CPT 499 Internet Skills for Educators Session Three Class Notes.

CPT 499 Internet Skills for Educators

Session ThreeClass Notes

Objectives

Use the Search Button on the browser to access a search engine

List several search enginesUse multiple search engines in a

query

Objectives

Distinguish between Boolean operators: And, Or, Not

Explain the process of searching the Web

Describe the structure of the URL

Objectives

Use the Find Command under the edit menu

Use the Save Command under the edit menu

Download an image or document from the Web

Search Engines

Search Engines provide a more productive means of surfing the Web

A search engine is a program that handle queries and provide a search form for the user to enter search criteria and locate Web resources.

The search engine scans its database to see which documents are related to the key word(s) requested.

Search Engines

The results page will show you how many hits (documents) it found on the database.

The results page will list titles of the documents it finds, and a hyperlink to each document.

Each engine uses a special program known as a spider to automatically search the Web on a periodic basis, looking for new documents to add to its database.

Search Engines

The larger the database the greater the number of hits.

The search engine you choose to use is up to your own personal preference.

Search Engines

SOME COMMON WEB SERARCH ENGINESSite URL

Yahoo http://www.yahoo.comLycos http://www.lycos.comWebCrawler http://www.webcrawler.comAltaVista http://www.altavista.digital.comInfoSeek http://www.infoseek.comMetacrawler http://www.metacrawler.comOpen Text http://www.opentext.com

Search Engines

All queries are combinations of the logical (Boolean) operators.

The Boolean operators are AND, OR, and NOT

The way in which Boolean operators are specified depends on the search engine.

Search Engines

If you are unsure check the online help provided with the search engine.

Queries can be conducted in the form of a key word search.

Search Engines

A program which systematically searches Web for documents on a specific topic

Uses a key word(s) as a query

Search Engines

Several search engines availableEach search engine has its own

databaseNo search engine is best

Search Engines

Uses Boolean (logical) operatorsReturns hits (matches) or

documents once search has been submitted

Search Button

Usually offers several prominent search engines for user’s choice

More engines are usually available on the page either by scrolling on the page on through links to other engines

Search Button

Can construct key word(s) searchCan use category structure

established by search engine

Search Button

Browser logo and status bar keeps user informed of the progress of a search

Popular Search Engines

Alta Vista www.altavista.digital.com

InfoSeek www.infoseek.com

Lycos www.lycos.com

Yahoo www.yahoo.com

Metacrawler www.metacrawler.com

Search Rules

Specify Boolean operatorsAnd -- includes all findings of all keyword(s)

Or ---- looks for only one of the specified key word(s)

Not -- allows user to exclude certain key word(s)

Search Techniques

Use multiple search enginesUse online help about search

criteria used for the engine selected

Bookmark Command

Bookmarks allow the user to return to a site without repeating a search

Pull down Bookmark and click Add Bookmark to save URL

Find Command

Find allows user to enter a specific character string within a long document

Enables user to find information quicker

Save Command

Save allows user to save and download (FTP) images and documents from the Web

Organization Names

gov governmentedu educationorg nonprofit or

clearinghousecom commercialnet networkmil military