I thought I was net-savvy and competent at searching for
information. As I work my way through my Masters in Teacher Librarianship, I am
learning that my Internet capabilities are not quite what I thought them to be.
It now appears, after having explored tutorials and you-tube videos, that I was
not quite as search savvy as I thought, and that there is actually a whole lot
more to search engines such as Google than I ever imagined.
Like many people, I automatically go to Google when wanting
to search for something on the net. I know there are many different search engines available, but I have to admit, that I find Google reliable, comfortable and
easy to use. Occasionally, I will search for results past the first page. More often than not though, I will refine my
search results simply through rephrasing my search terms. I have frequently
employed just basic search tools to locate my information.
The Google tutorials located at Google search education (http://www.google.com.au/insidesearch/searcheducation/training.html)
contain a number of tutorials that can enhance your knowledge, skills and
understanding in using the numerous search functions that Google has to offer.
While I was familiar with the use of the advanced search option, I was quite
ignorant of the search operators can be employed on the basic search page.
Functions such as locating exact phrases, specific links, sites, filetypes and number ranges
all contribute to making your search more refined and targeted. Instead of a
results list in the millions, you can refine your search results down to
hundreds, locating the websites and information that directly meet your search
needs. Being familiar with these operators and actively employing them in your
search, makes you a much more efficient and critically literate search engine
user. A full list of Google search operators can be found here https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/136861,
a worthwhile link to keep handy, as well as this one https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433
that explains how punctuation and symbols are used in a Google search.
Google also provides a range of search filter tools on the
basic search page as well as for criteria based search pages such as Google
maps and Google images. These search tools enable you to specify key
information such as date range, reading level and specific country. You can
filter images through size, colour and usage rights; videos for duration,
quality and source.
There are now a range of Google products available that can
be used to enhance your online search experience from specialized search
operators such as Google scholar for academic search, to home and office
capabilities with operators such as Google Drive (create, share, keep all your
stuff in one place). Taking the time to work through some of the Google search
education tutorials can build your skills very quickly, helping to guide
through the range of Functions and tools these Google products provide.
Taking the time also, to explore other search engines and their capabilities (there is a great list of alternative search engines here http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html)
can be useful to, especially in pinpointing a search engine that works best for your colleagues / your students and their information search needs.
Taking the time also, to explore other search engines and their capabilities (there is a great list of alternative search engines here http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html)
can be useful to, especially in pinpointing a search engine that works best for your colleagues / your students and their information search needs.
One thing is for sure – there is a wealth of information out
there waiting for us to find it. Understanding the tricks of the trade – the
tools that are in place to help us be efficient navigators of the internet - is
key knowledge that all net users, librarians or otherwise, should be employing
with every search that we do.
