Table of Contents

Overview

Objectives
Materials
Instructions
Related Links
Evaluation
Standards

Overview

Once you've completed a skillful search, how do you know which link to follow   from search results pages? Clicking on one link from the search results page over another link is like choosing your own learning adventure. Students have to skillfully consider and make the initial determination from the information given to them on the search results page before they click to a website. Learning which link to follow will help students more effectively navigate their own learning adventure.

Objectives

Inquiry questions: Which link should I follow? Which search result has what I need?

• Students will learn to interpret and judge the search results page 

Materials

Instructions

Use the "Which Link Should I Follow?" Google Presentation slides provided with this lesson to introduce students to Search.  Slides that go with each section of this lesson are indicated by number. Stop for class discussion where indicated on the slide.

1. [Slide #1] Introductory slide

2. [Slides #2] Warm Up Activity - Which link should I follow? Choose your own learning adventure.  The teacher explains "You purchased a pineapple, how do you cut it to eat?" Students guess how to search and anticipate how to  read the search results. Alternatively, the teacher could have a search page open and take student guesses, but do not click on the link, as the purpose of this lesson is just try to read and interpret the results. 

3. [Slides #3 - #6] The search results page provides additional links and information besides search results. Students can make a more informed decision about which link to follow by learning what the additional search features mean. In this part of the lesson the slides will ask students to discuss and understand what kind of links are on a search page and learn to judge the search results page:

Discussion questions:  *How does Google search work? What do these search features mean? *How can they help you decide which link to follow?   *Google page rank and index Possible Answers:  A search result that appears higher on the search results page is deemed as more relevant to your query. Google uses a specific calculation to determine both which results and where results appear on the search results page. This calculation is based on similar (relevant) pages and web pages with hyperlinks to those pages. So, the more popular and relevant a particular website, the more likely it will be ranked higher and indexed on the results page. Google search is constantly being revised to make sure the most useful results appear on top.  *Statistics bar Possible Answers: Describes the search, estimates the possible total number of results (Google estimates the results these are not absolute calculations) The estimated number of results can help you decide how popular or broad your search topic is. *Dictionary definitions Possible Answers:  Links to an online dictionary (answers.com) and provides a basic definition to the search terms. You can quickly learn the specified meaning of your search term before you click on your search result links. *Search results Possible Answers: These are the organic search results. The results are not influenced by sponsored links. Google does not sell results rank for search results. Organic search results and sponsored link results work from different and separate servers. *Sponsored links Possible Answers:  Google allows for ads with specific guidelines. Ads must be relevant to the search, not be distracting, and labeled clearly as "Sponsored Links". Google doesn't sell search results. Optional - if there is time in your lesson investigate for a little more detail on the page. [Slides #5-#6] *Cached pages and Similar pages Possible Answers:  Cached pages: Google keeps a stored copy of web pages instead of the current version. It is useful if the Internet connection to that site is slow or if the page no longer exists. Similar pages: clicking on this link might be useful to find more information similar to the search result *Related results Possible Answers: Google uses an algorithm to show you results that closely match related to your original query.

4. [Slide #7] Practice: Check for understanding search challenge! Which link should I follow? Encourage students to read the search results page, make a judgment and and justify why they might click on appropriate link to choose their own learning adventure. Search can be unpredictable and entertaining too....engage your students in another simple query.... How do you remove ink stain from the inside of a new electric dryer? Complete a couple of searches with the class and look at the search results page.  Have them use Google search and read the type of results to predict which link might give the best answer. DO NOT click on the links, just analyze the results from the search page as described in slides 3 - 6. After students predict and practice, play the video answer for this question. 

5. [Slides #8] Judgement - Direction instruction and class discussion. Before you click on the search result link,  make an initial judgment  - How do I know if this information source valid? Read the snippet and make an initial determination before you click: 

• The URL –is it from a place you’ve heard of before?
• Is it someone’s personal page?  (e.g., Geocities, aol.com) 
• What kind of domain is it?  (.edu is more believable than many others) 
• Is it hosted in another country?  (.ru, .cn, .iz etc.) 
  
• Are there keywords or places you know by reading the snippet?
• Statistics bar - how popular is your search?
• Sponsored links - are they relevant to your query? 
• Option - Can you find a date on the page?   
  

6. [Slides #9] Practice: Whole class instruction - Bring up the Google search results page (Check for understanding challenge!) Choose your own learning adventure....engage your students in another simple query.... Complete a couple of searches with the class and look at the search results page. Have them use Google search and judgment to find the answer. 

Discussion: What link would you click? Which link should you follow?

Predict the result and justify your choice.

Optional instructional strategy: Students organized in teams can share a Google doc with the teacher and they can practice reading search results pages and record their predictions.

7. [Slide #10] After students practice, play the video to answer the question.
You find a rattle snake in your yard, what do you do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTr4qQc4yk

Related Links

What you need to Know about Search: Part 1

Google Search Privacy

Evaluation

In teams, students will create mini "Choose your own learning adventure" queries. To do this, have students create an interesting question. Students can share and challenge each other with their questions. If there is time, and computing availability, student teams could create the video response for each query like the examples in the lesson slides.

Standards

ISTE NETS Student Standards:

3. Research and Information Fluency 

Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. 

Students: c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

ISTE NETS Teacher Standards:

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. 

Teachers: d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.