🚀 go-pugleaf

I do something similar, except that I give students a blank chart and let
them research and fill in the different search rules.  To save time.  I
split the class into groups of 2 or 3 and let each group research 1 search
engine.  They can then share their results with other class members.

Why don't I just give them a completed chart???
* I am a big believer in teaching students to learn how to do things on
their own.  With this method when they come across a new search engine, they
will think to look for the search rules.
* Many of the top search engines are consistently refining and updating
their search rules and special services.  This prevents me from having do
research each search engine to be sure that I have all the rules straight.
* Students may like other search engines that we do not discuss in class.
They can use the chart to keep track of other search engines in the future.
(I give all students a diskette with a blank version of the chart in Word,
so that they can type up their answers later & so that they can continue
this process with other search engines.)

Just a note:  The chart excercise is one of the last things we do.  I spend
the first part of class letting students work with Yahoo & Altavista.  I
discuss boolean operators, phrase searching, etc.  This helps them
understand what they are looking for in the charts.

As a final excercise, I have some challenge search questions where they can
apply the information they have gathered in their charts.  I also like to do
this in small groups as they learn from each other...

-----Original Message-----
From: Janet E Alexander [mailto:Janet.E.Alexander@WIDENER.EDU]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 1999 8:33 AM
Subject: Teaching Search Engines: Charts Available


At Widener we use two charts to help us teach search engines.  One lists
six search engines and describes their characteristics.  The second
summarizes the search commands and boolean operators available with each.
We go over the charts during the class and the participants take them with
them after the class to use while they are doing their own searching.

These are located in our Web Teaching Pyramid at
www.widener.edu/libraries.html (Select "Teaching the Web".)  From the
pyramid, the charts are under "Selected Web Search Engines."
If anyone uses these as handouts, we recommend printing them out in
landscape format, as they are alot easier to read that way.

We are just about to add one on meta search engines, also.


___________________________________________________________________________
Jan Alexander, Reference Librarian, Widener University

         Email:    Janet.E.Alexander@widener.edu
         Phone:    (610) 499-4591
         Fax:      (610) 499-4588
         US Mail:  Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA
19013