Lesson 3: Effective Internet Research

Lesson 3.1 Searching the Web

Search Engines- websites used for retrieval of data, files, or documents from data bases.

Examples:
- Google
- Duck Duck Go
- Bing
- Dogpile
- Yippy
- Google scholar
- Webopedia
- Yahoo
- Internet archive

URL
(Uniform Resource Identifier)
- Genetic term for all types of names and addresses that refer to objects on the world wide
web.
- Gives you clues who is sponsoring the website and help evaluate the resources.

Popular Domains

. edu- educational institution

.org- non-profit organization
.gov- government site
.com- commercial site
.net- network
.ph- Philippines
.eu- European Union
.uk- United Kingdom
.au- Australia
Search Skills and Tools

1. Boolean Logic- narrows, broadens, or eliminates search term.

a. Boolean “or”-this operator will find pages that include either of the search terms.
b. Boolean “and”- this operator will retrieve only pages containing both terms.
c. Boolean “not”- this operator will find pages that do not include search term immediately
following it.

2. Phase searching- used to search for famous quotes, proper names, recommendations, etc. It
encloses the phrase in quotation marks.
3. Plus (+)- indicates that the word after the sign is required word must be found in search.
4. Minus (-)- indicates to exclude a word from your search that is not required on the result.
5. Ampersand (@)- used to find social tags.
6. Hashtags (#)- used to find popular hashtags.
7. Finding documents- using the filetype refines the search for documents on the web.
8. Searching site- the sites find webpage from a website.

Lesson 3.3 Evaluating Sites

1. Authority- reveals that the person, institution or agency responsible for a site has the
qualifications and knowledge to do so. Evaluating a website for
a. Authorship- it should be clear who developed the site.
b. Contact information should be clearly provided- email address, snail mail address, phone
number and fax number.
c. Credentials- the author should state qualifications, credentials or personal background
that gives them authority to present information.
d. Check to see if the site supported by an organization or a commercial body.

2. Purpose- the purpose presented in the site should be clear. Some sites are meant to inform,
persuade, state an opinion, entertain, or parody something or someone. Evaluating a web
site for purpose:
a. Does the content support the purpose of the site?
b. Is the information geared to a specific audience (students, scholars, general reader)
c. Is the site organized and focused?
d. Does the site evaluate links?

3. Coverage- refers to how comprehensive the website is in their discussion of certain topics.
Evaluating a website for coverage:
a. Does the website claim to be selective or comprehensive?
b. Are the topics explored in depth?
c. Compare the value of the site’s information compare to other similar sites.
d. Do the links go to outside sites rather than its own?
e. Does the site provide information with no relevant outside links?
 4. Currency- refers to (1) how current the information presented is, and (2) how often the site is
updated or maintained. It is important to know when a site was created, when it was last
updated, and if all of the links are current. Evaluating a website for currency involves finding
the date information was:
a. First written
b. Placed on the web last revised

5. Objectivity- objectives sites present information with a minimum of bias. Evaluating a

website for objectivity:
a. Is the information presented with a particular basis?
b. Does the information try to sway the audience?
c. Does site advertising conflict with the content?
d. Is the site trying to explain, inform, persuade or sell something?

6. Accuracy- refers to the credibility of the website. Evaluating a website for accuracy:
a. Reliability- is the author affiliated with a known, respectable institution?
b. References- do statistics and other factual information receive proper references as to
their origin?
c. Is the information comparable to other sites on the same topic?
d. Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling and composition?
e. Is bibliography or reference list included?

Lesson 4 Advance Spreadsheet skills

Estimating the products using Microsoft Excel

1. Copy the information below.

2. Use the SUM formula to get the summation of the values C4 TO C7. The SUM formula is
=SUM (C4:C7).

Formula in average
= AVERAGE (CELLS INVOLVED)
= AVERAGE (C4:C7)

Formula in count if
Range- the cells where the counting will take place.
Criteria- the label or value that determines if it is to be counted
=COUNTIF (RANGE, CRITERIA)
=COUNTIF (C4:C7,“YES”)

Formula in average if
= AVERAGEIF (RANGE, CRITERIA, AVERAGE RANGE)
= AVERAGEIF (C4:C7, “TEACHER” F5:F19)