Exploring the Google Search Engine
Directions: Use the Google Search Engines to answer the questions.
Save a tree use a digital answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the wp document in a contrasting color or font. Please do not put them on the web because they will show up in a search engine making them like the odd question answers in the back of the math text.. Or perhaps you have the resources to record verbal answers. If you do, be sure to first read / record the question. Then record the answer immediately after it.

1. Enter your school's phone number including the area code. Write the kind of information that is returned on the hits page.

Repeat this with another phone number you know.

2. Enter your town's zip code. What type of information is returned?

Give an example of how you could use this feature.

3. Enter your State in the entry bar. Click News. List three of the categories of news provided. How timely are the articles?

Give an example of when this would be useful to you. Explain why.

4. Imagine you are visiting New York City with a group of friends. How would the Local search feature be very helpful?

5. You have been working part time at the grocery store. It was not fun, but you remain focused on your goal to purchase a new stereo.
You want to buy the best stereo your budget can permit. How would Froogle be helpful to you in making a choice?

6. Your dad tells you that he has a problem. Your mom mentioned something special she wanted that was in a major catalogue.
Your dad cannot find the catalog. Which Google feature may save the day?

7. Your brother announces at dinner that Challenger Deep is the deepest point on earth.
You are sure you learned that the deepest place is the Marianas Trench.
Use the Directory feature to find out who is correct. Write your directory choices to the answer.

Do you prefer the directory feature or the search the web feature better? Why?

8. If I enter a name like Washington, the Google web search engine gives a bounty hits.
I get web pages with people named Washington, like pages about George Washington.
I get Washington state and Washington city pages. I will also get schools that have the name Washington.

Read the Phrase searches.

Enter your community's name in the Google web search engine.

How many hits are returned for your community's name?

Write one way to improve your community search.

9. The Google search engine has a dictionary. Enter define:homonym. Read the definition, if you do not know what the word means.

Homonym conundrums can be overcome using the advise in Negative terms.
How can you narrow a search to find info about a unique rock.

10. Scan - Ten things Google has found to be true Which of these "things" also applies to your school?
Explain how one of them is also true at your school.

11. Give an example of how search engines like Google are changing how people live or work.

12. What is the Invisible or Deep Web?

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Challenge: "Search is so highly personal that searching is empowering for humans like nothing else.
It is the antithesis of being told or taught. It is self-empowerment; it is empowering individuals to do what
they think best with the information they want". Eric Schmidt, Google CEO

Do you agree with him or disagree? Support your answer.

Online Collaborations & Social Networking

Done already?

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