Essential Question:
How do I effectively find relevant information on the Web for my assignment?
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When you search the web, you are usually searching the part of the iceberg of information that is above water. Even though it is really only a small part of the web, it can be difficult to find what you are looking for unless you know how to search effectively.
In this section you will learn to use search engines and Boolean Operators to narrow your search and hone in on relevant information. In other words, find what you need fast. Woot!
In this section you will learn to use search engines and Boolean Operators to narrow your search and hone in on relevant information. In other words, find what you need fast. Woot!
- First, let's look at how to effectively use a search engine (e.g. Google, Infotopia, Dogpile): You should NOT start by typing a question in the search engine...rather, you need to use some very specific tricks to find the right information for your topic. Here's a quick video to show you how: Web Search Strategies
- Now that you know how to narrow your search, by using specific keywords, putting phrases together with quotation marks, and the excluding information using a minus sign, let's explore the the magic of Boolean Operators (AND, OR):
Still unsure about Boolean Operators? Check out Rockwell Schrock's Boolean Machine. Please note that "NOT" is the same as using a minus sign... in most search engines the minus sign works better.
