How to Use Online Tools: Game and Advanced Search Tips
Search Engines' Game Rules
Background information for effective searching.
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Limit search to 10 terms.
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Goal is to get as few hits as possible to retrieve exactly what you were searching for.
Advanced Search Tips (These will help you WIN!)
- Use quotation marks
- Looks for words in exact order that you enter them "French Restoration" / "Bob Marley" / "human rights" / "affirmative action"
- Use minus sign to exclude word from search eg. vikings -Minnesota
- Limit search to certain groups on the web: best are colleges or organizations (not commercial companies: .com) eg. lacrosse site:edu
- Don't use questions. Don't use irrelevant words
- Use of keywords is crucial; helps NARROW the search.
- eg. "great depression" = 5.1 million hits
- "the great depression" site:org okies occupations = 89 hits
Search Engine Game Time* 
Working in pairs, do the following:
- Your Library Media Specialist or Teacher will announce the time allotted for searching.
- Record keywords/techniques used (goal - less than 10).
- Answer question correctly.
- The team with fewest number of hits PLUS correct answer WINS
*Idea for this game came from an article in School Library Journal, 01/06, and was adapted by Jen Blair, Mt. View Middle School, Beaverton.
