Google Tips

To be an expert Google (re)searcher!

4 Question Research Survey

Watch this before you use Google for your next research project!
Eli Pariser: Beware online "filter bubbles" from TED

Instead of starting your research with Google, consider using:

If you do use Google, learn about Google's search features:

Post Research Survey

Mrs. McNally's favorite tips:

Avoid stop words: use keywords as opposed to sentences
Boolean basics: using words like AND, OR, NOT (in all uppercase) may help refine your search. Example: crime AND poverty
Use Quotes: by putting quotes around the words in your search, Google will look for words in the exact order you type them in
Domain: consider limiting your search to a specific domain like .gov or .edu. Use the "site:" command. Example: Scottsboro Boys trial site:.gov
Don't assume singular/plural is included. Example: cake OR cakes
Filetype: Looking for powerpoints? PDFs? Search just for a particular file type using the "filetype:" command. Example: Civil Rights filetype:ppt
Host: limit a search to an extension like .gov
Link: search for pages that link to a URL by using the "link:" command. Example: link:orangeschools.org
Related: to find web pages that have similar content, use the "related:" command. Example: related:wikipedia.org
Similar: to find web sites that are similar to a URL. Example: similar:nasa.gov
Site: search within a particular web site using the "site:" command. Example: recession site:nytimes.com
Source: Looking for photos? Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, add "source:life" to any Google image search and search only the LIFE photo archive. Example: civil rights source:life

Use the 4 step Get REAL process to validate information about a web site:

R = Read the URL
E = Examine the content
A = Ask about the author/owner of the site. If you don't know who the author/owner is, use www.easywhois.com
L = Look at the links

Answer the following questions for a website you visit:

Google Tools for Schools

View more presentations from Polly Farrington

Additional information/links to improve your proficiency with Google and/or searching:

100+ Google tricks that will save you time in school!
Easywhois.com - look up a domain's name
FactCheckED.org - get the facts from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Wayback Marchine (also known as the Internet Archive) is a digital library of websites and/or anything else