It may seem simple but there is more to Google searching than you think! This presentation provides tips and tricks to help you develop the skills to best find the information you seek online. Learn the art of keyword choice, how to use advanced operators and explore the world of Google Scholar.

1. Just Google
it!
1,873,910,000,000

3. google
verb
1. search for information about (someone or something)
on the Internet using the search engine Google.

4. Investigation… it’s a process
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Start with a clear vision: what information are you
seeking to find? what answers do you need?
Be prepared to go around in circles! - it is ok to start
with a broad concept OR a narrow topic just be open
minded it will take more than one quick Google search!
Keep track of the information you find along the way web history or paste links into a Google doc

5. The basics:
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Need to find the definition of a word quickly?
Just put define: before the word
Searching for quotes, lyrics or an exact set of words?
Use quotation marks (“ ”)
Searching for someone or something but want to
exclude a word in your search?
Put a dash (-) before the word

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Searching for someone or something but want to include
related words (synonyms)?
Put a tilde (~) before the word
Searching for a specific date range?
Use two periods (..)
Searching the pages within a specific website?
Just put site: before the first keyword
Searching for a document type? (eg. pdf, doc, ppt)
Just put filetype:___ before the first keyword
Ensure the word you want is on the page you find
Just put intext: before the word

7. The art of keyword choice
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write it out
say it out loud
think about if you already had the answer
avoid colloquialisms
do not ask questions
try to get in the mind of the author
cast a wide net and refine as you go

8. Filtering
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Images - size, colour, type, time
Maps
More..
Video
News
Books
Blogs
Discussions etc
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10. Google Scholar
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Results are sorted by relevance - use the date options
(since year or custom dates)
Abstracts are freely available but you want full text
- look for a link labelled [PDF] or “all versions” or
“related articles” or use the citation to search Library
databases
Keep track of your research: Cite

11. Checking the facts
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Ranking does NOT equal credibility
Consider perspective and bias
Is it trustworthy? Go to the source (eg. use books to
validate quotes found online)
At the end of the day… does it pass the CRAP test?
“When we are open to new possibilities, we find them.
Be open and skeptical of everything.”
― Todd Kashdan, Curious?: Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life

12. Reverse dictionary
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Search in Google for a reverse dictionary. Choose one
from the list.
On the reverse dictionary website, type in the definition
or description of the word you are trying to find.
Verify that the word it gave you is correct by using
Google’s “define” function.

13. Some extras
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Calculator - for quick maths problems!
+ addition
- subtraction
/ division
* multiplication
Unit converter
Type in the units you have and want

14. Challenge:
What is the definition of the word
“erinaceous?”

15. Challenge:
From which language is the English
word “shampoo” derived?

16. Challenge:
In the mid-1800’s literate people in the
United States and elsewhere often carried
a notebook with them to copy down
passages of text or quotations that were
particularly valuable or interesting to them.
This notebook had a very particular name.
What was this kind of notebook called?