Searching

The ease of using Google for searches and the wisdom built into their results formula is what made the company a success. However, there is more to searching than just the simple search box, good as it is.

To be sure you are getting all the value you could from Google searches we will take a quick look at several search "extensions."

( A. ) Before we go to Advanced Searching, be sure you fully grasp Basic Searching, __ [] __. Then Advanced Searching can be accessed from the main "single box" search page, to get the page shown at __ [] __. Tips for using this page are at __ [] __. An alternate explanation sometimes can be useful, as it found at __ [] __

( B .) Most people probably know one can search for images by clicking on "Images" in a regular search. Some may not be aware of the Advanced Search for Images, __ [] __. Also, you may find useful the "Google Image Search," on the iPad (iPod/iTunesU/Google Tools).

( C. ) As a teacher you may wish to specify where students go for information, for a variety of reasons. Google Custom Search (__ [] __) allows you to do that, see "Google Custom Search" - iPod on your iPad, under iTunesU/Google Tools. There is a "handout" sheet available in iBooks PDF collection, "Custom Search Reference."

( D. ) Google Alerts (__ [] __) helps keep you informed about a search in which you have ongoing information. Check "Google Alerts" on the iPad (iPod/iTunesU/Google Tools) to learn about how it works. Also look for a reference sheet "Google Alerts Reference" in iBooks on the iPad.

( E. ) Google Bookmarks is about saving (like browser-based Bookmarks or Favorites) links for access later, but saving them online. There also are sharing features, as one can share "lists" and potentially benefit from lists other have shared. See __ [] __

( F. ) Google Squared, __ [] __, lays out search results in a different way that could be very useful in some situations. See "Google Squared" on the iPad (iPod/iTunesU/Google Tools). Also look for a reference sheet "Google Squared" in iBooks on the iPad.

( G. ) Wonder Wheel - when one does a search, Wonder Wheel is an option down and to the left of the search results screen that graphically shows related terms and subdivisions of the term on which one searched. Often it is overlooked, but it can be particularly useful when one is searching for a topic and how to organize a report on a topic for a major project. See "The Google Wonderwheel Search_3" in iTunes U, under the iPod button on the iPads. These three search options are sometimes called the "Wonder Wheel Suite" because Wonder Wheel is the most divergent (with its graphics) to help show topic relationships.
 * Right under Wonder Wheel, //Relates Searches//, provides a text based approach to what is graphically organized in Wonder Wheel
 * //Timeline,// right under Related Searches, takes the topic to create a graphic depiction of the dates significant to the topic.

__**Performance Record**__

There is so much to review here, and so little time - although many people are aware of at least a few of these options (usually A or B). In my opinion, C and G, possibly F, may have the greatest potential for the classroom. Professionally, though, you may find D and E to be quite useful. ("E," Google Bookmarks, is similar to Delicious, but Delicious shares all tags (not just lists) unless one specifies them to be private, so the Bookmarks feature may be the least special.) Anyway, so much to see and so little time in class...

For your Performance Record, please comment under the CPED 5300 discussion topic "Searching" about your experience with 3 of the options A - G and how you believe it may be useful to you as a teacher.