Selecting a Search Tool  

(Information gathered at a University of Vermont PT3 Wintersession 2002 Workshop titled Using Internet Resources given by Joyce Morris, Ed.D)

The Internet gives us access to vast quantities of information.  However, sometimes we find that searching the Internet for specific information can be very difficult.  Learning what search tools are available and how each of them works can help us to be efficient and successful in our searches.

There are basically 3 Categories of Search Tools:

1.  Directories or Search Index:  Directories are like card catalogs and manned by people who browse the Internet, locate and evaluate documents, and classify them. You locate information from a directory by identifying the category and then a subcategory until your information has been found.

Examples of Directories or Search Index:

YAHOO:  http://www.yahoo.com

Overture: http://www.overture.com/

LookSmart: http://www.looksmart.com

2.  Search Engines:  Search engines are basically databases of Internet sites that allow you to locate information by using keyword queries. The first task in finding information using a search engine is to articulate exactly what you are looking for. Identify the words or phrases that best describe your query. 

Examples of Search Engines:

AltaVista: http://www.altavista.com

Excite: http://www.excite.com  

Google: http://google.com  

HotBot: http://www.hotbot.com  

InfoSeek: http://www.infoseek.com

Lycos: http://www.lycos.com

3.  Meta Search Engines: These are services that send out a number of queries through a number of search engines at once. You will get the most responses, although some may be duplicates, using this kind of tool.  

Examples of Meta Search Engines:

MetaCrawler: http://www.metacrawler.com/

Dogpile: http://www.dogpile.com

* Note- The newest software in search engines lets you ask whole word sentences and searches phrases to help you identify your information.

Example: AskJeeves: http://aj.com

Web Addresses

The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) can generate information about the source.  The server's address name is generated within one of several domains, the most prominent being: 

o    edu -- at or by an educational institution 

o    com or net -- by a commercial entity

o    org -- by a non-profit organization 

o    gov --  by a government agency

o    mil -- by a military facility  

Additional Resources

The Animated Internet- How Search Engines  Work:

http://www.learnthenet.com/english/animate/search.html

Web Searching Glossary:

http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/glossary.html