When you use a search engine like Google, you must type in keywords or phrases in a search box. Each search engine has slightly different ways of interpreting what you type in the search box. For example, when you use the Google search engine:
Google defaults to AND. If you enter the search query cloning "stem cell" Google will return pages that include both the word cloning and the phrase stem cell. Words inside of quotes have to be found exactly as they appear. Searches are not case-sensitive.
Google ignores connecting words like how, when, the, and also digits and single letters. If those are important to your search you can put a + sign in front or use a phrase match with double quotes.
Google uses a minus sign - to exclude a word or phrase from the results. To find pages about cloning that DO NOT mention stem cells you would enter: cloning -"stem cell"
If you use a tilda ~ in front of a word, Google will find synonyms, or words with the same meaning. If you wanted to search for pages relating to electronic surveillance (observation, scrutiny, watching) at airports: airport electronic ~surveillance
If you connect search words or phrases with OR, Google will find pages that include either one of the words. The search phrase Dachshund OR "wiener dog" will return pages that contain either the word Dachshund or the phrase wiener dog (or both in one page). OR must be in upper case letters.
The search engine pages always have a help link where you can find information and examples for building your search queries. They also have an Advanced Search page where you can fill in boxes to construct a query.
A great site showing the three major search engines and how to use them is at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SearchEngines.html
Demonstration and Practice Internet and Email:
Start a new Word document named Sept25.
1. Go to Firefox support at http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/ . Click the Using Firefox link. Use the information there to help answer the following questions. You can Copy/Paste answers.
a. When should you press the Stop button and what does it look like?
b. How do you revisit web pages that you looked at earlier, one page at a time?
c. How do you revisit web pages that you have visited during this and previous sessions?
2. Click in the Search Knowledge Base box on the Firefox page and search for Plug Ins. Click the link in the results for Popular Plug Ins. Use the information on the page to answer the following questions.
a. What is a plugin?
b. What is Adobe Reader for?
c. Choose one other plug-in and describe it.
3. If you are searching for information on a general topic, a subject directory site makes it easy to find high quality results. A directory provides a series of menus that you make selections from to locate web sites. The Librarian's Internet Index is a useful directory to information about many topics. Go to the subject directory http://lii.org and click the link for Internet under Computers. Click the link for Computer/Internet Dictionaries.
a. Use one of the links to find a definition of a cookie (not the kind you eat). Copy and paste the definition and the URL of the page you found it on to your Word document.
b. Click the Back button to go back to the list of dictionary links. Use a different site to find a definition for TCP/IP. Copy and Paste the definition and the URL of the page you found it on to your Word document.
4. Sometimes people get the wrong idea from an email or text that you send. Smileys or emoticons can help make your meaning more clear. Go to www.google.com and search for web sites listing smileys or emoticons.
a. What is your search query (phrase)?
b. How many results did you get?
c. Select one of the results pages and go to it. Copy and paste the URL to your Word document.
d. Copy and paste an example and what it means. Try to find a unique one.
5. If you have a web-based email account, log on to it. If you don't have one, go to mail.yahoo.com and sign up for an account. Add me as a contact in your address book.
Name: Lora Lane
Email: loralane@yahoo.com
Office phone: 310-233-4178
Cell phone 310-519-8976
Company Name: Harbor College
Title: Computer Instructor
Address: 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington CA 90744
Web site: www.loralane.com
6. Press the Print Screen key on the keyboard to show the filled in contact screen. Paste the screen image into your Word document. Then save the contact.
7. Trade email addresses with another student in the class. Send that person a short message about the smiley site you found in question 4. Include your name in the message. Have them send you a message too.
8. When you get their message, forward it to me using the address book entry. In the text of the forwarded message, give the name of the person who sent the message to you.
Save the Word document and upload it to 9/25 Participation Credit in Tasks, Tests and Surveys.