Your+Basic+Search,+Refined

toc =Basic Search Tips=



Differentiated Searching?
Link Host: to search by specific countries URL: to search via specific addresses ac: academic sites from around the globe

Is it possible to tailor internet searching to certain learning styles or to allow for differentiation through the use of search engines?

In my experience, students have had success searching for information using a variety of methods. Simple eliminators like those above often solve the problem, but what happens when students use the above limiters but still confront hundreds, even thousands of results?

There is an emerging trend among search engines to display information in a visual format. Here are a few that I love:

[| TouchGraph-] this search engine uses the same information that Google and Yahoo use, only it represents it in a manner that allows students to see the visual connection between search results. Perfect for:
 * visual learners
 * learners who do not do well with lists
 * pattern-seekers
 * bored students
 * bored teachers

[| Search Crystal]- this site uses a concentric visual layout that flatly, I just love. The ability, much like Google or Yahoo, to search via multiple categories (web, images, video, news, blogs, tags, etc.) really sets this one apart. Perfect for:
 * highly visual learners
 * art searches
 * cross-engine searches
 * those seeking really nutty results.

[| Kartoo]- for those of you who have that "Arabian Nights" bend to you, Kartoo might work well. It relies heavily on the ability to tie sources together visually. But unlike the previous two, the images are not high on the priority list.

Perfect For:
 * structured, yet visual searching
 * connected searching
 * students seeking an alternative to what they are used to
 * teachers needing another medium to engage students

[| VisuWords]- finally, an internet dictionary that matches what educational research has stated for years: students need a variety of inputs, both verbal and auditory and visual, in order for vocabulary to be learned. Perfect for:
 * expressing multiple definitions of words in visual format
 * showing students the relationship between word and meaning
 * some SmartBoard fun
 * Anyone who has tired of Dictionary.com

[|Pagebull]- this one provides clear snapshots of the pages you are landing when you search.

The "Chunking Search Engine"
[|Clusty]- This is a real gem, especially for students who are truly overwhelmed by large amounts of information, whether visual or textual.

This engine takes the usual information and creates categories for you to explore, so rather than just wandering through page after page of hits, you can zero in on your particular focus. In this case, I searched for Abraham Lincoln, but perhaps my focus is on only his assassination. In an ordinary search, I would have to use some selective criteria to filter out the information I don't want. With Clusty, it is categorized for me already.

[| PolyCola]