Internet Search Information

 

What tools do we use to search for information on the Internet?

 

Web-based information is viewed in a browser window. There are many different browsers but two that are very popular are:

    1. Internet Explorer
    2. Netscape Navigator

 

There are different types of effective web search tools. They are:

1.       Indexed search engines

a.      http://www.yahoo.com

2.     Un-indexed search engines

a.      http://www.google.com

b.     http://www.altavista.com

3.     Meta search engines 

a.      http://www.dogpile.com

b.      http://www.metacrawler.com

 

*It is estimated that about only 30% of websites are accessible through the above search engines. To find sites that seem 'invisible' when using the above searches, use this site to locate specialized search engines and directories:

          http://webquest.sdsu.edu/searching/specialized.html

 

There are search engines that are kid safe/student friendly. They are:

1.       KidsClick! - This is a search engine that was created and is maintained by librarians. It is an indexed site that was a project of the Ramapo Catskill Library System in Middletown, NY.  It is maintained daily by the Colorado State Library. KidsClick! Is not an internet filter. No advertising is found on KidsClick! Pages. The website address is: http://www.kidsclick.org

 

2.     Yahooligans! - This is a search engine that serves as a web guide for kids. Educators check for content accuracy and link appropriateness for children aged 7-12 carefully check each site.  Every site that is indexed by Yahooligans! is hand-picked by their editors. That is the only way that the sites get into their directory. The website address is: http://www.yahooligans.com

 

3.     Ask Jeeves for Kids - This is a search engine that accepts questions that are asked in a typical question format for students ease with finding answers. Users are encouraged to write their questions in a sentence format when searching for information. The search engine is maintained by askjeeves inc. in Oakland, CA.

The website address is: http://ajkids.com

 

4.     FactMonster - This search engine is published by Pearson Education and was first known as infopleasekids.com.  The site has updated daily features as well as content-specific information. There are advertisements that pop-up and are highlighted in a banner on top of the web pages. The website address is: http://www.factmonster.com

 

5.     Awesome Library - This search engine previews all web sites that are searchable and only accepts them if they are found to be kid-friendly and are high quality for Internet users. The Evaluation and Development Institute (EDI) and Dr. R. Jerry Adams own this site. The website address is: http://www.awesomelibrary.org

 

6.     Dib Dab Doo and Dilly too! This search engine is filtered to be kid friendly. It is owned and maintained by a father of 4 children who wanted to create a search engine that was safe for children. This is an ad free search engine. The website address is: http://www.dibdabdoo.com