6.7 – Internet Searching Tips
Learning Objectives
- apply advanced search techniques to find appropriate internet resources,
- develop strategies to search the internet efficiently.
Introduction
Watch Internet searching tips: Introduction on YouTube (1 min)
Google Basics
Watch Internet searching tips: Google basics on YouTube (1 min)
Google Search Basics
Google Search Basics (Text version)
Which of the following is NOT true about Google searching:
- Punctuation is generally ignored
- Spelling matters
- AND is assumed between search terms
- Capitalization doesn’t matter
Check your Answer: [1]
Search Strategies
Watch Internet searching tips: Search strategies on YouTube (1 min)
Search Strategies I
Search Strategies I (Text version)
True or false? It’s better to not be too specific when you’re searching the web.
Check your Answer: [2]
Watch Internet searching tips: More strategies on YouTube (1 min)
Search Strategies II
Search Strategies II (Text version)
True or false? Putting quotation marks around a phrase will INCREASE the overall number of your search results.
Check your Answer: [3]
Watch Internet searching tips: Even more search strategies on YouTube (1 min)
Search Strategies III
Search Strategies III (Text version)
What should you add to your search to eliminate words from your search results:
- – (minus)
- & (ampersand)
- % (percent)
- None of these
Check your Answer: [4]
Google Advanced Search Features
Watch Internet searching tips: Google advanced on YouTube (1 min)
Search Strategies IV
Search Strategies IV (Text version)
Which of the following is NOT a filter in Google advanced search:
- last updated date
- font
- file type
- language
Check your Answer: [5]
Other Search Engines to Try
Watch Internet searching tips: Other search engines on YouTube (1 min)
Search Strategies V
Search Strategies V (Text version)
True or false? Duckduckgo doesn’t track you when you search.
Check your Answer: [6]
Review
- Use advanced options
- Be specific!
- Try different search engines!
Questions?
Contact your library.
Attributions & References
This chapter (text, H5P activities and embedded videos) was adapted from “Internet Searching” In Niagara College Libraries + Learning Commons Information Skills Online Handbook by Jackie Chambers Page and Siscoe Boschman, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Adaptations include updates for improved accessibility. Attributions for this chapter’s videos were noted in two videos (References & Credits), which have been transcribed into text below for consistency and videos removed.
References & Credits from videos in this section:
Google. (2017). How to search on Google. https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/134479?hl=en
Google. (2017). Refine web searches. https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433
Except for screenshots or otherwise indicated, photographs used in videos are used under Unsplash license.
Slide 10: Simcoe, J. (Photographer). [Untitled image of book with magnifying glass and pen] [Photograph]. https://unsplash.com/search/ask-more-questions?photo=GxnyOLTxCr8
- b. spelling is automatically corrected ↵
- False. You should try to be as specific as possible for best results. ↵
- False. The overall of number of your search results will decrease. ↵
- a. A minus sign will removed unwanted words or phrases from your search results. ↵
- b. You cannot limit by font. ↵
- True. Duckduckgo doesn't track you when you search. ↵
