Journal One- "Your Google Guide"

By Doug Johnson

This article provides numerous suggestions for teachers to improve their Google search skills along with those of their students. Doug Johnson believes one of the most important things when searching for information on Google is to know what you are looking for. Many people, places, or things have the same name. In order to ensure that you are receiving information about the intended topic, it is important to know at least three or four facts about the desired topic. The author suggests another way to improve your search results on Google and to increase the probability of getting results for the desired topic. Instead of using only one word in a search, the author suggests forming a question because it will increase the number of search terms and further refine one's search. Finally, when a search is conducted, it is important for teachers and students to be able to interpret the results with the summaries provided instead of browsing every website provided. Descriptions and metags are provided to show the searcher how the search terms are provided in the website. This helps to ensure teachers that their students are not accidentally encountering inappropriate information.

Questions

1. 
   
   Create an example of a lesson plan educators can do to teach their students about finding information on the Internet using a search engine like google.


2. 
   
   The author of the article, Doug Johnson, states that when using a search engine, it is important for student to know more facts about what they are searching for because it is likely that search results will produce websites with the search term requested however it might not but it might not be what they intended to find. How can educators prevent this situation?

Answers

1. 
   
   There are many lesson plans that allow students to search on google. For example, a teacher could give their students a list of countries and have the student type them into the search engine to find what continent they are located in. They could also type in a question like, "What is the population of..." to find information about the country.


2. 
   
   To ensure that student get the correct results when using a search engine like google, I would suggest the teacher provide information to the students. For example, if the students wish to find information on a famous person, it would help them to know important dates in the persons life. Knowing the birthday or year of the person will ensure they are learning information about the correct person.

Simigirlie's Best Blog ever... aka- Introduction Letter!!!

My name is Colleen Mac Laughlin and I grew up in the Los Angeles/ Ventura County area. I lived in West Hollywood until I was about fifteen years of ages however, I received my education at schools in Simi Valley where my parents' Dentist office was. My parents decided to retire and move to Simi Valley because they wanted my brother and I live in a smaller community. I spent my four years of high school at Simi High where I participated in leadership, cheer leading, and was the captain of the varsity girls golf team. My senior year in high school I participated in the "Teachers of Tomorrow" program where I assisted an elementary school teacher in a third grade classroom for two hours a day.

I have always felt I was a technological person however, my friends are slowing pointing out where I am lacking such knowledge in the technology area. I have adapted from the American way of fixing electronics things and no longer scream and hit the object until it begins working properly again. I now feel I have the ability to discover the source of the problem and how to fix it. I have spent the majority of my life working on PC computers. I depend on technology a lot in my life. I use my computer for homework assignments, as an information source, as a way to communicate with friends, and as a storage place for the important things in life: music and photos. Technology has also helped me save money on gas by allowing me to get from point A to point B without making a million u-turns. With the technology of my portable navigation system, I am able to locate my intended destination and find the shortest way to get there. However if my navigation system fails me, I use another technological device; my cell phone. According to my parents and my cell phone bill, I depend on my cell phone to maintain all aspects of my life. Finally, I also depend on my television for numerous things. It provides me comfort to fall asleep with by blocking out the annoying white-noise that keeps me up during all hours of the night. Without the television and the use of the sleep timer, I would never be able to achieve a full night sleep.

The mission statement of CSUSM/COE emphasizes the importance of reflective learning and life-long learning. I feel as a young adult, I am constantly learning new things daily. Education begins as a child and continues through your entire life. A person's experiences and the experiences of others are one of the numerous ways to teach and learn new information. I feel this educational philosophy is very important in order to provide the best educational atmosphere for the students and is the reason I chose to attend California State University, San Marcos.