Introduction

• web browsers
• search engines
• chat rooms
• FTP
• images & animation
• regular video & audio
• streaming video & audio
• electronic whiteboards
• MUD's & MOO's
• videoconferencing
• web authoring tools
• push technologies
• site capturing
• intranets

References

Search Engines

Search engines are one of a number of different types of web sites designed to help users locate World Wide Web pages containing information of interest. Other types of web sites in this group include directories (in which sites are groups into categories) and portals (in which individuals or organizations espousing expertise in an area of study maintain collections of annotated sites (Ackermann & Hartman, 2003).

When using a search engine, one types a search phrase into a files on the web page and clicks a button to submit the query; pages indexed by the search engine that contain the search phrases are returned on results pages complete with annotations (derived from the page) as well as a link to the page. It is not unusual for a search to return millions of results. It is also common to find links to pages provided by businesses and groups that have paid to be first on the results list; revenue from this form of advertising makes search engines a very lucrative Internet business.

The ability to use a search engine efficaciously is an essential skill in today's world. As experienced users of information, teachers have an important role in helping young people understand, assess, and make meaning from information located using a search engine. A very important aspect of using search engines that teachers can model and teach is evaluating the credibility of information found using a search engine.

Even those who are not serious Internet researcher are familiar with Google (2006), the popular search engine, and many are not even aware there are other search engines that can be very useful in many research situations. Educators can both improve their own searching and researching skills by learning to use advanced search options on common search engines as well as to learn to use different search engines when the situation is appropriate.

Resources for search engines:

• Clusty (Vivisimo, 2006)returns search results in folders called clusters. This search engine is very useful during brainstorming and when identifying specific research questions.
• KartOO (n.d.) returns search results in a Flash animation showing icons that are connected to other icons, and when one moves the cursor over an icon, links to other icons are highlighted. In effect the results are a concept map of the search term and the map is an excellent tool for brainstorming and focusing research.
• Open Directory Project (Netscape, 1998-2006) is a directory that is indexed and maintained by volunteers. Although the links should be culled more frequently, one is likely to find a many sites appropriate for student researchers on a single topic page.
• CompletePlanet (BrightPlanet Corp., 2000-2004) is a directory and search engine that indexes many web sites and specialized search engines. This is is very useful for finding detailed and credible information.