How+to+Use+the+Internet

Google, Yahoo and other search engines will always be a students first call when it comes to researching. Google is branded so much and publicised that it is hard for students to think of anything else as a starting point. Despite the amount of information, and a lot of useless information students will always believe it is the best way. Don't destroy their way of thinking but curb it so that your students can get the maximum benefit Google and other search engines and their tools. According to The Los Angeles Times, "Most children consider a computer search second nature, so trying to give them instruction or advice can be difficult," (2010, para 7). Below are some ways to use search engines that will benefit the user.

Google, Yahoo
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**OR** || **[|www.google.com.au]** ||
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Google contains a vast amount of information. To use it wisely though, a lot of information can be weeded through by using some tools. The following image was taken from the advanced search button located to the right of the textbook where data is entered. Once there, you will find the screen below, some helpful hints have been added.

=**GOOGLE SCHOLAR**= A better search engine for academic information is Google Scholar. The advanced search is similar to the general Google page but with minor changes, such as authors and publishers can be named. Despite the promise of the search outcome being more reliable, Google Scholar is also American based, not good if only australian or other websites are the only ones required.

=GOOGLE'S WONDERFUL WONDERWHEEL= Another wonderful tool is WonderWheel. This tool is helpful when a subject is known but nothing or too many items come up with that heading and you need a more specific heading/subject line to work with. Simply type in the subject that you are looking for (e.g. cats) into the main Google page and then start your search. see the diagram below to see what to do next.



Then...





Inside Yahoo there are a few items that can help you better your search. Click on the[| link] to gather some ideas.

Compared to Google, it contains a lot more options. It also has an Advanced Search option but that only appears once you have searched. When you click on it a number of items appear.

1 - Similar to Google (see Google example) 2 - Each domain/site means something different. Site / Domain || Meaning || .com || General website. American (USA) website. || .edu || Educational website || .gov || Government website || .org || Organisation website (like QSuper) || .au || Australian website || .nz || New Zealand website ||

3 - For younger students this is a good idea. 4 - Only if you want a specific Country.