Searching the internet… how to find what you really want

The internet is an amazing, wonderful, exciting source of information, but the problem with it is that there is just so much information, and most of it is useless! However there is a lot of good stuff out there, you just have to know how to find it.

Searching the internet is a skill that can be learnt, and I have included below a range of websites that provide tutorials and information about how to best design your search strategies. The best site by far though for those who are really serious about using the internet as an information source (and not just as a tool for sucking away the day) is

Noodletools:

http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html

 

Noodletools is a huge information literacy site, that is well worth exploring, however the link above takes you to a page that proves there is more to life than Google. It lists a range of search engines, and describes what they are best used for, and how to search most effectively with them. Print it out and stick it near your computer… it is a lifesaver!

 

Other useful sites include:

http://www.brightplanet.com/resources/details/searching.html

 

http://www.smallbusinesshub.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/1264/12-Quick-Tips-To-Search-Google-Like-An-Expert.aspx

 

http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/features/

 

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

 

http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html

 

A lot of them say the same thing, but in different ways, so flick through them and find the one that most appeals to you, and have a read!! Don’t be frightened off by terms such as ‘boolean logic’ – it is really quite simple, and once you start using these strategies, you’ll be amazed at how much time you save, and how effective your searches are!!

 

Have fun!