Locating Resources on the Internet

Using Directories and Web Search Engines

You will read information about and practice using directories, search engines, and meta search engines to conduct research on the Internet to find resources for your lessons.

Understanding Directories and Search Engines

A. Using Directories

If you seek general information on a broad topic or want to explore different areas of a broad topic, use a Web directory. Directories are arranged by subject and usually include return links to the top level of the directory’s Web site rather than to pages within the Web site. Users of directories often begin searches by selecting a broad category and then narrowing their focus step by step. For example, a user searching for general information on the Civil War might first begin with the category Social Sciences, then narrowing the choices by clicking through the subcategories of History, US History, By Time Period, 19th Century, Military History, then Civil War or simply typing in the search term of Civil War. If one directory does not give you satisfactory results, try another one. Results often vary widely from one directory to another because sites included in each category are hand-selected by people rather than by machines.

Examples of directories are:

The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org

The Open Directory
http://dmoz.org/

WebBrain
http://www.webbrain.com

Yahoo!
http://www.yahoo.com

Yahooligans!
http://www.yahooligans.com


B. Using Search Engines

If you want very specific information on a search topic and you know the appropriate titles, phrases, or technical language, use a search engine, meta search engines, or specialty search engine. Search engines computers continually visit Web sites on the Internet in order to create catalog of Web pages. In most cases, search engines are best used to locate a specific piece of information such as a known document, image, or phrase, rather than a general subject.

For information on specific search engines and how to use them, visit:

Search Engine Watch
http://www.searchenginewatch.com


Examples of Search Engines:

All the Web
http://www.alltheweb.com

AltaVista
http://www.altavista.com

Excite
http://www.excite.com

Google
http://www.google.com


C. Using Meta Search Engines

If you want to search multiple databases simultaneously for difficult to find information, use a meta search engine. It retrieves results from various databases and gives consolidated report of its findings.

Examples of meta search engines:

Ask
http://www.ask.com

Dogpile
http://www.dogpile.com

Metacrawler
http://www.metacrawler.com

Vivisimo Clustering Engine
http://vivisimo.com/

D. Using Kid-Friendly Search Engines and Directories

Searches using these search engines and directories will result in student-appropriate sites. All sites are hand-picked for suitability for children.

Ask for Kids
http://www.askforkids.com/

An editor selects each web site included in Ask Jeeves for Kids. Only “G-rated” pages and those written specifically for children are included. Most appropriate for children up to age 13.

Awesome Library
http://www.awesomelibrary.org/

Awesome Library organizes the Web with 19 000 carefully reviewed resources. Includes a search engine as well as directory arranged by school subjects. Appropriate for all ages.

Kids Click!
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/kidsclick!

Created by a group of librarians. Appropriate for children to approximately 13.

Kid’s Search Tools
http://www.rcls.org/ksearch.htm

A great one-page starting point for student research.

LycosZone
http://www.lycoszone.com/

A variety of resources for kids, as well as a search engine.



Super-Kids
http://www.super-kids.com/

Super-Kids reviews each site before including it in their database. Appropriate for elementary grade students.

Yahooligans
http://www.yahooligans.com/

Sites selected by the yahoo! Inc. staff. Appropriate for ages 7 to 12.

E. Using Specialty Search Engines

If you are looking for specialized information, you may want to use a specialty search engine.

GovSpot
http://www.govspot.com/

Govspot.com is a non-partisan government information portal designed to simplify the search for the best and most relevant government information online.

Language Tools
http://www.itools.com/lang/

Includes dictionaries, thesauri, and language translators. Language translator includes individual word translations for 199 different languages, as well as a Web page translator. Translate a Web page on-the-fly (seven languages supported).

MedHunt
http://www.hon.ch/MedHunt/

Index of medical information. Searches can be narrowed by region.

Moreover
http://w.moreover.com

A search engine that gathers information from major, regional, and international news sources. Comprehensive coverage on any topic, delivered within 15 minutes of publication or posting on the original site.

Research It!
http://www.itools.com/

Specialty search tools to find people, quotations, maps, facts, currency converters, stock quotes, zip codes, etc.




Refining Internet Search

When conducting an Internet Search, it is useful to start with a broad concept and to narrow as you begin to find information. Computerized search mechanisms are based on Boolean Logic, named after George Boole, a 19th-Century English mathematician who devised a new system for analyzing variables. It is helpful to know Boolean logic when doing Internet research. Remember, each search engine is different. You may want to check the search engine’s help page before beginning your search.

Using Boolean Logic

When conducting a search, you may end up with too many choices or the wrong results. Some search engines allow you to narrow your search by using the Boolean logic. Boolean logic consists of three logical operators: AND, OR, and NOT.

AND requires all terms to appear in a record
OR retrieves records with either term
NOT excludes terms

Sample searches using Boolean logic:

Bat NOT baseball
Mammal AND bat NOT baseball

Using Simplified Boolean Logic

Some search engines allow you to designate the most important words within your search by inserting a + (plus sign) immediately before the most important words. Conversely, inserting a – (minus sign) immediately before a word excludes it.

+mammal +bat – baseball


Searching by Phrase

If you are looking for an exact phrase or string of words, enclose the phrase within quotation marks.

Examples of a search using quotation marks:

“four score and seven years ago”
“genetic diversity”
+”gold rush”+California
Using Truncation

If you want to expand your search to include a specified word root with different word endings, enter the first part of a key word (word root), and insert a symbol, usually * (asterisk)

Example of a search using truncation:

dictat* (retrieves dictator, dictated, and dictation)

EDIGITECH STUDENTS (Monday and Wednesday)

Dear students:

I have attached documents related to Curriculum-Framing Questions and Assessments.in my Edigitech Multiply account. Log on to http://edigitech.multiply.com/ and download attachments in the blog entitled Materials on Curriculum Framing Questions, Instructional Strategies, Learning Objectivesand Assessment.

The Middle Term Examination is scheduled on September 6 (Mon) and 8 (Wed) respectively. The coverage is Educational Objectives, Curriculum Framing Questions, Instructional Strategies and Assessment.

Please print an updated/revised copy of your Unit Plan and submit it before the MidTerm Examination.

Goodluck.

Mr.Zacarias

My Blog....

Good day!

Dear Students:

I have not yet finalized the activities that you are supposed to accomplish . Likewise, I have not yet uploaded the materials and the links that I want to share. Kindly check this site again on Tuesday, August 31 for details. My apology.

Thank you and God bless!

Sir Zac
August 27, 2010

Module 2 - Activity 1

FOR EDIGITECH STUDENTS: WED 11:00-2:00 PM SJH 706
August 4, 2010

Introduction:

Save a copy of the Unit Plan Template ( from Module 1 Activity 1)in your Unit Plan Folder. Rename it based on your Unit (example, “A Unit Plan on Logarithmic Functions”)

Be sure you have identified and chosen a Unit within your area of specialization for your Unit Plan for this course.

Activity 1 -Addressing Standards

In a project-based or student-centered learning environment, students show they are meeting standards through products or performances by:
• Applying knowledge in meaningful ways
• Solving engaging problems
• Convincing others that they understand the material

Standards-based projects require students to delve deeply into content.

Step 1: Identifying Standards

Review the Standards (BEC/2010 Curriculum) and Objectives Rubric available in the Portfolio Assessment folder on the Curriculum Resource CD. (Standards in the Curriculum are US-based. Refer to your copy of BEC instead)

• Open your Unit Plan.
• Open your BEC file or 2010 Curriculum for First Year (National Standards) whichever is applicable.
• Copy and paste potential standards into your Unit Plan.
Step 2: Creating Learning Objectives
• Using the Standards and Objectives Rubric as a guide, create learning objectives from your identified standards

• Optional:
– Paste your objectives into the “Identifying Thinking Skill Words” document located in the Module 2, Activity 1 folder on the Curriculum Resource CD to identify words based on the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy and 21st century skills words.

OR
– Paste your objectives into the text area of the Verbinator Web site to scan for verbs from the original Bloom’s Taxonomy:
• www.studenthub.org/verbinator/default.php*

• Revise objectives as needed

***Save your initial draft of Unit Plan ( Accomplish Unit Author ,Unit Overview and Unit Foundation – (Targeted Content Standards and Benchmarks (From BEC) and Learning Objectives/Outcomes Only). Do not fill out Curriculum Framing Questions and the succeeding Portions)

In case time will not permit you to finish Activity 1, just continue the task as your assignment. Save a copy on your USB or attach it in your email so that you can revise or continue during the week.We will have a recapping and redirecting of tasks next meeting. If you have questions, reserve them next meeting or write a comment to this blog entry. Goodluck!

Blogging My Journey - Module 1

Dear Students:

Please review the following guiding questions and key points of the module and then reflect on your learning in your personal blog:
Module Questions
1. How can projects help my students meet standards and develop 21st Century skills?
2. How can I use projects to enhance student learning?

Module 1 Key Points

• Research on learning and teaching indicates the importance of in-depth coverage of important subject matter, big ideas to organize understanding, ongoing assessment and purposeful authentic tasks
• Projects concentrate on scenarios that provide rich learning opportunities. They involve students in problem solving investigations and other meaningful tasks. Projects establish connections to life outside the classroom and address real world concerns
• The steps for designing projects include (1) Determining specific learning goals (2) Developing Curriculun Framing Questions; (3) Making an assessment Plan and (4) Desigining activities.