How to...Do a Search using Google!

Welcome to my first installment of "How to..."  I hope this will be an informative blog series for all student, parent, and staff readers!  I plan to post a new "How to..." bi-weekly.  


This week's "How to..." describes the process for using the popular search engine, Google.  Words in bold are important technology terms to know. Oh, and don't forget to check out the Special Pro Tips at the bottom! 


How to do a search using Google:

1. Open a web browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.)
2. Type the following URL: www.google.com in the address bar
3. In the search box (the large blank in the middle of the screen), type the search terms, or words or phrases you are seeking information about.  With the new "Google Instant" feature, results will start to pop up as you type each letter!  
4. Review the links returned to find the one that will best suit your needs.  When you find one that looks promising, click on it! Read the page provided to see if it has the information you need.  Remember to review links for indications that they are a credible source: things like being .gov or .edu addresses, or being part of well-known sources such as newsgroups or publications (CNN, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, etc.)
5. If needed, make any changes to your search terms, and try again (starting at step 3)!

Special Pro Tips!

• If you are looking for a specific type of results, such as Images, Videos, Books, Places, etc., make sure you click the corresponding link on the left-hand side of the results page!
• If you aren't getting the results you need, try putting in synonyms for your search terms.  You can combine the terms with AND, or separate the terms with OR.  OR searches will look for results with one term or the other.  AND searches will look for results with both terms. 
• If you are looking for an exact phrase or word, try putting it in "quotation marks"
• If there are words you do NOT want included in search results, put a minus sign (-) in front of them.  Such as: Community School -New York State
• Google can solve math problems for you!  Really!  Just type your math problem in the search box.  Google can find percents [example: 15% of $45.67], square roots [example: sqrt (81)], and exponentials [example: 20^2], in addition to basic four-function problems [ +, -, *, / ].  
• If you are getting results that are inappropriate or that make you uncomfortable, try adjusting Safe Search in the Settings menu.  Google defaults to "Moderate Safe Search", which will filter explicit images.  "Strict Filtering" is the stronger option, and it filters explicit images and text.