Four Ways to Search the Internet (Idea from Tom Snyder Productions Professional Development)

Assignment: Try out at least 2 sites listed as examples in each category below.
If you want to know more, Visit the Search Engine Watch for more and up to date information about search engines. Also learn about other Web Search Engines here.

Use Category Searches to browse through various categories (like a card catalog in the library). Click on the heading topics to browse or surf through the information.

• hierarchical; resources organized by topic and subtopic
• fewer resources, not as overwhelming as getting thousands of returns from a search
• resources are collected and reviewed by people
• often include annotations and reviews
• Internet Search Tools-Quick Reference Guide
  
• Examples
  • Yahoo One of the most popular Internet search pages. (This page also has a keyword search).
  • Yahooligans Kids version of Yahoo, it filters inappropriate material.

Use Keyword Searches to find information (some of these also have category searches). Type in a keyword and see what you find. It is best to start very specific and move to more general if that doesn't find what you need.

• This is the most common way to search the Internet, but it can also be the most frustrating.
• resources collected by computer programs called spiders or robots
• have various rules for searching - read the help or tips - i.e. "put a phrase in quotes" to search for the phrase in some search engines
• Internet Search Tools-Quick Reference Guide
  
• Examples
  • Alta Vista
  • Ask Jeeves for Kids! Type a question, get an answer! This is my second favorite.
  • Dogpile (searches several other engines)
  • Excite
  • Google My current favorite. Clean and precise.
  • HotBot
  • Kids Search Tools
  • Lycos
  • Yahoo (generates the greatest amount of e-commerce traffic - most popular search engine)

Use Specialized Search Engines and category lists that search only specific areas of information (some of those below are paid resources)

• scope is limited by factors such as topic, time, geography, or other factors
• can be much more effective than a general search engine
• Internet Search Tools-Quick Reference Guide
  
• Examples
  • An overview and listing of specialized search engines
  • The Amazing Picture Machine (search for graphics on the web)
  • Ask An Expert: Main Menu List of experts you can ask questions on many many topics!
  • Beaucoup A "big" listing of search engines.
  • Bible Gateway
  • BibleInfo.com
  • BigFoot Email address white pages.
  • Circle Curriculum Resource Center Linking Educators
  • CyberHymnal
    • SDA Digital Hymnal
  • Education World (TM) Search Engine
  • EGWhite Estate
  • Library of Congress
  • Pics4Learning Search for copyright friendly images.
  • Search.com lets you search for special search engines in your area of interest.
  • Shareware.com searches for shareware and freeware.

Use Compilations of Web Resources compiled by other people

• other people, often other educators, have done the work
• a great place to start
  
• Examples
  • BCISD's Classroom Resources page includes lists of Reference material, Subject Area pages, Resources for Teachers, and much more. These are compiled by Kevin Clark and Janine Lim, Instructional Technology Consultants.
  • The CEARCH Virtual Schoolhouse from Sunsite. Lots of useful links.
  • Educator's Toolkit Lots of lists of useful information, including some on thematic units. Check out the Teacher's Desk ring at the bottom of the page (page for educators by educators)
  • ERIC's lesson plan page Lots here!
  • The Gateway to Educational Materials "provides the key to one-stop, any-stop access to high quality Internet lesson plans, curriculum units and other education resources."
  • Houghton Mifflin's Project Watch Lots of projects by subject area.
  • Learning in Motion's Top Ten List of web sites.
  • Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators An educator created page with incredible resources.
  • Project Registry from Global SchoolNet. Check out the Internet projects listed!
  • Score California's list of sites for various topics. Some very nicely done CyberGuides with lessons and activities to go with the content area.
  • TrackStar A site that guides a student through a collection of sites. Annotations and questions accompany each site. Collections of sites for all subject and grade levels.
  • Webliography Internet subject guides by librarians. Compact and precise.