searchingtechniques

=Searching Techniques= There are some principles to get you started with searching. toc Whether you choose Google or not, these techniques can be used to improve your searches.
 * 1) Know as much about what you want to find as possible.
 * 2) This may include the type of information you are looking for - do you want images, documents, research, diagrams
 * 3) Refine your search as you learn more.

Models of Inquiry [|Big Six] RAFTS - When posing the question, provide the following to make the research more meaningful
 * 1) ==Refining your search==
 * ===Additional Keywords===
 * Boolean Searches - Each search engine may respond differently to the following
 * And or '+'
 * Or
 * Not or '-'
 * Near
 * ===Using Quotations===
 * When you use quotations in a search, the engine only responds with exact matches to that phrase
 * ===Using Truncation or Wildcards===
 * If you are looking for information on participation, participating, participated, then you may want to use a trancator to also simplify your keyword list to participat*
 * ===Using Synonyms===
 * ~ This will search for synonyms for the word ~build will search for design, structure etc
 * ===Be specific - See Google Help - http://www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html===
 * Choose the Domain
 * Type of Document
 * Language
 * Date Last Updated
 * 1) ==Broadening from a potentially good website==
 * If you find a site, you can shorten or truncate the URL to find out more information or more about the site itself
 * Here is an old site of web resources that I created
 * [|http://fcweb.sd36.bc.ca/~amboe_k/Fav_Websites/home%20page]
 * You may want to learn more about who put the resources there and why.... If you truncate the URL, you will find more
 * [|http://fcweb.sd36.bc.ca/~amboe_k/Fav_Websites]
 * or [|http://fcweb.sd36.bc.ca/~amboe_k]
 * If you find a good site, you might try mutating the URL to find other information
 * http://thisisnotarealsite.com/aug
 * You could also try http://thisisnotarealsite.com/jul
 * 1) ==Extending your search==
 * 2) If you find a website that has some good information, you can also check the links that link from the page or links to the page
 * 3) See the links embedded in the site or on a links page
 * 4) use a links to command in the search engine - such as in google site:http:fcweb.sd36.bc.ca/~amboe_k
 * 5) ==Consider Alternative Search Engines==
 * 6) Profusion
 * 7) Teoma
 * 8) [|Ask.com]
 * 9) www.quintura.com
 * 10) www.lii.com
 * Role
 * Audience
 * Format
 * Topic
 * Strong Verb

Another Model to Consider is North Vancouver's Learning Quest See Also Overview of Searching > >>
 * 1) Identify the question
 * 2) Find Information
 * 3) Evaluate and Select Information
 * 4) Use Information
 * 5) Find Key Ideas, Sort, Sequence, and Synthesize
 * 6) Present
 * 7) Assess
 * See Also Critical Thinking