INTERNET
FILTER
Record details of each site you use, e.g.
Bloggs, B. Hints for notemaking. [Online] Available:
http://www.TheSchoolquarterly.com [August 12, 2000].
Use these summary checklists to filter each site
for relevance, accuracy, authority.
SEARCH STRATEGY
e.g World Book or Encyclopaedia Britannica or
Encarta online
- Use
your SEARCH TERMS (key words) as spades to dig for info.
The map, key search terms and questions form
a mental filter which lets your mind bleep like a radar when it filters something relevant.
Use the 3S formula, SURF, SLURP and SUMMARISE
to go through websites quickly (surf) making a mental note of anything relevant. Then go back more slowly and read (slurp)
what you selected as relevant. Make notes very selectively (summarise).
Use search engines, e.g.
www.google.com
www.teoma.com
www.hotbot.com
www.altavista com for keyword searching
Use subject directories, e.g.
www.yahoo.com
www.thegateway.com
if you want material organised in subject categories
(like a library).
If you've got questions, use
www.askjeeves.com
www.anzwers.co.nz
NZ Ask an Expert
For NZ material use www.tepuna.natlib.govt.nz/web
If you want educational sites use Teachers@Work.co.nz
or Te Kete Ipurangi.
if you want sites for primary - early secondary
students use
www.yahooligans.com
For maths/ science sites, use
www.excite.com
AND dogs+cats (info on dogs and cats)
NOT pets-cats (info on pets but not cats)
OR dogs or cats (info on dogs or cats)
Refining your search
Look on HotBot SuperSearch
(www.hotbot.com). You can limit your search by
language, date, media type, word stems, etc.
Linked sites: Find these through HotBotSuperSearch
or AltaVista - Type "link" in the search box. Then copy & paste URL of the site into the search box and click on 'search'
to get the linked sites.
If the information relates to your gaps and questions,
it is relevant. If it doesn't it probably isn't.
Check at least TWO or more different sources
eg book // Internet site // CD// interview with expert.
If the interview in two or three sources makes
similar claims/ gives similar facts, it is likely to be accurate
Check the URL for
- named author/ expert
- reputable organisation/ institution (like a
university)
.edu - education
.ac - education
.org - non-commercial organisation .com - commercial
company .net - network service
.nz - New Zealand
.au - Australia .uk - United Kingdom .ca - Canada
.jp - Japan
Check that the info is 'solid' and sources are
referenced. Check site links to evaluate authority of linked sites.
