We all think we know how to “Google” something. However, there are a lot of hidden ways to up your search game. In today’s digital age, teachers have access to more information than ever before. The internet has become an indispensable tool in the field of education. With Google Search serving as the go-to resource for countless queries. However, it’s important for teachers to learn effective search techniques. This allows them to quickly find accurate and relevant information for lesson planning, student support, and professional development. Let’s take a look at 5 Google Search techniques to try today:
1. Tools in Search
After searching for a topic click on the “Tools” option.
Clicking on “Tools” will reveal more options for your search. This will allow you to search for resources from a time range. Choose from the last hour to the last year or a custom date range.
2. Related:
The “related:” operator in Google Search is a useful tool that helps you find websites with content similar to a specific site. By using this operator followed by a website URL, Google will return a list of websites that are related to the original site in terms of topic, theme, or content.
To use the “related:” operator, simply type “related:” (without the quotation marks) in the Google search bar, followed by the URL of the website you want to find similar sites for. For example, if you want to find websites similar to the New York Times, you would type “related:nytimes.com” into the search bar.
Keep in mind that the “related:” operator might not always return results for every website. This is because Google’s algorithm determines related sites based on various factors, and sometimes, there may not be enough data or similar sites to generate a list.
3. Intitle:
The “intitle:” search operator is a valuable tool for teachers who want to find web pages with specific words or phrases in the title. This operator allows you to narrow down your search results by focusing on the titles of web pages, which often contain the main topic or theme of the content.
To use the “intitle:” operator, type “intitle:” (without the quotation marks) in the Google search bar, followed by the keyword or phrase you’re looking for. For example, if you’re searching for lesson plans on photosynthesis, you could type “intitle:photosynthesis lesson plans.”
4. Wildcard
The wildcard search technique in Google Search involves using an asterisk (*) as a placeholder for one or more unknown words within a phrase. This technique can be particularly useful for teachers when they are searching for information but might not know the exact phrase or keywords to use.
To use the wildcard search technique, simply replace the unknown word(s) within a phrase with an asterisk (*). Google will then search for all possible combinations of words that fit the wildcard. For example, if you’re looking for a popular nursery rhyme but can’t remember the exact title, you could search for “Mary * lamb” to find results for “Mary had a little lamb.”
5. Advanced Search
How often does it occur to you to click on the settings cog in Google Search? I’m betting not very often.
Look for the cog icon in the upper right of Google Search. This will pop out a side panel of options. This gives you “Quick Settings.” Scroll down a little to “Advanced search.”
Advanced search allows you to filter your search without having to memorize all the tricks. For example, I know I can put a minus sign in front of my search term to EXCLUDE a phrase from my search. However, if you forgot or don’t know that trick simply use the “none of these words:” option in the advanced search window.
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