I work at Google.

  I write.  I analyze.  I experiment.  I do field studies and I try to understand
  what makes Google users tick.

  Why do they sometimes query Google for [ first ], and then not click on anything? 

  Why do some Google users only ask one query, while others can go on and on?   
  What's different about their search experiences? 

  Why?

  How do Google users measure success?  What constitutes failure?  How can the
  search engine know in order to make the next time you search that much better?

  Most recently, I've been focusing on what skills searchers need to have in
  order to be effective searchers.  Not surprisingly, just a few key skills can
  make your searching MUCH better.

 

   More about Dan...

Me, having fun, diving with a video camera, Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras, 2005

 

Most Recent Work (i.e., right now...)

• My blog:  SearchResearch  I started writing a blog about search and how people learn to research (and a few other topics that are related as well).  Come read this if you're interested in improving your ability to search, if you want to learn about sensemaking or are curious about how to teach search or research skills in your classroom.   I post roughly 3 to 4 times each week.  
  
  
• Search Education:  I run a small team at Google that is actively creating materials to teach people how to search.  You can find LOTS of teaching resources at the Google Search Education Evangelism web site. 
  
  
• New! AGoogleADay.com If you want to keep your search skills up, consider doing AGoogleADay.com each morning.  It's a short, simple search challenge that will keep your skills sharp!  (And you should be learning something new about the world every day as a side-effect.) 

Upcoming classes

• February 15, 2012. "Advanced web search skills:  How to be an internet power searcher" You already know how to search, but do you know all of the advanced methods?  In this class we'll cover some advanced features in Google and touch on issues such as credibility assessment and strategies for tracking down obscure and difficult-to-find content. You should already know how to use filetype:, site: and define: -- if you know those operators, you're ready to learn the deeper strategies of internet search. Free class, but please register for space on the Library homepage: www.cityofpaloalto.org/library  6 - 7:30PM at the Downtown branch library, 270 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  
  
• March 15, 2012.  "Google Advanced Search"  This class focuses on the advanced tools available for Internet research. Learn how to search your own search history (both browser history and Google login), how to set up and use Custom Search Engines, when to set up Alerts for research topic monitoring, Google toolbar use, Advanced operators (filetype, site, intitle, inurl, allintext, define) the range of different Google Properties, etc.  RAFT location in San José, CA.  You can sign up for this class at http://www.raft.net/workshops/in-house     Note:  you do NOT need to be a member of RAFT to attend this class (but if you're not, there's a small fee involved--contact RAFT for details).  5:30 - 7:30PM.    
  
  
• March 22, 2012. "Google Search Pragmatics: Sharpening Your Search Skills"  Sharpen your web searching skills by practicing in an open, supportive atmosphere where we'll solve the real search/research questions students bring into the class.  RAFT location in San José, CA.  You can sign up for this class at http://www.raft.net/workshops/in-house     Note:  you do NOT need to be a member of RAFT to attend this class (but if you're not, there's a small fee involved--contact RAFT for details).  5:30 - 7:30PM.    
  
  
• April 19, 2012.  "Google Tech Web Search"  Ever try to find something very specific and very technical? This class will help you discover strategies that work for searching out information in a particular topic area. We'll cover finding course notes and materials, illustrations, images, and parts for specific kinds of classes (e.g. science, math, technology). You'll learn how to find repositories, the use of domain-specific language, and terms to search out just what you need.  RAFT location in San José, CA.  You can sign up for this class at http://www.raft.net/workshops/in-house     Note:  you do NOT need to be a member of RAFT to attend this class (but if you're not, there's a small fee involved--contact RAFT for details).  5:30 - 7:30PM.    

• If you're bummed about not getting into these classes, please let me know by
  Clicking Here to sign up for the NEXT CLASS notification.  
  
  
• We often hold classes at the Googleplex for teachers and librarians.  The next one will probably be in January, 2012.    Click Here to sign up for the NEXT CLASS notification.    

Upcoming  talks

• Sensemaking III: What people do to search-for and organize complex information,  Friday, January 20,  2012, 12:30PM.  Stanford, Gates Building.  http://hci.stanford.edu/courses/cs547/

• What it means to be literate in the Age of Google, February 28, 2012.  Louis Clark Vanuxem Lecture at Princeton, NJ. McCosh Hall 50, 8:00PM.
  
  
• Sensemaking: What people do to search-for and organize complex information,  March 14,  2012.  UC Santa Cruz.  Psychology Department colloquium, Wednesday, March 14th, 12:30 -2 pm, in Social Sciences Bldg. 2, room 121.  
  
  
• Search and meta-search skills for journalists.  March 23, 2012.  U. Maryland, College Park.  Place and time TBD. 
  
  
  

Select Recent Presentations (not all of them, thank heavens)

Abstract:   Is search a solved problem?  Certainly not from the user's perspective.  Some web searchers are incredibly effective at satisfying their goals with search engines, while others seem to have trouble getting their questions framed, let alone answered.  Why are some searchers so good, and what do they do differently than others?  I'll talk about some of the differences between searchers at different proficiency levels and what it means to learn how to search and research… and what the difference is. 

Library Internet Search Skills presentation  (PDF 3.5Mb)  Basics of Internet Search.  A hands-on class I give at Bay Area libraries, schools, etc. (2008)

Advanced Search Techniques (PDF 5.6Mb)   How to be a super internet searcher--advanced.   Presented at NASA Ames. (April 16, 2008) 

How humans behave under high task interruption loads  (PDF 1.1Mb)    Presentation at FOO Camp in Sebastopol, CA 
        (June 23, 2007)  session on human attention, with Kathy Sierra and Linda Stone

  

Classes Content for Classes I Teach

I often teach classes on how to use Google more effectively. (Google is easy to use now; but with a few tips, you can REALLY improve you ability to find things.)

These are the materials I use.  If you're a teacher and want to re-use some of these materials, feel free! You might drop me a line to let me know what you're doing, but really, use with abandon!

Essays

            Running the Boston Marathon  (1993) Running a marathon isn't just about pain,
                                                                             but it makes a different way of seeing the world

                Trip report from CSCW 2006 (2006) My thoughts about the conference  (PDF 3.5Mb)

                Diving the Channel Islands (1997)  Diving the Channel islands as ecstatic experience

                Visiting Falling Water (1998) Seeing Frank Lloyd Wright's house for the first time

                Life dot plots (2006)  (2006) A simple visualization of your life--one day = 1 dot.  It all fits on 1 slide. 

                A paen to making applesauce (1986)  Simple food, simple task, a revelation.

                Green lines on the land (2009)  How trees persist in the landscape

Book Recommendations

 I seem to have become the scribe for irregularly scheduled book club meetings.  Here are the last few times I've sat down with good friends in a nice restaurant and we've talked about books.

HICSS Book Club Recommendations 2005 (Kona, Hawaii) 

HICSS Book Club Recommendations 2006 (Poipu Hawai'i)

HICSS Book Club Recommendations 2007 (Kona, Hawai'i) 

HCIC Book Club Recommendations 2007 (Tabernash, CO)

INTERACT Book Club Recommendations 2007 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)      

Tahoe Offsite Book Recommendations 2008 (Tahoe, Nevada)

HICSS Book Club Recommendations 2009 (Kona, Hawai'i)