Internet searchingInternet searchingSome tips to make you better, quicker, Some tips to make you better, quicker, & more accurate on the web.& more accurate on the web.

Leonie DyasonLeonie DyasonTeacher-Librarian & eLearning Co-ord.Teacher-Librarian & eLearning Co-ord.http://ecafemsc.globalteacher.org.au/ http://ecafemsc.globalteacher.org.au/

Use a Use a favouritefavourite search engine to search engine to look up your topic.look up your topic.

Use a good Use a good KEYWORDKEYWORD to find your to find your answersanswers

www.clusty.com

www.ask.com

www.google.com.au

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/

1.1. When using a two word search. When using a two word search.

When doing a two word search use a “When doing a two word search use a “++” or “” or “--” in ” in front of a word to add or exclude the word in front of a word to add or exclude the word in your search, eg.your search, eg.

indonesia +bird indonesia +bird will look for bothwill look for both

indonesia –bird indonesia –bird will look for everything will look for everything exceptexcept

birdbird

2. Using “s” on the ends of words 2. Using “s” on the ends of words needs careful thought.needs careful thought.

When looking for an item NEVER add the “s” to When looking for an item NEVER add the “s” to make it plural unless you only want that term. make it plural unless you only want that term. Use a “Use a “**” at the end of the word to get BOTH the ” at the end of the word to get BOTH the singular and plural words. Some search engines singular and plural words. Some search engines will look for both every time, but check it out first.will look for both every time, but check it out first.

festival*festival* will look for will look for festivalfestival andand festivalsfestivals..

3. If looking for a phrase place the 3. If looking for a phrase place the phrase in phrase in ““double double

quotesquotes””

Use this when looking for Use this when looking for – a name, eg “robert pattinson”a name, eg “robert pattinson”

– a poem’s title “who’ll come a waltzing”a poem’s title “who’ll come a waltzing”

– some “some “copiedcopied” work from your draft notes to help with ” work from your draft notes to help with a bibliography entry you forgot to collect! a bibliography entry you forgot to collect!

4. aallwwaayyss use lower case4. aallwwaayyss use lower case

The computer usually looks for The computer usually looks for exactlyexactly what you what you enter. Sooooo use lower case, and you will get enter. Sooooo use lower case, and you will get both CAPITALS and lower case words [correct both CAPITALS and lower case words [correct spelling is also important!]spelling is also important!]

eg. Type into search engine eg GOOGLEeg. Type into search engine eg GOOGLErobert pattinson ~ robert pattinson ~ and check the results and check the results

Results Results 11 - - 1010 of about of about 19,300,00019,300,000 for for robertrobert pattinson pattinson. . ((0.150.15 seconds) seconds)

Robert Pattinson ~ Robert Pattinson ~ and check the resultsand check the results

Results Results 11 - - 1010 of about of about 19,300,00019,300,000 for for RobertRobert Pattinson Pattinson. . ((0.110.11 seconds) seconds) robert pattrobert pattererson ~ son ~ and check the resultsand check the results

Results Results 11 - - 1010 of about of about 4,280,0004,280,000 for for robertrobert pattersonpatterson. . ((0.100.10 seconds) seconds)

5.5. Use your favourite search engine’s Use your favourite search engine’s links to save lots of time.links to save lots of time.

imag

esvid

eosmaps

newsMore -> blogs, youtube, ….

GOOGLE Web 2.0 links

GOOGLE Web 2.0 links

5.1 Google options 5.1 Google options – – Wonder wheelWonder wheel

Then select which set of information you really want, and click on that link – see what it does to the list of records – saves serious “googling time”. [dare I say this could be an index to the sites?]

Check out Wonder wheel for a serious time saver!

5.2 Google options 5.2 Google options – – Time lineTime line

Ever wanted to know when the data you are reading was “printed”, or added to the internet? You can check out the decade it was added, and get specific about what decade you want to investigate further.

5.3 Google options – 5.3 Google options – SquaredSquared

Check out - Check out - www.google.com/squaredwww.google.com/squared

[no .au on google][no .au on google]

This feature gives you a grid of facts from the This feature gives you a grid of facts from the web for any topic you want. A good example web for any topic you want. A good example is “bushrangers australian”.is “bushrangers australian”.

Those students who know how to do this will be able to hand in “treasure Those students who know how to do this will be able to hand in “treasure hunt” activities every readily.hunt” activities every readily.

6. Link to more good sites with google.6. Link to more good sites with google.

Use Use ““link:link:”” in in http:www.google.comhttp:www.google.com to a to a favourite site to see if there are any other good favourite site to see if there are any other good sites attached to this site.sites attached to this site.

Eg. link:indonesia.elga.net.id/travel.html Eg. link:indonesia.elga.net.id/travel.html

Use this technique to find out just who is linking Use this technique to find out just who is linking to the sites you like (maybe they are influencing to the sites you like (maybe they are influencing the content?!) Who links to the College the content?!) Who links to the College website?website?

7. Use Title links in google.7. Use Title links in google.

When looking for sites that are mainly about When looking for sites that are mainly about your topic use your topic use title:title: before your search term, before your search term, eg.eg.

title:indonesia title:indonesia

This will search the web only at the This will search the web only at the title linetitle line – – most sites use their main topic in their webs most sites use their main topic in their webs title line.title line.

8. What if you only want Australian 8. What if you only want Australian sites?sites?

To do this just type To do this just type “ “ .au”.au” at the end of your search, or in google click at the end of your search, or in google click on the “pages from Australia” button.on the “pages from Australia” button.

For example: For example: convicts .auconvicts .auwill give you ???? hits and mostly gives you will give you ???? hits and mostly gives you better sites to look at if you are doing Australian better sites to look at if you are doing Australian convict history.convict history.

9. To find a particular file 9. To find a particular file typetype

java java +Filetype:ppt+Filetype:pptwill give you sites that are powerpointswill give you sites that are powerpoints

ororfrog +indonesia frog +indonesia +Filetype:gif+Filetype:gif

Will give you pictures only.Will give you pictures only.

10. Check out other special features of 10. Check out other special features of search engines.search engines.

– CalculateCalculate– Convert currency. Eg. 3.5 USD in GBPConvert currency. Eg. 3.5 USD in GBP– Define words, eg define: WWWDefine words, eg define: WWW– I’m feeling lucky in googleI’m feeling lucky in google– Map, weather, picture, factsMap, weather, picture, facts– Time zonesTime zones– igoogle page [best thing!]igoogle page [best thing!]

11. Other Web 2.0 sites to use.11. Other Web 2.0 sites to use.

This site will create a tag cloud of your text. This site will create a tag cloud of your text.

The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and colour clouds with different fonts, layouts, and colour schemes. The images you create with Wordle are schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them with JING (or print screen button), or or save them with JING (or print screen button), or save them to the Wordle gallery to share.save them to the Wordle gallery to share.

11.1 www.wordle.net11.1 www.wordle.net

Imagine by John LennonImagine by John Lennon

http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine.htm

11.2 Wallwisher.11.2 Wallwisher.http://www.wallwisher.com/http://www.wallwisher.com/

This site is a free collaborative noticeboard tool. Go to my Web2 wall at This site is a free collaborative noticeboard tool. Go to my Web2 wall at http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/LDWeb2 http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/LDWeb2

This site can be used in many ways – just two areThis site can be used in many ways – just two are* Noticeboards* Noticeboards* Notetaking* Notetaking

12. Use databases hidden in the 12. Use databases hidden in the WWWWWW

Public library databases from GV Library Public library databases from GV Library http://http://www.gvrlc.vic.gov.auwww.gvrlc.vic.gov.au//

and State Library Victoriaand State Library Victoriahttp://www.slv.vic.gov.au/http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/

Join up as a member it is free – comes out of your taxes Join up as a member it is free – comes out of your taxes and rates.and rates.

Checkout Checkout webquestswebquests

http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/?p=42http://www.tommarch.com/ozblog/?p=42 Go to the online quiz Go to the online quiz [[No. No. 4.4. Take this online quiz Take this online quiz

about the Internet and see how many right answers you getabout the Internet and see how many right answers you get.].] and visit all the web resource links there – and visit all the web resource links there – remember to use some of the tips mentioned remember to use some of the tips mentioned earlier.earlier.

Checkout Checkout iRubriciRubric

RubricMachine RubricMachine – create rubrics (at the Landmarks for Schools website: – create rubrics (at the Landmarks for Schools website: http://landmark-project.com/rubric_builder/index.php ) Remember these? http://landmark-project.com/rubric_builder/index.php ) Remember these? Great site.Great site.

Checkout bibliography makersCheckout bibliography makers

Citation Machine – Citation Machine – http://citationmachine.net/ http://citationmachine.net/

This site takes all of the difficulty of a bibliography away from the This site takes all of the difficulty of a bibliography away from the students. All they need to do is students. All they need to do is CHOOSECHOOSE a style, a style, TYPETYPE in all in all the squares and the squares and COPY/PASTECOPY/PASTE the result into their the result into their bibliography. An oldie, but a goodie and in 4 styles.bibliography. An oldie, but a goodie and in 4 styles.

– MLA ~ Modern Languages Association bibliography style.MLA ~ Modern Languages Association bibliography style.– APA ~ American Psychological Association bibliography style.APA ~ American Psychological Association bibliography style.– TURABIAN ~ Turabian referencing for bibliographiesTURABIAN ~ Turabian referencing for bibliographies– CHICAGO ~ Chicago referencing for bibliographiesCHICAGO ~ Chicago referencing for bibliographies

Want to learn more Web 2.0 tools.Want to learn more Web 2.0 tools. http://c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/http://c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/

Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies is a Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies is a directory from the UK of Web 2.0 tools. directory from the UK of Web 2.0 tools.

It is divided into 22 categories of tools - 3,009 tools in total It is divided into 22 categories of tools - 3,009 tools in total with 2,282 free tools. The site also has links to learning with 2,282 free tools. The site also has links to learning programs for Web 2.0 and guidelines for use.programs for Web 2.0 and guidelines for use.

Leonie DyasonLeonie DyasonMooroopna Secondary CollegeMooroopna Secondary College

Teacher-Librarian & eLearning Co-ord.Teacher-Librarian & eLearning Co-ord.http://ecafemsc.globalteacher.org.au/http://ecafemsc.globalteacher.org.au/

http://xkcd.com/256/ Map available to http://xkcd.com/256/ Map available to purchase from this site is dated 2007.purchase from this site is dated 2007.

Map and blog note below from Strange Maps Map and blog note below from Strange Maps http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/ http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/

““Somewhat in the style of a treasure map, this ‘Somewhat in the style of a treasure map, this ‘Map of Online CommunitiesMap of Online Communities ’ shows MySpace, ’ shows MySpace, Wikipedia, SecondLife and other user-generated phenomena now populating the internet.Wikipedia, SecondLife and other user-generated phenomena now populating the internet.

The geography is not as random as one could assume at first glance. The geography is not as random as one could assume at first glance. Area and positionArea and position are significant. are significant. Thus, each community’s geographic area represents its estimated size, and the ‘compass-shaped Thus, each community’s geographic area represents its estimated size, and the ‘compass-shaped island’ gives clues as to what each quarter signifies:island’ gives clues as to what each quarter signifies:

North are more ‘practical’ communities, North are more ‘practical’ communities, South is for the ‘intellectuals’. South is for the ‘intellectuals’. West lies the communities with a ‘real life’ connection, West lies the communities with a ‘real life’ connection, East those with a focus on the web itself. East those with a focus on the web itself. This irresistible map has been floating around the web for a couple of weeks, but I’ve This irresistible map has been floating around the web for a couple of weeks, but I’ve held off posting itheld off posting it

until now.until now. Why? I’m a Why? I’m a map nerdmap nerd, dammit, not a computer geek! Of course, I know of MySpace and am not , dammit, not a computer geek! Of course, I know of MySpace and am not

surprised to see it occupy such a large and central part of the map. And sure, Wikipedia is on the surprised to see it occupy such a large and central part of the map. And sure, Wikipedia is on the intellectual extreme of the North-South axe. I can see why reunion dot com and classmates dot com intellectual extreme of the North-South axe. I can see why reunion dot com and classmates dot com would be far northwest (being practical for tracking down real life people).would be far northwest (being practical for tracking down real life people).

But what is Source Forge, and in which way is it ‘intellectual’ and ‘web-solipsistic’ since it is situated on But what is Source Forge, and in which way is it ‘intellectual’ and ‘web-solipsistic’ since it is situated on the other, southeastern extreme of the map? Why is there a Bay of Angst right next to Xanga? And what the other, southeastern extreme of the map? Why is there a Bay of Angst right next to Xanga? And what is Xanga? Is Sulawesi a reference to the “IRL” island in the Indonesian archipelago (it has the right is Xanga? Is Sulawesi a reference to the “IRL” island in the Indonesian archipelago (it has the right shape – sort of), or am I shape – sort of), or am I missing some nerdy in-jokemissing some nerdy in-joke here? Why are there anthropomorphic dragons here? Why are there anthropomorphic dragons near the Ocean of Subculture?near the Ocean of Subculture?

Very frustratingly, almost nothing on this map makes sense to me! Very frustratingly, almost nothing on this map makes sense to me! Oh, the horrorOh, the horror!! The original location of this map is at xkcd, a web comic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language. The original location of this map is at xkcd, a web comic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

Overwhelmed (and overjoyed, I suspect) by the success of their map, they’re now selling it as a poster.”Overwhelmed (and overjoyed, I suspect) by the success of their map, they’re now selling it as a poster.”