EMPOWERMENT

TECHNOLOGIES
Lesson 3:
Searching the
Web
There are billions of information on the web and
it is a challenge for us to truly find which
information is reliable and relevant. Here are
some tips you may use to be able to look for
relevant and reliable sources:
Search Engines are websites used for retrieval of data,
files, or documents from data bases. Some search engines
we use today are:
Anatomy of a URL
A URL is one type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). It is
a generic term for all types of names and addresses that
refer to objects on the world wide web. Knowing the URL
endings will give you clues to who is sponsoring the website
and help evaluate the sources.
Anatomy of a URL
Popular Domains
Search Skills and Tools
1. Boolean Logic – narrows, broadens, or eliminates search term.
a. Boolean “or” – this operator will find pages that include
either of the search terms.
Ex. A or B
b. Boolean “and” – this operator will retrieve only pages
containing both terms
Ex. A and B
c. Boolean “not” – this operator will find pages that do not
include search term immediately following it.
Ex. A not B
Search Skills and Tools
2. Phase Searching – is used to search for famous quotes, proper
names, recommendations, etc. It encloses the phrase in
quotation marks.
Ex. “Jane Doe” “To be or not to be”
Search Skills and Tools
3. Plus (+) – indicates that the word after the sign is a required
word must be found in search.
Example: +fire
4. Minus (–) sign – indicates to exclude a word from your search
that is not required on the result.
Example: Jaguar speed –car
Search Skills and Tools
5. Ampersand (@) is used to find social tags.
Example: @SteveJobs
6. Hashtag (#) is used to find popular hashtags.
Example: #LawOfClassroom
7. Finding Documents – using the filetype refines the search for documents on the
web.
o filetype:pdf
o filetype:doc
o filetype:xls
Ex. ICT in the Philippines pdf
Search Skills and Tools
8. Searching Site – the sites find webpage from a website.
Ex.: National Geographic information in Australia
Search: Australia site: NationalGeographic.com
Activity: Can You
Find Me
Directions: Use the Internet to research on a
news article on Information Technology in the
Philippines. This information must come from a
government site in PDF or Word document.
Print the article and paste your work on a
separate sheet of paper. Do not forget to include
the URL of the article you have taken the
information.
Evaluating Sites
The web provides access to
some excellent information and
can also give access to those
that are irrelevant and outdated.
Here is some checklist that you
can use to evaluate your website:
Evaluating Sites
1. Authority. It reveals that the person, institution or agency responsible for a
site has the qualifications and knowledge to do so. Evaluating a web site for
authority:
✓ Authorship: It should be clear who developed the site.
✓ Contact information should be clearly provided: e-mail address, snail mail
address, phone number, and fax number.
✓ Credentials: the author should state qualifications, credentials, or personal
background that gives them authority to present information.
✓ Check to see if the site supported by an organization or a commercial body
Evaluating Sites
2. Purpose. The purpose of the information presented in the site should be clear.
Some sites are meant to inform, persuade, state an opinion, entertain, or
parody something or someone. Evaluating a web site for purpose:
✓ Does the content support the purpose of the site?
✓ Is the information geared to a specific audience (students, scholars, general
reader)?
✓ Is the site organized and focused?
✓ Are the outside links appropriate for the site?
✓ Does the site evaluate the links?
Evaluating Sites
3. Coverage. This refers to how comprehensive the website is in their
discussion of certain topics. Evaluating a web site for coverage:
✓ Does the site claim to be selective or comprehensive?
✓ Are the topics explored in depth?
✓ Compare the value of the site’s information compared to other similar
sites.
✓ Do the links go to outside sites rather than its own?
✓ Does the site provide information with no relevant outside links?
Evaluating Sites
4. Currency. It refers to: (1) how current the information presented is, and (2)
how often the site is updated or maintained. It is important to know when a
site was created, when it was last updated, and if all of the links are current.
Evaluating a web site for currency involves finding the date information was:
✓ first written
✓ placed on the web
✓ last revised
Evaluating Sites
5. Objectivity. Objective sites present information with a minimum of bias.
Evaluating a web site for objectivity:
✓ Is the information presented with a particular bias?
✓ Does the information try to sway the audience?
✓ Does site advertising conflict with the content?
✓ Is the site trying to explain, inform, persuade, or sell something?
Evaluating Sites
6. Accuracy. It refers to the credibility of the website. Evaluating a web site for
accuracy:
✓ Reliability: Is the author affiliated with a known, respectable institution?
✓ References: do statistics and other factual information receive proper
references as to their origin?
✓ Is the information comparable to other sites on the same topic?
✓ Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling and composition?
✓ Is a bibliography or reference list included?
Activity: Evaluating
Websites: Checklist

Directions:
1. Using the Internet, research on topics
under CoVid-19 in the Philippines.
2. Read through the checklist and answer
each question in your notebook.
3. Attach a printout of the web site you are
evaluating and paste in your notebook:
Activity: Evaluating
Websites: Checklist
QUIZ
Direction: Read each item carefully and
choose the letter of the correct answer.
Write your answers on a separate sheet
of paper.
QUIZ
1. What happens when a phrase or sentence is placed inside
quotation marks when doing research?
A. Will only return items that have both terms.
B. Will search for words that are together and in order
C. Will return items that exclude a term
D. Will return items that have either of the terms
QUIZ
2. What is a URL?
A. A computer software program
B. An acronym for Unlimited Resources for Learning
C. The address of a document or "page" on the World Wide
Web
D. A search engine
QUIZ
3. What are the three main search expressions, or operators,
recognized by Boolean logic?
A. and, or, not C. and, or, but
B. from, to, whom D. search, keyword, text
QUIZ
4. How do you evaluate a web page?
A. You confirm that the author or site an authority on the
subject.
B. You check to see if the author has been objective.
C. You check to see if the information is current.
D. You do as many of the above as possible.
QUIZ
5. An article that only presents one point of view or omits facts is
biased.
A. True B. False
END OF QUIZ
ANSWERS TO QUIZ
1. A.
2. C.
3. A.
4. D.
5. A.