[ What is a Search Engine? | Pick an Engine | Search Terms | Search & Surf for "Good Stuff" ]

What is a Search Engine?

A search engine is a Web site that links to a database of many (okay, many, many) Internet files. These can be Web sites, homepages, gophers, newsgroups, etc. If none of those words mean anything to you, just think, "it's a collection of all the stuff on the Net" and you won't be far off. What makes these sites so great is that they allow you to use their engine (or software program) to search their database. Because the Internet is a cool, chaotic, and quirky collection, search engines are the tools that let you actually find what you're looking for (usually). So what you do is go to one of these sites, type your topic in a little text field, then the engine searches and shows you what it's found. Each of the search engines listed below comes with strengths and weaknesses. You'll end up finding one that you like the best (for your own cool, chaotic, and quirky reasons).

Pick an Engine

Choose a search engine from the list. If you have a favorite, use it. If you're new to searching, try "Excite." Even though it's a little slower than the others, it tends to bring back more accurate "hits" (what you're looking for). You might like to read Excite's "Search Help" page or skim Debbie Abilock's Choose the Best Search Engine for Your Information Needs.

Note: Filamentality creates a new window when you click a search engine link. If you're dying to know why, check out this Mentality Tip.

Sun Microsystem's engine does key word or concept searching so you tend to find what you're looking for.

Digital's engine is relatively new, very fast, and extremely thorough. It would be nice if it were a little more selective in what it brings back, though.

Carnegie-Mellon University's engine was one of the first search tools. It has become as slick and fast as the pro's, but it doesn't seem to find as much.

The Pacific Bell Education First Fellows catalog hundreds of great sites. This might be a good place to get ideas for your activities, but we don't link to enough sites for you to use it as your only search tool.

If your favorite search engine isn't listed here, you might find it by scrolling down Netscape's InfoSeek homepage.

If you're looking for mail-related contacts, search "Find Newsgroups" or "Liszt" for Listservs. Note: some groups and lists are unmoderated and not appropriate places for K-12 students.

Entering Search Terms

Just about all the search engines like basic everyday words the best. Each also offers tips on doing customized searches on their particular engine. If an engine's not working for you the way you think it should, try another: life's too short to spend time tinkering with an engine that doesn't want to run. The main thing to remember in searching is:

"If at first you don't succeed, try try a synonym."

In general, search engines will return any site that has any of your search terms. For example, a search using cats dogs will find all sites with cats PLUS all sites with dogs. If you're not finding useful sites, consider these strategies to refine your search:

Try +cats +dogs or cats AND dogs	to find sites with both cats and dogs
Try +cats -dogs or cats AND NOT dogs	to find sites with cats and without dogs
Try "raining cats and dogs"	to find sites with this exact phrase
Try cat*	to find sites with words that begin with cat (cats, catastrophe, catalog, etc.)

Search & Surf for "Good Stuff"

Here's the kind of stuff you're looking for:

solid info close to your users' reading, interest, and knowledge levels
sites that are fun, cool, passionate, creative, interesting
the kind of stuff you don't find in encyclopedias (see the bullet above)
places and people that reach beyond "school"
different opinions on the same topic
sparks, sparks, and more sparks

Other Tips:

Give yourself a block of time to search.
Don't give up too soon. The great Web site could be one link away!
Try some different, related search terms.
If you're not having any luck, try a different search engine.
Follow links you run across on "Hotlists" offered by pages you hit.
If you start hitting the same site from different directions, you're probably finished.

	Sun Microsystem's engine does key word or concept searching so you tend to find what you're looking for.
	Digital's engine is relatively new, very fast, and extremely thorough. It would be nice if it were a little more selective in what it brings back, though.
	Carnegie-Mellon University's engine was one of the first search tools. It has become as slick and fast as the pro's, but it doesn't seem to find as much.
	The Pacific Bell Education First Fellows catalog hundreds of great sites. This might be a good place to get ideas for your activities, but we don't link to enough sites for you to use it as your only search tool.