Here we venture into more specific techniques, which usually cut search time if you know how to use them.
Activity
1: Find the Toys R Us web page by typing in something in the
LOCATION window at the top of the browser. Note that if you are looking
for a company, you don't have to type in the http://www or
the .com. Just type in the company name. Quick, how many tire companies
can you find this way?
Activity
2: Use AltaVista, they have the best advanced features. Go the
main page and click on Advanced features.
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3: HotBot has the best way to find things like pictures and
videos. My wife and I had an argument about whether Brittany Spears has
a large posterior or not. HotBot was the place to go to get an answer.
(You have to wade through all the porno sites, don't click on those, they
spawn other sites at the rate of one a second, and you spend the next 5
minutes closing unwanted windows with crotch shots.)
The TESL Journal is the best set of links I have found for people in our profession. Hats off to the Kelley brothers for making such a valuable resource.
Activity
3: Go to DejaNews and
search their newsgroup listings for recommendations of sites. This can
get time consuming, but you are sure to get the insider view on any subject,
and the latest news.
There are many specialized search engines available for particular fields and languages. See Links.
See the Links page for descriptions of the different search engines. I like WindWeaver the best.
Activity
3: Link from a hit on your list, then take off the last part
of the web address in the LOCATION window at the top of the browser. This
should take you to the main page of that site. Example: try websearch.about.com/internet/websearch/library/weekly/aa061298.htm
then take off everything after "internet/" to get a broader view
of the subject.
Keyword quiche can lead one astray if too many terms are involved. Use those quotes and don't be afraid to put in a whole sentence. This way, by the way, is a great technique to keep your plagiarizing students honest.
Activity
3: Find the Gettysburg Address by entering in "Four score
and seven years ago"
That's right folks, read the fine manual (RTFM). FAQs often help too.
Try webcrawler, it searches the other engines. Ask Jeeves is another that is even easier to use. Great URL, too: http://www.ask.com. I se the kid's version with my students. They love it.
I can't load this software here on these machines, so I can't show you, but there are other Bots that can continually search out things you are looking for. Many Ebay users use these to find good deals.
Well, that brings us to the end of the tutorial section of this presentation. Try some of the links on the links page and ask Kevin some questions. Above all, enjoy. Thank you for coming!