Presented by Elvelon W. Mason

Technology Trainer

Warren County Schools

2011-2012

Google Searching

Beginning to Advanced Features

Purpose

The Warren County Schools Strategic Technology Plan

(2009-2012) 2.1.3 require all staff members to complete

technology training that progresses from basic to advanced

technology competencies in their respective area.

Objectives

This course covers how Google can be used to search for

specific areas of interest, such as books, definitions, images,

articles, and maps. Finally, this lesson covers how to filter

Google searches by using negative search terms and advanced

search options.

Google Search Engine

Google’s search engine is a tool for finding resources on the Internet. Google uses spider software that is constantly scanning the Internet, examining Web pages, and categorizing them based on the information they contain.

When you search for a subject, such as “space travel,” Google examines its collected information and displays a list of the Web pages it has found that make reference to the topic. It also prioritizes the sites for you, placing those it judges to be most relevant at the top of the list. You can then click on an item in the list and go right to that Web page.

Google Searching

News Search Product Search

Often, we search the Internet looking for what is happening in the world. Whether it is a specific topic you and your students are studying, or simply to find current events to discuss in class, Google’s News Search (news.google.com) or More > Even More > News feature aggregates headlines from more than 4,500 sources to provide more options and a wide variety of perspectives from which to choose.

Google Product Search (www.google.com/products) or More > Even More > Product Search helps you find and compare products from online stores across the Web and then points you directly to where you can buy them. If you’ve ever needed folder for an economics lesson, Google Product Search will find what’s out there and return it, along with photos, descriptions, and prices.

Video Search

As high-speed Internet connections become more and more

common, the use of online video increases in popularity.

Google Video Search (www.google.com/videohp) or More >

Even More > Video Search applies Google’s powerful search

technologies to scour the Internet for video content.

Google’s spider technology analyzes the text on the Web site,

the video caption, and dozens of other factors to determine

the content. Google also removes duplicates and ensures that

the highest quality videos are presented first in your results.

Examine Google Search Types

The lesson you are about to view… Discuss the best methods for searching in Google.

Examines searching for phrases, books, definitions, images, scholarly

articles, and maps.

Google Search Types

Google Scholar Google Book Search

A great example of a Google search type is Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) or More > Scholar. Google Scholar provides an easy way for you to search for scholarly literature. The resources available in this specialized search utility include peer-reviewed papers, thesis, books, and abstracts, as well as articles from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, and universities.

As an educator, you may spend a lot of time looking for books. Whether you’re seeking books for yourself or books for your students, it can be a difficult and time-consuming task. But Google Book Search (books.google.com) or More > Books makes finding the perfect book much easier. It works just like regular Google, but instead of searching the entire Internet, it searches the text of its book database and returns the books that most closely match your search criteria.

Google Book Search

Results include all kinds of relevant information including

book review, references, stores where you can buy them, or

libraries where you can borrow books. If a book is out of

copyright, or the publisher has given permission, you’ll be

able to see a preview of the book and, in some cases, the

entire text. If it’s in the public domain, you can download an

Adobe PDF copy.

Tip: Google Book Search lets you create your own

personalized library where you can share the books you’ve

read with others, rate them, and provide reviews.

Google Search Types

Google Maps Google Image Search

When it’s time to hit the road, be it a class field trip or a visit to another school, Google Maps (maps.google.com) or More > Even More > Maps is devoted to providing information about where in the world things are. You can search for maps of any area you are interested in. You can also get driving directions or view satellite images, search for restaurants near you, or find hotels at your destination.

Often, finding just the right image is the key to making an effective presentation. Google Image Search (www.google.com/imghp) or More > Even More > Image Search uses Google search technology to find and categorize images on the Internet. When you enter your search criteria, Google queries its image database and returns thumbnail images that match. When you see an image that you like, just click on the thumbnail and you will be taken to the Web site where the image resides.

Google Search Types

Google Definition Google Blog Search

Teachers and students alike are constantly faced with the need to find word definitions. Google has a function that addresses this. Simply type “define” and then the word you are looking for. Google will return links to definitions from online reference works, giving you a variety of sources from which to choose.

Looking for information in an online forum? Blogs are becoming increasing popular as a forum for sharing instructional content, teaching techniques, and learning tips for students. Google Blog Search (blogsearch.google.com) or More > Blogs uses Google search technology to find blogs that deal with the topics you are interested in. Just type the subject you want to search for in the text box and click “Search.”

Filter Google Searches

The lesson you are about to view… Discusses search preferences that you can set.

Goes over filtering options for Google, such as SafeSearch and the number of results to display.

Looks at some of Google’s Advanced Search features.

Google’s Advanced Search features Google’s vast catalog of indexed Web sites is a large part of what makes it such a popular tool for finding information on the Internet. Sometimes, however, this means that a keyword search may return tens or even hundreds of thousands of suggested Web sites, many of which are not what you want. Fortunately, Google provides methods of filtering your Web searches so that you can narrow your results down to the Web sites that are most helpful to you.

You can set your Google search preferences by going to http://www.google.im/preferences?hl=en.

This will take you to a page that allows you to choose from a number of search options. Google will place a cookie on your computer to remember the preference settings that you choose.

Search Language

Languages Search Language

Under languages the first preference option that you can set is Google’s Interface Language. This is simple the language that Google displays its messages and tips in when you visit the Google Web site. It does not have any bearing on the language of your search results. Google’s default interface language is English.

The next choice is Search Language setting. It can be a wonderful resource for foreign language teachers. You can ask Google to return Web sites in the language that your class is studying. It provides a way for students to apply their language skills in an activity that many of them enjoy already—surfing the Internet.

A wonderful resource for foreign language teachers.

SafeSearch Filtering

SafeSearch lets you exclude explicit Web sites, language, and images

from the searches performed on your computer.

Filter Google Searches SafeSearch Filtering is very important for a school environment. SafeSearch lets you exclude explicit Websites, language, and images from the searches performed on your computer.

Moderate filtering is the default, and it excludes explicit images from search results.

Strict Filtering excludes both explicit images and content. Choosing no filtering turns off SafeSearch.

No filter is 100% dependable. SafeSearch eliminate most of the inappropriate material, but it’s not a substitute for monitoring students’ Internet activity. It only filters Google search results.

Filter Google Searches Advanced Search

This option allow you to very narrowly define your search criteria to ensure that you find the most relevant Web sites. You can Google what you want to find, web sites that contain all of your keywords, or an exact phrase. You can also specify that you don’t want to view Web sites that contain words. Finally, you can use the advanced search option to search for results within a particular Web site.

Advance Search

~ typed before an English word will search pages including the term and its synonym words.

“ Phrase Search - Quotations around a set of words consider the exact words in that exact order.

+ and – signs can be used to force inclusion or exclusion of search terms.

Site Command – search for terms on a site. Ex: Iraq site:.gov

* Asterisk serves as a wildcard in a search when you aren’t sure what you’re searching for. If you wanted to find out who said, “Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.” You might use an asterisk like this.

* Fill in the blanks Ex: Obama voted * on the * bill

OR operator Ex: Dallas Cowboys 2004 OR 2005, (without the OR pages with both years will show. AND operator is the default.

Common File Types in Google Ex: presidents filetype:___

Adobe Flash (.swf)

Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf)

Adobe PostScript (.ps)

Google Earth (.kml, .kmz) HTML (.htm, .html, other file extensions)

Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx)

Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx)

Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx).

OpenOffice presentation (.odp)

OpenOffice spreadsheet (.ods)

OpenOffice text (.odt)

Rich Text Format (.rtf, .wri)

Text (.txt, .text, other file extensions), including source code in common programming languages

Wireless Markup Language (.wml, .wap) XML (.xml)

Resources

Simplyk12.com

http://www.teachhub.com/100-google-tricks-teachers

Google help