Using an Internet search engine can be valuable for both teacher planning and student research, but it can also be a daunting and time-consuming undertaking.

An Internet search engine is a database that has been created to store large amounts of information about various websites in one place. There are both general search engines (Google.com, for example) and content-specific search engines (FindLaw.com, a legal search engine).

To locate websites that are useful and appropriate for your students -- whatever your subject or grade level -- it is important use Internet search engines that are targeted specifically for kids or educators. These search engines can help you narrow your search immensely, and can help assure that all search results will be educational and appropriate for students.

Using Keywords

When doing an Internet search, it is also critical to narrow your topic as much as possible. When a website is registered with a search engine, that website is evaluated and a list of keywords describing the site is generated by the search engine and stored in its database. Thus, when you are looking for a site to meet your needs, it is important to think of a site in terms of keywords.

When it comes to choosing which keywords to use, keep in mind the main pieces of information you’re looking for. For example, if you are looking for a website about golden retrievers, it is important to enter the keywords "golden retriever" into your search window. By entering specific information into the keyword search window, you are more likely to receive the specific results you desire. If, on the other hand, you type "dogs" into the keyword search window, instead of receiving only information about golden retrievers, you would receive a startlingly long list of search results about dogs. It would be extremely time consuming to read through to such a long list of websites just to find information specifically about golden retrievers.

Using Operators

Narrowing your Internet search topics can be as simple as learning basic arithmetic. Using a few simple mathematical operators can make you an expert at Internet research. For starters, using the addition symbol (+) tells a search engine to provide results that include all of the keywords you enter in the search window, instead of just some of the words.

As an example, if you are doing a search for Kathy Schrock’s holiday materials, but don’t want to be bogged down with hundreds search results about the history of Kathy Schrock or the history of holidays, you might use the addition symbol to narrow your search. By entering the following into your search window, you will ensure more detailed results.

Kathy Schrock +holidays

The subtraction symbol (-) can also be a great tool for doing Internet searches. If you want to do a search about President Clinton, for example, but don’t want information about Monica Lewinsky, you might enter the following into your keyword search window:

Clinton –Monica

Using the basic addition and subtraction symbols can narrow or expand any search, depending on your needs. Almost all search engines support mathematical symbols.

Educational Search Engines

To begin your own Internet search, try a few of the educational search engines below. These search engines have been created for teachers, by teachers, so your search results are much more likely to be educationally appropriate for your classroom.

Ask Eric
Ask Jeeves for Kids
Education World
Yahooligans

As the Internet continues to provide more and more possibilities for the classroom, it is increasingly important that teachers and students become Internet savvy and technologically literate. The educational sites we have listed will get you well on your way to a happier Internet experience.

Aimée Bachman is a former K-12 teacher with a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Aimée resides in Roseburg, Oregon where she teaches college.

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