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Getting the Most out of Internet Resources


Where would you look for resources on building classroom community?

  • What strategies & techniques were used in the past?
  • How might info to meet this need be located effectively and efficiently?
  • What new sources are available now?
  • Will these new resources require new strategies and techniques?

Hopefully, one would come to the realization that many of these answers can be found via the Internet. Not only are there thousands, if not millions, of sources of information at one’s fingertips. However, with that great quantity of of information, comes the need to make one’s searches effective and efficient. Here are some areas to consider when conducting Internet searches.

Search Engines, Directories, and Meta-Searches
There are three types of tools that can provide the results you’re looking for in an Internet search. The first is the search engine. A search engine searches for webpages and documents based on keywords. Some commmon search engines are listed below.

Directories and indexes organize information on the Internet around categories and topics. One topic leads to several subtopics that eventually lead to the information for which you’re searching. A few directories are listed here.
A meta-search engine uses a keyword search to search the results of several search engines, compiling the most popular results. Three meta-search engines are as follows.
It’s important to remember that none of these search options are always better than the others. You may find different results with various searches. It’s important to exhaust your options and try searches with several different engines.
Search Techniques
Here are some search techniques that might help to make your keyword searches more effective.
  • Identify key words and synonyms so as to narrow your search results or identify the most accurate results.
  • Be specific with your searches. Identify what you’re looking for and what you want to avoid. List the most important word first and list 3-6 words to insure the most specific results.
  • Advanced searching (phrases, Boolean operators,filters) can help really narrow your searches. Using advanced settings and Boolean operators can filter the results to fit your needs.
  • Plurals can sometimes mislead search results. If you’re not getting the results you’re after, try the singular or plural spellings of your keyword.
  • Parentheses can assist in linking specific phrases together in your searches.
  • Capitalization is not often read by search engines. However, when it is, a search engine may provide results with or without capital letters if all lowercase is used. Sometimes words with capital letters dominate results if the keywords are capitalized.
  • Similar pages are often offered with search results. These options may provide better or more accurate results.
  • Proximity operators such as “NEAR BY”, “ADJ” (adjacent), and “NEAR” can offer results with words that should be in the same document of webpage.
  • Browser find features can help one find a keyword that may not be obvious to the naked eye.
Evaluating Websites
The first set of sites below demonstrate just how important it is to study and evaluate a site’s authenticity. Follow the links and see whether you can detect the truthfulness in each website.
The next three resources provide some evaluation tools one can use in evaluating a site’s accuracy.
Bookmarks
Maybe the best way to improve one’s efficiency in conducting Internet searches is accomplished through bookmarking. Why search for the same site over and over when you have it bookmarked in a convenient location. Many Internet users have depended on browser-based bookmarks. The bookmarks are easy to access and can be (or at least should be) organized similarly to files and folders on one’s hard drive.
Another option is to use online bookmarks. These bookmarks use various types organizational systems, some similar to hard drive filing and others with tags or tag clouds. Additionally, these bookmarks use tactics like those in social networks for sharing resources. Some online bookmarking sites are listed below.

Hopefully these tools and tips will help make your next Internet search more productive.

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Top 10 Learning Tools

Boy, I have really neglected this blog. Luckily, Jane Hart at the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies gave me a reason to get this blog going again. Anyway, this is my list of top 10 tools for 2009…

1. Google Docs -I recently moved all my training session plans from my own Word files to Google Docs in order to more easily share them with my supervisor and other trainers. Additionally, I plan to begin keeping classroom visits and status reports so as to make me more mobile. The best part is that I can access my plans on my iPhone in order to keep with my pledge of going paperless.

2. Google Calendar – I don’t mean to make this a Google-specific list, but I can’t deny the value of this tool to my work as an instructional specialist. I share calendars with co-workers, teachers I train, and even my wife (is busy enough with her tenure-track, research 1 job at a large, state university). The embedding has allowed me to post my calendar in my Moodle space for my trainees. Also, Google Calendar’s ability to synch with my work calendar makes my whereabouts known to those who need to know.

3. Delicious – I’ve used Delicious for a long time now. In fact, I used it when it was known as Del.ico.us back in the day. The difference now is that I use the networking features to harvest the best content and tools from the Internet. I’ve even subscribed to my network’s feed to make harvesting easier than ever before.

4. Twitter -This is the reason for my lack of blogging, but that’s not exactly a bad thing. This Web 2.0 tool has expanded my networks ten-fold. There is a constant stream of information coming to me from my Twitter network and at <140 characters a pop, it’s very efficient.

5. Google Reader – Actually, any RSS reader will do, but this happens to be the one I go to. I don’t go to the information anymore; it comes to me. Now, I don’t miss a post from my favorite blogs and I’m able to keep up with my many networks (such as Twitter and Delicious) with little effort.

6. Prezi – This is one tool I have not really used yet, but I plan to master it over the summer and utilize it next school year. As one of the contributors to Hart’s list put it, “This should be the death of PowerPoint…” Prezi moves beyond the limited scope of a linear PowerPoint presentation, something I’ve struggled to convey to my trainees. I figure that if I can master Prezi, it will revolutionize my training sessions.

7. TwitterFox -The effectiveness (and addiction to) my Twitter network has never been better stronger since I downloaded this Firefox add-on. Now, instead of heading over to Twitter, filling up my Google Reader, or wasting time on TweetDeck, I can simply look to the lower right-hand corner in order to keep up with my Tweeps.

8. Elluminate – Working for an organization that has personel scattered all over the state, there is no way to have regular team or staff meetings. Additionally, gas prices (and our concern for the environment) have caused us to cut back on travel. An online tool for meetings was needed. Enter Elluminate. With its shared work space and file-sharing capabilities, it’s almost as good as meeting in the same room. Although it costs money to have the full availability of Elluminate, there is a “Three-For_Free” feature for those smaller get-togethers.

9. Moodle – As far as training teachers goes, this is the one tool I use the most for course organization and learning facilitation. Every schedule, resource, and link is there for my teachers and I’m able to password protect our copy-written materials and curriculum.

10. iPhone – Let me first say that I am not a phone person. Before I bought my iPhone, I used the work cell for everything, paying for only the minutes I used. After purchasing this tool, I quickly wondered how I ever lived without it. This gadget makes me completely mobile without having to haul a laptop or search out wifi while traveling all over central Missouri. I manage email, calendars, Twitter, Google Reader, and Google Docs just to name a few. The plan is to use it for record keeping of classroom visits next year. I won’t go anywhere without my iPhone.

So that’s my list. For more lists, go here and ready those Delicious bookmarks.

Picture Source: Wikimedia Commons