How to Google Efficiently, Organize Research, and Share Learning

Continuing our discussion on PBL and Design Thinking, students need to know how to research efficiently and effectively, how to organize their research, and how to share their knowledge. 

How to Google Efficiently and Effectively

If you were asked to find information from NY Times articles about test scores in college (but not the SATs) written between 2008 and 2010, how would you search for that? The graphic below dissects the proper search term for finding that information:

Source

Ways to tailor your Google search:

• Search only a particular site with the search term "site:"
• Use a tilde (~) to search for synonyms of a particular search term
• Use quotations (" ") to search for an exact phrase
• A dash (-) placed before a word will exclude it from the search
• Two periods (..) will show results from a range of time

This PDF from United Tribes Technical College Online will give you lots of ideas for getting more out of your Google search, and it would be great to share with older students. Younger students will appreciate this "How to Do Research" site from the Kentucky Virtual Library. 

Archiving Student Learning

As students research, it's important for them to have a clear vision about how they will keep track of ideas, concepts, links, and resources. As the Dragons Go Digital team learned during our day of learning in October with Sabba Quidwai from EdTechTeacher, students should think about the 4Ss before deciding on a system for note-taking.

The 4Ss:

• Does the system support me as a learner?
• Can I save my notes across devices?
• Can I search my notes?
• Can I share my notes?

Suggested Tools for Archiving Learning:

• Google docs or slides
• Microsoft OneNote
• Notability app
• Seesaw Learning Journal
• PaperPort Notes

Student Voice

Finally, students must have a tool through which to tell the story of their learning. Here are some tools we recommend:

• Padlet
• Google docs or slides
• Tackk
• ThingLink
• Haiku Deck
• Shadow Puppet Edu app
• Book Creator app
• Adobe Voice app

This post is part of a blog series from the Carroll ISD Instructional Technology Specialist team. Watch for upcoming posts about student assessment, brainstorming, and project ideas. 

References

• "Get More out of Google." United Tribes Technical College Online. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
• Quidwai, Sabba. "PBL-Southlake." EdTechTeacher. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.