Research & Databases

Digital Citizenship/Literacy

Searching Google Video

Part of the role of a teacher today is to develop students into digitally literate, lifelong learners, ready to adapt to a rapidly changing world. A digitally literate person must be able find, evaluate, use, and communicate information digitally. Google tools like Google Search, Google Scholar, and Google Now help facilitate and enhance digital literacy.

The three 'search smart' basics are:

1. Choosing the right search terms

2. Understanding search results

3. Narrowing a search to get the best results

Let’s unpack each of our ‘search smart’ basics in a little more detail.

Choosing the right search terms

Remember that every word counts in a Google search, so choosing the right words makes a big difference. Work with students to identify important words in questions or prompts that you give them, in order to identify the keywords that they would use in searches. Instead of searching using whole sentences or questions, using these keywords in a query is more likely to return results that actually meet the students’ needs.

Understanding search results

When our results are returned to us from our search, there is a lot happening on the page, which can make it a little daunting to sort through. It’s important to teach kids the key components of their search results page. Let’s explore these components.

• Search bar: This is near the top of the results page, where you can see your query and modify it or enter a new one.

• Ads: These results appear in the right-hand column and sometimes at the top of the results in a colored box. They are always marked with the word “Ads,” so you can easily identify them as paid results.

• Natural results: These results are below the ads, are not paid for by anyone, and cannot be bought.

• Filters: These links are at the top navigational menu, just below the search bar - more explained below on these.

• Knowledge Graph: When you search for a person, place, or thing Google may show this special information box on the right-hand side of the screen.

Narrowing a search to get the best results

There are a number of ways to narrow your search results. These include modifiers, filters, and search tools. Let’s explore some of the most common.

• Modifiers: You can use special characters and words to get more specific search results; these are referred to as Modifiers. For example, if you use a hyphen (-) before a word in a query it will exclude results that contain this word. Consider building a poster with your students to include on your class site/blog or hang in your room to teach the important role these modifiers play in searching. (Still have questions about Modifiers? Check out the info in the Help center.)

• Filters: When you complete a Google search, there are a number of filters you can apply to your search to narrow your results. These filters appear below the search box. With filters, you can narrow your search results to images, videos, maps, shopping, and more by clicking on one of these filters.

• Search Tools: To refine your search further, click on Search tools and you can filter results by where or when they originated.

Challenge: How can you get pictures of red planets in your search results?

Student Response:

• Type "planets" in the search box.

• Click Images.

• Click Search tools.

• Click Color, then select the red filter.

• To return to all image results for “planets,” click Clear below the search box.

Challenge: What’s the quickest way to exclude terms from your search results?

Student Response: Use the hyphen/minus symbol in front of words you want to be excluded from your search results.

Promote Digital Citizenship and Positive Online Behavior (Teacher Link GAFE)

• How to protect yourself with good, strong passwords

• How to recognize hoaxes

• What makes up your digital footprint

• How to manage your online identity

• The importance of privacy settings

• How to build resilience to be able to handle challenges

Valid and Reliable - Google Training

Clean up Your Digital Footprint  

Cyberbullying (Teacher Link)

Here are the main topics we can teach students when dealing with bullies:

• Don’t respond

• Don’t retaliate

• Document it

• Block them online

• Report to an adult