Web Searching
Today, undergraduate students are more familiar with the internet than they are with academic databases. They believe that they know how to conduct effective searches, but often do not know tricks to assist them in finding the most relevant results for their query. With the open access movement more scholarly material is becoming available online and students need to know how to locate this information. The following digital learning objects are presented as tools to assist students in performing better web searches and as teaching aids for instructors in this area.
A Beginner's Guide to Performing Better Web Searches: LifeHacker published this YouTube video to provide tips on how to more effectively search the web. The object was selected for the digital library for its undergraduate friendly format. This video can be shown during class or used as an asynchronous learning tool in an online course.
Beware Online "Filter Bubbles": When we search the web we assume that we are retrieving the most relevant results for our search query. Instead, as companies learn to tailor results to what they think we want we end up with search results that are not the broadest or most relevant. This TedTalk explores this phenomenon and how it affects our ability to get accurate information from the web. Instructors can use this lecture to help students understand the commercial aspects of the internet and how it affects the information they encounter online. The video was selected for its unique look at web searching.
Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial: The University of California at Berkeley has provided an online tutorial for those interested in learning more about effectively searching the internet. One key point that this tutorial addresses is the invisible web. The tutorial can be used by an instructor as a reference tool. Many of the search tips that an instructor would teach in class are emphasized in the tutorial which was the reason for its selection.
How to Use Google Search More Effectively [Infographic]: Infographs are a way to display information in a visual format. This digital learning object is an infograph and it contains tips for searching Google. An instructor can hand out the infograph to students for them to use as a reference or post it in a learning management system. The learning object was chosen for its visual representation of search tips.
Internet Searching Tools: The Hannon Library at Southern Oregon University put together a a site that lists a plethora of search engines, tools, and tips. This site was chosen for its wide range of topics. Instructors can use this tool to show their students Google is not the only search engine, but that there are many ways to search the web. Teachers can also use the site to link out to other web searching tutorials that are compiled on this site.
In Web Search, Be Efficient in the Terms You Use: Thomas J. Fitzgerald of the New York Times has written an article that provides tips for searching the web. The article focuses exclusively on Bing and Google and can be used by an instructor if they are discussing either of those search engines. Bing and Google are very well-known search engines and the article was selected for its relevancy to students' search habits.
Power Searching with Google: Google provides an asynchronous course available to anyone with internet access. The course focuses on learning how to become a more effective researcher using Google's search engine. The class consists of video lectures and activities. This learning object is included in the digital library for its user-friendly format and for the fact that Google is the predominant search engine used by undergraduates in the United States. This course can be used by instructors during class or as outside homework for students to learn web searching skills.
Search Engine Watch: Search Engine Watch is a website that collects and disseminates advice on how to search the web. This site was selected for inclusion in the digital library for its breadth of information regarding multiple types of search strategies. The site is beneficial for its up-to-date information and can be used by an instructor to keep up with new trends. It can also be used by students to gain a deeper understanding of how to search the world wide web.
Beware Online "Filter Bubbles": When we search the web we assume that we are retrieving the most relevant results for our search query. Instead, as companies learn to tailor results to what they think we want we end up with search results that are not the broadest or most relevant. This TedTalk explores this phenomenon and how it affects our ability to get accurate information from the web. Instructors can use this lecture to help students understand the commercial aspects of the internet and how it affects the information they encounter online. The video was selected for its unique look at web searching.
Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial: The University of California at Berkeley has provided an online tutorial for those interested in learning more about effectively searching the internet. One key point that this tutorial addresses is the invisible web. The tutorial can be used by an instructor as a reference tool. Many of the search tips that an instructor would teach in class are emphasized in the tutorial which was the reason for its selection.
How to Use Google Search More Effectively [Infographic]: Infographs are a way to display information in a visual format. This digital learning object is an infograph and it contains tips for searching Google. An instructor can hand out the infograph to students for them to use as a reference or post it in a learning management system. The learning object was chosen for its visual representation of search tips.
Internet Searching Tools: The Hannon Library at Southern Oregon University put together a a site that lists a plethora of search engines, tools, and tips. This site was chosen for its wide range of topics. Instructors can use this tool to show their students Google is not the only search engine, but that there are many ways to search the web. Teachers can also use the site to link out to other web searching tutorials that are compiled on this site.
In Web Search, Be Efficient in the Terms You Use: Thomas J. Fitzgerald of the New York Times has written an article that provides tips for searching the web. The article focuses exclusively on Bing and Google and can be used by an instructor if they are discussing either of those search engines. Bing and Google are very well-known search engines and the article was selected for its relevancy to students' search habits.
Power Searching with Google: Google provides an asynchronous course available to anyone with internet access. The course focuses on learning how to become a more effective researcher using Google's search engine. The class consists of video lectures and activities. This learning object is included in the digital library for its user-friendly format and for the fact that Google is the predominant search engine used by undergraduates in the United States. This course can be used by instructors during class or as outside homework for students to learn web searching skills.
Search Engine Watch: Search Engine Watch is a website that collects and disseminates advice on how to search the web. This site was selected for inclusion in the digital library for its breadth of information regarding multiple types of search strategies. The site is beneficial for its up-to-date information and can be used by an instructor to keep up with new trends. It can also be used by students to gain a deeper understanding of how to search the world wide web.