SEARCH ENGINES 
Search engines feature indexes that are automatically compiled by
computer programs, such as "robots", "spiders" or "web
crawlers", that go out and collect Internet resources. Students connect to a search
engine site and enter keywords to query the index. Web pages and other Internet resources
that satisfy the query are then identified and listed by the search engine. Search engines
vary according to the size of the index, the frequency of updating the index, the search
options, the speed of returning a result set, the result set presentation, the relevancy
of the items included in a result set, and the overall ease of use.
Students often waste an immense amount of time "surfing"
for information unless they are adept at using various search engines to navigate the
Internet. They should also be mindful that different results are likely to be
obtained from different search engines, depending on attributes previously mentioned.
Simply comparing the results obtained by using the same query and/or search terms with
different search engines will quickly demonstrate to them that search engines use
miscellaneous methods to structure queries and compile resources, and that this feature
can significantly effect the list of web sites produced by a particular search
engine. Finally, it should be remembered that the Internet is constantly
changing. Students' searching skills should therefore be adaptable to evolving tools
rather than the specific characteristics of particular search engines.
When a simple search does not render the results students are looking for, they
could try using a search engine with an advanced search function. The advanced search
function allows users to narrow down the search and/or more precisely explain what it is
that they're looking for. For example, the search engine can scan entire documents or
limit itself to document titles only; it can also be instructed to look for entire
phrases, exact phrase, as well as any/non/all the words in a phrase. Search results can
also be limited by domain, category, format, site ratings and/or dates.
 
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