Teaching for Information Literacy

Be CyberSmart: Researching the Internet (11:27) featuring Joyce Valenza, speaks to the resources students require to locate good online information and the skills required to do so - not just from the free web but from the online databases. 

They Might be Gurus: Teen Information-Seeking Behavior (pdf) by Joyce Valenza  maintains that we must understand how youth connect with information by examining it within four buckets; cognitive, affective, social and physical. Students may have great technical skills but they lack the ability to navigate the web environment effectively.

Locating Resources On the Web

Before students begin searching on the web they should have a clear understanding of the medium in which they are working. Although this tutorial, Welcome to the Web , is meant for primary students middle years and high school teachers should review the points presented to ensure that their students understand things such as the difference between the internet and the world wide web and terminology such as 'browser', hyperlink, etc.

Understanding the difference between search engines and search directories:

Power Search Techniques

Successful searching involves two key steps. First, you must have a clear understanding of how to prepare your search.

1. You must identify the main concepts in your topic and determine any synonyms, alternate spellings, or variant word forms for the concepts.
   
2. Second, you need to know how to use the various search tools available on the Internet. For example, search engines (e.g., AltaVista) are very different than subject directories (e.g., Yahoo). Even search engines themselves can vary greatly in size, accuracy, features, and flexibility.

Bare Bones 101: A Basic Tutorial On Search The Web provides and excellent overview on everything to do with search engines

If you want search basics go directly to the Bare Bones QuickTips

Web Search Strategies Tutorials

Four Nets for Better Searching

NoodleQuest - a really cool interactive way to discover new search tools based on your research need

Web Searching Glossary -- what words like 'meta-tag' mean?

"The Searchies" A WebQuest
Students are divided into small groups to become expert in one search tool. After examining and testing that tool, they are asked to prepare an advertisement which will sell their search tool's best features to the class so that it may win one of the revered "Searchie Awards." They must also present the small print, or the negative features of the tool. The winners of the Searchies will be determined by the class following the student presentations. Joyce Valenza

Advanced Search Rubric - This is a rubric for the using advanced and boolean searches. This search requires an understanding of the keywords, boolean logic, advanced search features, structuring and refining searches and suitable search engines.