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Web Basics II: An Intermediate Level Workshop on World Wide Web Searching

Participant’s Package

October 2010

w w w . t o r o n t o p u b l i c l i b r a r y . c ah t t p : / / v r l . t o r o n t o p u b l i c l i b r a r y . c a

Original work by Toronto Public Library.The support of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture

and Recreation and of the Government of Canada through Industry Canada is acknowledged.

Web Basics II: An Intermediate Level Workshop on World Wide Web Searching

Welcome and Introduction Explain handouts Review objectives of the workshop

Review screen elements Address box and how to enter an address Arrow on screen, hand hyperlink Scroll bar and how to move up and down a page Back/Forward/Stop/Refresh buttons

Search Engines What is a search engine? What kind of searches would you use a search engine for? Practise searches using Google Specialized Google Searches Other search engines: Yahoo.ca & Ask.com Demonstrate printing

Subject directories What is a subject directory? What kind of searches would you use a subject directory for? Practise searches using Recommended Websites Practise search using ipl2.org

Additional resources and Wrap Up Evaluation of web sites Other library resources and classes TPL offers

Questions and Practice Time

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Objectives of the class:

To show how to find information on the Internet using Search engines and Subject Directories.

Demonstrate how to print pages on library computers How to evaluate websites

Review - Demonstrate location of address box and how to enter an address. Click inside the address box and hit the Delete button. Type the address (URL):

Most Internet address do not need www at the beginning. However, if you don’t get to an address, check the spelling and punctuation and add www. Move the mouse around the page, noting when the arrow pointer changes into a

hand with a pointing finger (these are links). Move the mouse around the screen. Click on Living in Toronto.

Now click on Our Toronto (at the left).

Review Scrolling - four methods to move up and down the page1. Use the scroll wheel on the mouse. To scroll down place your index finger on

the wheel and flex your finger towards yourself. To scroll up flex your finger away from yourself.

2. Use the small black arrows on the right hand side scroll bar (the down arrow is at the bottom of the bar and the up arrow is at the top of the scroll bar).

3. Drag the rectangular scroll bar found between the two arrows to move down and up the page.

4. To avoid repetitive strain injury use the UP and DOWN arrow keys (in the lower middle section of your keyboard) to move up and down the page OR

5. Use the Page Up or Page Down buttons in the middle keypad.

Review Back/forward/refresh/stop buttons Click on BACK button (found in the top left portion of your screen). Click on the FORWARD button (found next to the BACK button). Explain how to use the STOP and REFRESH buttons.

Search Engines - What is a Search Engine?

A computer program that indexes websites or URLs on the Internet.The index is searched for key words or phrases entered by the user.Results are shown as a collection of hyperlinks to websites whose description, title or content match the words or phrase provided.(Source: http://webliminal.com/internet-today/it-gloss.html)When to use a Search Engine?

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toronto.ca

Use a Search Engine when you are looking for specific information;e.g. organizations, people’s names, effects of a certain drug. Searches return a large number of results.

Click inside the address box and type over the highlighted text:

To do a search type words in the search box. Separate the words with a space.

Find a website: Search #1

We can use the drop menu choices to get specific. For this search, just hit the Enter key. Explain the results, ranking with most popular websites near the top of the results list. Click on a link. Use the BACK button to return to results list.

To get a blank search box click on the Google logo.

Find a Website: Search #2Drop menus and search boxes.

Hit the Enter key.At the top of our results list is a sponsored link. This is a business that has paid to be at the top of the results list. Next is a link to Chapters, including more specific links to sections of their website. e.g. Store Locator

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google.ca

globe and mail

chapters

Blinking cursor inside the Google search box means we can type our keywords here.

Click on Store Locator. Click inside the city box and type Toronto. Use the drop menu to pick Ontario as the province. Hit the Enter key or click the Find button.

This time, to get a blank Google search screen use the down arrow at the end of the address box. A drop menu appears listing the URLs we have typed in the address box. Highlight and click on google.com.Our first searches found websites. Now, we will use Google to find information.

Find Information: Search #1

Using the drop menu limit the search by highlighting and clicking on:

canada customs limits

The first two results will answer our question concerning how much we can spend in a 24 hour time period. Click on either of them to find this information. Click on Google’s logo to get a blank search screen.

Find Information: Search #2

Get a blank Google search screen. Type:

Use the drop menu to narrow your search to:Ipod reviews and prices

Summary: Google provides the ability to narrow searches using the drop menu.

Google Phrase Search Page 5

Click on:canada custom limits

canada customs

ipod reviews

A basic Google search includes the word “and” between your keywords. In other words, both words must appear on the web page. By putting quotations around a set of words, you are instructing Google to look for all the words in that exact order. e.g. “Canadian national exhibition”, “restless leg syndrome”, “book reviews”, “bed and breakfast”.

The quotations key is located to the left of the Enter key at the end of the middle row of keys. Hold down the SHIFT key, keep it depressed and hit the double quotations key.

Phrase Search #1 In a blank Google search screen type:

Hit the Enter key.

In the top five search result, American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King Jr. – I have a dream, will provide the speech text.

Combined Phrase Search Joining 2 phrases will narrow our results even more.

Compare with no quotation marks:

We get more results without the quotation marks.

Summary: Use phrase searches to limit results and be more precise.

Quick Google Search – Using search box beside address box. There is a quick way to do a Google search without going to the Google website. Type keywords into the search box in the top right corner. The difference here is you are not given options to narrow your search.

Advanced Search

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“lost symbol” “book review”

“new balance” “running shoes”

new balance running shoes

“I have a dream”

Each search engine has help instructions to assist you. Return to a basic Google screen. Click on the Advanced Search link at the end of the search box.

You will get an Advanced Search screen like this:

A phrase search could also be done using the 2nd box. The Advanced Search option provides various other ways to narrow your search results. We will look at this again in Web Basics III.

Specialized Google Searches To get a blank Google search screen use the down arrow at the end of the address box. A drop menu appears listing the URLs we have typed in the address box. Highlight and click on google.ca

Google has many ways to specialize your search. In the upper left corner of the basic Google search screen you will see the words: Web, Images, Videos, Maps, News, Groups, Gmail, more.

Click on Images at the upper left. We are now at the Google Images Search screen.

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Click on Advanced Search

Enter phrase search here

Google Images Search Type in the search box:

We get pictures of Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto.Click on a picture. Click on the link at the top: See full size image.Use Advanced Image Search to find more pictures, faces, line drawings, logos, clipart, in black and white or colour. (Optional: if time permits)

Go to the Advanced Image Search screen. Find a black & white line drawing of a palm tree.

Type in the 1st box: palm tree. Change Content types to line drawings. Change Coloration to black and white. Click the Search button.

Google Maps Google Maps has several functions. You can use it to get a map (both street maps and satellite images), get directions and to find businesses.

Maps Return to a basic Google search screen. Click on Maps at the top left hand side of the screen.

Type in 789 yonge st toronto to find a map showing Toronto Reference Library.

Click on Search Maps. At the right is a map of the address with a red pin marking the spot, with streets and landmarks.

Click on the Satellite button at the upper right. This view displays satellite and aerial images of your location.

Click on the Terrain button. This view displays elevation features of the area as shaded relief and elevation lines. e.g. mountains and canyons

TIP: The plus (+) key lets you zoom in and the minus key (-) allows you to zoom out or you may also use the scroll wheel for zooming. Click on the blue arrows in the white circle to move the map up (^), down (ν), left (<) and right (>) or you can use the arrow keys on the keyboard. Also, you can click and drag within the map by keeping the mouse button depressed as you drag the mouse over the map.

Directions

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brookfield place toronto

Click on the Map button (upper right) to return to the map with street names.

Click on Get Directions. It is found just under the Google Maps icon.

In the top A box type: 155 bonis ave toronto for directions from Agincourt Library to Toronto Reference Library. Click on the Get Directions button.

To view walking directions click on the drop down menu and change it to walking.

Other Search Engines

Since search engines differ in their results, appearance and options it is useful to try others.

Yahoo! Canada

Yahoo! Canada is designed to be a web portal, which is a website designed to help users access the rest of the World Wide Web easily, all from one page. Yahoo has many services similar to those offered by Google. In addition to searching for web pages, you can read the news, search for images and video and use a directory instead of the search engine to find information.

Yahoo! Type inside the search box:

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Web, Images, Video, Local, Answers, more

Yahoo! News

pan am games toronto

yahoo.ca

Our results are similar to Google’s with sponsored links at the top and side and news results. At the top other search suggestions are provided (Also try).

Ask.comAn example of another search engine. Originally Ask.com allowed users to get answers to questions posed in everyday language as well as using keywords. Today this is true.In search box type:

Look at the search results. At the top is a related searches feature. Summary: Various search engines provide different ways to limit searches and provide many results.

Subject DirectoriesA subject directory is a listing of web sites collected and organized by humans. Directories provide a good starting point if your topic is popular and general.

When to use a Subject Directory?Use a subject directory when you want to find a small list of selected Internet sites on a subject which is easily defined and popular. To use a subject directory you first choose a general heading and work your way through the sub-headings until you get to the specific website or selected list of websites. Then you choose the site(s) you want to explore. If you are looking for something specific use a search engine.The Recommended Websites listed on our websites are produced by staff at the Toronto Public Library and include lots of Canadian content.

Click inside the address box and type the library’s URL: torontopubliclibrary.ca

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When does daylight savings time end?

Click on Books, Video, Research & moreClick on Recommended Websites, at the left.

Recommended Websites Search #1Q: How do I find information about Climate Change and Global Warming?We will use Recommended Websites to find this information.

Click on: Environment and Ecology. Several subheadings are listed at the left Click on: Climate Change and Global Warming

Click on the blue link under the title, Global Warming

Click the Back arrow to return to the Recommended websites page.Page 11

Other Subject Directories

Internet public library 2 (ipl2) In the top address box type:

This subject directory lists 11 general topics. We can use this list to find some astronomy information.

Click on Resources by Subject Click on Science and Technology Click on Astronomy (found on the left hand side) Click on any link that interests you

Summary: Subject Directories provide fewer websites and are selected by humans and are arranged by topic.

Printing

If you wish to take the information you have found on the Internet you will need to print it. The library charges for printing. We want to show you how many pages you will pay for before you print them.

Click on File, Print Preview. The page information is at the bottom. To view the next page of the document click on the button, to view the

previous page click on the button.

To view the last page of the document click on the ►I button, to view the first page of the document click on the I◄ button.

Click on the printer icon on the top left side of the screen to printThe printer will print all pages. To print only specific pages click inside the radio button and type the page numbers you want to print. To increase the number of copies click the arrow beside the number inside the box.

Click Print if you want to print. Click Cancel if you do not want to print. (We’ll click Cancel) To close the print preview screen click the X in the upper right corner.

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ipl.org

Preferences

Portrait  Print the page vertically (portrait orientation).

Landscape   Print the page horizontally (landscape orientation).

Page Setup  Change paper size, orientation, or margins and add headers or footers.

Turn headers or footers on or off  Decide whether to print additional information (such as the date, website address, or page number) at the top or bottom of the page.

Change Print Size Stretch or shrink the page size to fill the printed page. This feature replaces the zoom feature that was in previous versions of Internet Explorer.

View Full Width    Zoom the webpage to the width of the preview screen.

View Full Page Zoom the webpage to show the full webpage in the preview screen.

Page 

Specify the page to display.

Evaluation of Web sites and Wrap up

Type in the address box:

Because anyone can publish on the Internet it is important for you to educate yourself about whether the information is believable.Questions to ask yourself include the following topics: Author/Source, Accuracy, Currency, Objectivity, Coverage and Purpose.

Click on the So what? button at the right for more information.

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http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/evaluating

Click inside the Pages radio button. Click inside the long box & type page numbers you wish to print

Practice Questions

During practice time, feel free to use some of the resources we have explored to answer your own questions or do searches on topics of interest to you. The following are some other questions you might want to try to answer using some of the tools we used today.

Search Engine Questions

1. Where can I find information on the plant called Christmas cactus?2. Where can I find the eulogy delivered by Justin Trudeau at his father’s funeral?

Subject Directory Questions

1. Where can I find information on calculators and converters? HINT: Try Quick Information.

2. Where can English language for ESL learners information? HINT: Try Languages and Language Learning

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR WORKSHOP

Parts of an Internet Address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

Protocol = the way in which web pages are sent through the Internet.http = hypertext transfer protocol; other protocols include telnet, gopher, etc.

Directory = like the name of the file folder where the information is storedFile name = like the name of an individual document or page in a file folder

Endings of the address of the computer and what they meanThe Toronto Public Library’s computer’s address ends in “ca” for Canada. Two letter codes like these are usually country codes and indicate the country of origin of the web site.

.uk - United Kingdom

.au - Australia

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ExampleDirectory name

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/mul_index.jsp Protocol File name

Computer’s and formataddress

Other Common Endings

Ending Meaning.com A commercial or business site.edu A site originating from an educational

institution such as a university.gc A Canadian government site

.gov A government site; sometimes used in conjunction with country codes

.org A non-profit organization

.net A network provider

Search Engine Syntax

How a Search Engine Processes Your Search Terms

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And Search Engine

Results contain the word dog and the word breeds.

Used as default search by, for example, Yahoo,Google, HotBot.

Or Search Engine

Results contain the word dog or the word breeds or both words.Used as default search by, for example, Academic Info, Encyclopedia Britannica

When to use a…

Subject directory (e.g. Virtual Reference Library, Librarian’s Index to the Internet) When you have a broad, easily defined subject When you want a selected listing of web sites relevant to your subject

Search engine (e.g. Google, Yahoo) When you have a specific or narrow subject to search When you want a large list of web sites on your topic When you are looking for a product by its name

Want to learn more…Sites that can teach you more about searching the Internet

Big List of Internet Tutorialshttp://www.high-speed-internet-access-guide.com/articles/internet-tutorials.html

Introduction to Internet/WWWhttp://www.december.com/web/text/tutor/intro.html

Internet Tutorials: your basic guide to the Internethttp://www.internettutorials.net/choose.asp

Search Engine Watchwww.searchenginewatch.com

The Web for Beginnershttp://vrl.tpl.toronto.on.ca/tutorial/index_ie.html

Other Interesting Web Sites to Explore

Here is a list of websites that may be useful or of interest to you. These sites are created and maintained by different organizations. The Toronto Public Library is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of these sites. The inclusion of these sites does not mean that Toronto Public Library endorses or sponsors the products or services described or offered by these web sites.

Finding PeopleAre you trying to find an old friend or a business? Try the following sites:Canada 411 canada411.ca WhitePages whitepages.com/reverse_phone

Canadian News/Other NewsTry the following sites for current events/news from Toronto, Canada and the world:CBC www.cbc.caCNN www.cnn.comCTV www.ctv.caGlobe and Mail www.theglobeandmail.com

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The Paperboy thepaperboy.comToronto Star www.thestar.comToronto Sun www.torontosun.com

Free E-MailLooking to set up a free e-mail account? The following are web based e-mail sites:Gmail www.gmail.com Hotmail www.hotmail.comYahoo Mail www.yahoo.ca

Fun and GamesFor games of all types or relaxing puzzles try the following sites:Yahoo Games www. games.yahoo.com Jigzone www. jigzone.com

General InformationNeed general information and don’t know where to start? Try these sites:Refdesk refdesk.comVirtual Reference Library vrl.torontopubliclibrary.ca

HealthCanadian Health Network canadian-health-network.comMayo Clinic mayoclinic.com

Media (Pictures, Chatting, Lyrics)Share pictures with friends, find music lyrics or chat online with friends or family. Kodak Gallery www.kodakgallery.comFlickr http://flickr.comMSN Messenger get.live.com/messenger/overviewA-Z Lyrics www.azlyrics.com

Personal FinanceLooking to learn about financial investments or check daily stocks? Try these sites:Daily Stocks dailystocks.com/Canada.cgiMorningstar Canada www.morningstar.ca

ShoppingOrder books, CDs, movies, groceries and more:Chapters chapters.indigo.caGrocery Gateway grocerygateway.comEbay Canada ebay.ca

Travel - Planning a vacation? Try the following:Expedia expedia.ca Lonely Planet lonelyplanet.comTravelocity travelocity.ca

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