As we head down the stretch many classes are conducting research for various curricular units. The internet can be a great place to find information – but it can also be a great place to find misinformation. A common misconception is that the top search results are the most reliable source of information. It is important for teachers to help their students learn not only how to find information, but also how to evaluate the information they do find. We call this teaching students how to search smart.
The three ‘search smart’ basics are:
- Choosing the right search terms
- Understanding search results
- Narrowing a search to get the best results
Choosing the right search terms:
When you search a phrase in Google – they search every word in your query. Instead of searching using whole sentences or questions, using keywords in a query is more likely to return results that actually meet the students’ needs.
Understanding search results
When our results are returned to us from our search, there is a lot happening on the page, which can make it a little daunting to sort through. It’s important to teach kids the key components of their search results page. Let’s explore these components (direct from Google).
- Search bar: This is near the top of the results page, where you can see your query and modify it or enter a new one.
- Ads: These results appear in the right-hand column and sometimes at the top of the results in a colored box. They are always marked with the word “Ads,” so you can easily identify them as paid results.
- Natural results: These results are below the ads, are not paid for by anyone, and cannot be bought.
- Filters: These links are at the top navigational menu, just below the search bar – more explained below on these.
- Knowledge Graph: When you search for a person, place, or thing Google may show this special information box on the right-hand side of the screen.
Narrowing a search to get the best results
After you complete a search, you end up with a list of natural results. Sometimes it can be quite long. You can however use a couple of different methods to narrow your search. One way is to use modifiers. A modifier is a special character or words to help you get the results you need. For example, if you use quotation marks around a phrase, Google will search for that particular phrase as a whole rather than the individual words that make up that phrase. Here is a great poster from Google on modifiers. Be sure to share it with your students.
If you look below your search box, you will notices that there are filters to help refine your search as well.
The last filter option is ‘Search Tools.’ When you click on this option, you can additional filters to modify your search.
Evaluating Search Results
How can kids tell whether or not the information the information they found is valid? There are certain things for them to consider. First, who is the author of the piece they are reading? An article from the New York Times is far more likely to be accurate than Crazy Mike Wild Facts website. What is the background of the author? Are they a knowledgeable source on the subject or is it something someone just felt like writing about? Is the information they are reading about fact or is it opinion?
To help your students navigate these waters, it is helpful if you have them follow the Rule of 3: This simply means for them to compare three sources of information before reaching a conclusion.
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