Conclusions

Why use the Web?
Large amount of information
 Instant access
 Up-to-date

Problems Using the Web
Much information is not
reviewed.
 Only a small percentage
cataloged
 Difficult to access
 Questionable quality
 Paid search positions

Types of Search Tools
Search engines
 Directories
 Meta-search engines

Search Engines (1)
Index of Web site words
 Spider or robot software gathers
site information.
 Usually not hand checked: May
have dead links
 Keyword and Boolean searches

Search Engines (2)
Examples: Lycos, Excite, Snap,
Alta Vista
 May have option for filtered
“child friendly” search
 Search their database only

Directories
Logical arrangement by subject
or category
 Usually with some human help
 Example: Yahoo, Netscape
 Younger students: Yahooligans
 Search their database only

Meta-search Engines
Search other search engines
 Very superficial search (perhaps
10% of desired sites)
 MetaCrawler, DogPile, Ixquick,
Metor

Search Strategies: Boolean Logic


Uses: ‘and’ ‘not’ ‘ ( )’ ‘*’
What will the results be for the
following searches?
school science
school and science
school not science
(school science)
school*
Search: school science
Search: school science

Outcome: All sites in database
containing school and science
Search: school and science
Search: school and science

Outcome: All sites in database
containing both school and science
Search: school not science
Search: school not science

Outcome: All sites in database
containing school but not science
Search: (school science)
Search: (school science)

Outcome: All sites in database
containing phrase “school science”
Search: school*
Search: school*

Outcome: All sites in database containing
word starting with “school...”
Other Options



“school” will find all sites in
database containing “school”
“School” will find only sites in
database with initial uppercase
School
Some use other connectors: & + =
Be Sure to READ the
Search Site
“How to..” Page
Last-Minute Hints
Read the “How to Search”
document on the site
 Use multiple search sites
 Remember that some sites pay
for placement
 Always presearch: Never search
for the first time in a class

Questions?