Internet Searching Internet Searching Strategies/Techniques Strategies/Techniques

for Latin Teachers: for Latin Teachers:

A Guide to Finding What You A Guide to Finding What You Want on the InternetWant on the Internet

Presented by: Kate Lucia and Allan Presented by: Kate Lucia and Allan CollinsCollins

What is a “Search Engine”?What is a “Search Engine”?

► According to the American According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a Heritage Dictionary, a search search engineengine is: is:"1. a software program that "1. a software program that searches a database and gathers  searches a database and gathers  and reports information that and reports information that contains or is related to specified contains or is related to specified terms, 2. a website whose terms, 2. a website whose primary function is providing a primary function is providing a search engine for gathering and search engine for gathering and reporting information available on reporting information available on the Internet or a portion of the the Internet or a portion of the Internet"                                        Internet"                                                                           ----http://www.bartleby.comhttp://www.bartleby.com

Meaning….Meaning….

► It is a computer program that matches your It is a computer program that matches your search terms to WebPages or documents search terms to WebPages or documents that are available in the Internet. that are available in the Internet.

►Examples: Examples: www.yahoo.comwww.yahoo.com

www.google.comwww.google.com

www.altavista.comwww.altavista.com

www.alltheweb.comwww.alltheweb.com

Meta-Search EnginesMeta-Search Engines

► Meta-search engines:Meta-search engines:"In a meta-search engine, "In a meta-search engine, you submit keywords in its you submit keywords in its search box, and it transmits search box, and it transmits your search simultaneously your search simultaneously to several individual search to several individual search engines and their databases engines and their databases of web pages.  Within a few of web pages.  Within a few seconds, you get back seconds, you get back several results from all the several results from all the search engines search engines queried.”                              queried.”                                                                                                                                --        --http://www.lib.berkeley.eduhttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu

► In other words, a meta-In other words, a meta-search engine searches search engine searches other search engines for other search engines for results for your query.results for your query.

► Examples:Examples:www.ixquick.comwww.ixquick.comwww.metacrawler.comwww.metacrawler.comwww.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/

Links for more information about Links for more information about

Meta-Search Engines:Meta-Search Engines:

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/seahttp://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/search/searchint.htmlrch/searchint.html

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/seahttp://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/search/moresearch.htmlrch/moresearch.html

KeywordsKeywords

►Keywords: Keywords: According to the American Heritage According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a Dictionary, a keyword keyword is:is:

"a descriptive word; a word used as a "a descriptive word; a word used as a reference point reference point for finding other words or for finding other words or information"information"

                                                                        ----http://www.bartleby.comhttp://www.bartleby.com

► In other words, they are the words that you In other words, they are the words that you want the search engine to look for in a want the search engine to look for in a document.document.

StrategiesStrategies

► Searching Strategies:Searching Strategies:

When searching using a search engine or a meta-search engine, When searching using a search engine or a meta-search engine, using using keywordskeywords and and search terms search terms is the easiest way to search.  is the easiest way to search.  Here are some strategies that will help you to be successful in Here are some strategies that will help you to be successful in your searching:your searching:

► Use the most obvious terms for your search.  For example, if you want Use the most obvious terms for your search.  For example, if you want to find facts about Roman gods, use "Roman gods" as your search to find facts about Roman gods, use "Roman gods" as your search terms. terms.

► Try not be too general.  If you want to find facts about Roman gods, Try not be too general.  If you want to find facts about Roman gods, don't use "Romans" as your search terms.  Add "gods" to make it don't use "Romans" as your search terms.  Add "gods" to make it specific enough. specific enough.

► If you want very specific information, try the specific terms first.  If If you want very specific information, try the specific terms first.  If you aren't successful, try making the search terms broader.  For you aren't successful, try making the search terms broader.  For example, if "Roman dinners" isn't successful, try "Roman dining". example, if "Roman dinners" isn't successful, try "Roman dining".

► If you don't get the results that you want, try a different search engine If you don't get the results that you want, try a different search engine or meta-search engine.  They don't all search the same sites and or meta-search engine.  They don't all search the same sites and databases. databases.

Advanced Techniques, Advanced Techniques, a.k.a. “Librarians’ Tricks of the Trade”a.k.a. “Librarians’ Tricks of the Trade”

► When using search engines, use the “Advanced Search” feature to When using search engines, use the “Advanced Search” feature to cut cut down on the number of “hits” that you get. (down on the number of “hits” that you get. (www.google.comwww.google.com, , www.metacrawler.comwww.metacrawler.com))

► If you want a picture or image, click on the “Images” tab to search If you want a picture or image, click on the “Images” tab to search pictures only (pictures only (www.altavista.comwww.altavista.com))

► Use “” to surround phrases so that the search engine searches for Use “” to surround phrases so that the search engine searches for those those exact phrases, otherwise the engine will search for the exact phrases, otherwise the engine will search for the

words words individuallyindividually► Most search engines have stop words like “a,an,the, and, or”. Use a Most search engines have stop words like “a,an,the, and, or”. Use a

+ or – symbol to force the engine to include those words in + or – symbol to force the engine to include those words in your your search. search.

► Remember that search engines and meta-search engines search for Remember that search engines and meta-search engines search for keywords, not keywords, not ideasideas. If the words you enter aren’t in the . If the words you enter aren’t in the

page/site page/site you won’t get the results you want.you won’t get the results you want.► Play with several search engines to decide which one is best for you.Play with several search engines to decide which one is best for you.► More search tips:More search tips:

http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/lesson7.htmlhttp://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/lesson7.html

A Closer Look…A Closer Look…

►Here is a closer look at some popular Here is a closer look at some popular search engines:search engines: GoogleGoogle YahooYahoo AltavistaAltavista AllthewebAlltheweb

Foreign Language Teaching Foreign Language Teaching Sites/ResourcesSites/Resources

► http://www.cortland.edu/flteach/flteach-res.htmlhttp://www.cortland.edu/flteach/flteach-res.html FL FL Teach: Foreign Language Teaching Forum from SUNY Teach: Foreign Language Teaching Forum from SUNY CortlandCortland

► http://www.fln.vcu.edu/ld/ld.html Instant Access: The http://www.fln.vcu.edu/ld/ld.html Instant Access: The Foreign Language Teacher’s Guide to Learning Foreign Language Teacher’s Guide to Learning DisabilitiesDisabilities

► http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/eslsp.html Foreign http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/eslsp.html Foreign Language Lesson Plans and ResourcesLanguage Lesson Plans and Resources

► http://www.education-world.com/foreign_lang/ http://www.education-world.com/foreign_lang/ Education World’s Foreign Language CenterEducation World’s Foreign Language Center

► http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/classroom/spanish.shtml Education World’s Spanish classroom/spanish.shtml Education World’s Spanish PagePage

► http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/classroom/french.shtml Education World’s French Pageclassroom/french.shtml Education World’s French Page

Foreign Language Teaching Foreign Language Teaching Sites/Resources (continued…)Sites/Resources (continued…)

► http://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/classroom/latin.shttp://www.educationworld.com/foreign_lang/classroom/latin.shtmlhtml Education World’s Latin Page Education World’s Latin Page

► http://www.educationindex.com/language/ Education Index’s http://www.educationindex.com/language/ Education Index’s Language ResourcesLanguage Resources

► http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listspanish.html http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listspanish.html Hot Internet Sites ¡en Español! Hot Internet Sites ¡en Español! An Internet Hotlist on Spanish ResourcesAn Internet Hotlist on Spanish Resources

► http://aix1.uottawa.ca/~weinberg/french.html Ressources en http://aix1.uottawa.ca/~weinberg/french.html Ressources en français langue seconde français langue seconde Resources for Students and Teachers of French as a Second Resources for Students and Teachers of French as a Second LanguageLanguage

► http://7-12educators.about.com/cs/foreignfrench/index.htm http://7-12educators.about.com/cs/foreignfrench/index.htm French Language Resources (careful…lot’s of pop-ups!)French Language Resources (careful…lot’s of pop-ups!)

► http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/world/worldrw.html http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/world/worldrw.html Discovery School.com’s Kathy Schrock Guide for EducatorsDiscovery School.com’s Kathy Schrock Guide for Educators

► http://www.academicinfo.net/lang.html Academic Info Foreign http://www.academicinfo.net/lang.html Academic Info Foreign Language StudyLanguage Study

Foreign Language Teaching Foreign Language Teaching Sites/Resources (continued…again)Sites/Resources (continued…again)

► http://http://www.cal.org/ericcll/faqs/rgos/flint.htmlwww.cal.org/ericcll/faqs/rgos/flint.html ERIC/CLL ERIC/CLL Resource Guides Online Internet Resources for Foreign Resource Guides Online Internet Resources for Foreign Language Teachers by Kathleen Marcos, ERIC Clearinghouse Language Teachers by Kathleen Marcos, ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguisticson Languages and Linguistics

► http://depts.washington.edu/trio/comp/reference/resources/http://depts.washington.edu/trio/comp/reference/resources/foreign.shtml TRIO ThinkQuest Reference: Foreign Language foreign.shtml TRIO ThinkQuest Reference: Foreign Language and Traveland Travel

► http://www.eduhound.com/ EduHounds references for Latinhttp://www.eduhound.com/ EduHounds references for Latin► http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/bjpinchbeck/http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/bjpinchbeck/

bjforeign.html BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helperbjforeign.html BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper► http://www.ket.org/Education/IN/resources.html#forlang from http://www.ket.org/Education/IN/resources.html#forlang from

Kentucky Educational Television Kentucky Educational Television ► http://www.du.edu/issa/foreignlanguage.html University of http://www.du.edu/issa/foreignlanguage.html University of

DenverDenver

The Invisible WebThe Invisible Web

► The Invisible (Hidden) Web is comprised of sites, The Invisible (Hidden) Web is comprised of sites, databases, clearinghouses, digital libraries, and databases, clearinghouses, digital libraries, and other information that search engines don’t “see”other information that search engines don’t “see”

► Some Invisible Web resources are:Some Invisible Web resources are: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/InvisibleWeb.htmhttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/InvisibleWeb.htm

ll Explanation of the invisible web and links to invisible web sites from Univ. Explanation of the invisible web and links to invisible web sites from Univ. of Berkeley of Berkeley

http://www.invisible-web.nethttp://www.invisible-web.net// http://lii.org/http://lii.org/ http://infomine.ucr.edu/http://infomine.ucr.edu/ http://www.profusion.com/http://www.profusion.com/ http://www.completeplanet.com/http://www.completeplanet.com/ http://library.rider.edu/scholarly/rlackie/Invisible/Inv_Web.htmlhttp://library.rider.edu/scholarly/rlackie/Invisible/Inv_Web.html

Invisible Web Databases (samples)Invisible Web Databases (samples)Taken from Taken from

http://library.rider.edu/scholarly/rlackie/Invisible/Inv_Web.htmlhttp://library.rider.edu/scholarly/rlackie/Invisible/Inv_Web.html ► AnimalSearchAnimalSearch (http://animalsearch.net/) (http://animalsearch.net/) - Database for family-safe animal-related sites. - Database for family-safe animal-related sites.

    ► ERICERIC (http://www.askeric.org/) (http://www.askeric.org/) - AskERIC contains the free, Web-based version of the ERIC Database, - AskERIC contains the free, Web-based version of the ERIC Database,

the world's largest source of education information, with more than 1 million abstracts of documents the world's largest source of education information, with more than 1 million abstracts of documents and journal articles on education research and practice. and journal articles on education research and practice.    

► NatureServeNatureServe Explorer Explorer (http://www.natureserve.org/explorer) - (http://www.natureserve.org/explorer) - Authoritative conservation info. on Authoritative conservation info. on 50,000+ plants, animals, & ecological communities" in USA & Canada. 50,000+ plants, animals, & ecological communities" in USA & Canada.    

► Nuclear Explosions DatabaseNuclear Explosions Database (http://www.agso.gov.au/databases/20010926_4.jsp) -  (http://www.agso.gov.au/databases/20010926_4.jsp) -  Australian Australian Geological Survey Organisation database of nuclear explosions (location, time, & size) around the world Geological Survey Organisation database of nuclear explosions (location, time, & size) around the world since 1945. since 1945.    

► On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer SequencesOn-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences  (http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/) -   (http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/) - "Type in a series of numbers and this database will complete the sequence and provide the sequence "Type in a series of numbers and this database will complete the sequence and provide the sequence name, along with its mathematical formula, structure, references, and links." name, along with its mathematical formula, structure, references, and links."    

► PubMedPubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi) - PubMed provides access to over 12 - PubMed provides access to over 12 million MEDLINE citations, including links to sites providing full text articles & related resources. You will million MEDLINE citations, including links to sites providing full text articles & related resources. You will also want to explore PubMed Central, an e-archive of full text articles in life sciences journal literature, also want to explore PubMed Central, an e-archive of full text articles in life sciences journal literature, offering unrestricted access to its contents. offering unrestricted access to its contents.    

► FindArticles.comFindArticles.com (http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/PI/index.jhtml) (http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/PI/index.jhtml) - FindArticles.com is a free, - FindArticles.com is a free, searchable Web archive of almost 500 published magazine and journal titles, 1998 to present. It searchable Web archive of almost 500 published magazine and journal titles, 1998 to present. It provides "articles that can be read in their entirety and printed at no cost."  provides "articles that can be read in their entirety and printed at no cost."  

Results: Points to ConsiderResults: Points to Consider

►When you get results from your search:When you get results from your search: Consider Precision v. RecallConsider Precision v. Recall

►Recall is the amount of relevant documents out of Recall is the amount of relevant documents out of all the possible documentsall the possible documents

►Precision is the relevant documents in retrieved Precision is the relevant documents in retrieved set out of all the documents in a retrieved setset out of all the documents in a retrieved set

►When recall is high, precision is lowWhen recall is high, precision is low►When precision is high, recall is lowWhen precision is high, recall is low►Decide which is more important for your search Decide which is more important for your search

needneed►Do you need a lot of information or a few highly Do you need a lot of information or a few highly

relevant items?relevant items?

Results: More ConsiderationsResults: More Considerations

►When you get your results, also think When you get your results, also think about:about: Authority: Who wrote the site? What are their Authority: Who wrote the site? What are their

credentials? URL’s ending in .gov, .edu, .mil, .org credentials? URL’s ending in .gov, .edu, .mil, .org tend to be more reliable than .comtend to be more reliable than .com (you can even (you can even search that way on Google’s Advanced Search page search that way on Google’s Advanced Search page Google Google ))

Remember that ANYONE can put information on the Remember that ANYONE can put information on the Internet! Be careful!Internet! Be careful!

Currency: How up-to-date is the information? Currency: How up-to-date is the information? Check to see if you can tell when the last time the Check to see if you can tell when the last time the site was updated.site was updated.

ConclusionConclusion

Information is easy to find on the Information is easy to find on the Internet and World Wide Web if you Internet and World Wide Web if you know know howhow to find it! to find it!

Try some of these tips and techniques Try some of these tips and techniques and see what you can do!!!and see what you can do!!!