Search+Strategies

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= NETS*T for Search Strategies =

**1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity**
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers... .....a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness .....b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources .....c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes .....d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

** 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments **
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers... .....a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity .....b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress .....c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

** 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... .....a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations .....c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats .....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

** 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility **
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers... .....a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources .....b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources .....c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

** 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers... .....b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others .....c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning .....d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

= Reflection of Search Strategies =

.....As a librarian, research is a major part of my job. I teach research skills and I "Practice what I Teach". The best place to start is a reliable search engine. I have tried using several, like Google and DogPile; my favorite is still Metacrawler. Metacrawler brings up my hits the way I like. As far as using it with my students, it is a nice clean site without ads and distracting graphics. It would be preferrable to teach kids to use YahooKids or Ask, but they do not offer the range of hits I need my students to have access to. The most difficult skill for kids to master in research skills is "keywords". They want to type in whole sentences rather than fine tuning the keywords. I have several sample searches I run them through to prove a point about the number of hits you pull up depending on how you identify your keywords. I also emphasize to the them the importance of using quotation marks around phrases. The trick is getting them to identify specific phrases and not quote mark the whole thing. They also want to stick in waste words like "the" which often times mess up their searches. At the elementary level I do not delve any further than that into Boolean searches because they have a difficult enough time grasping the "keywords" and "refining searches" concepts. .....As a professional, I was pleased to see that "23 Google Search Tips" document. It reaffirmed that I am using the best practices when I do my own research for people. Considering I find probably better than 95% of everything I search for, I think my search skills are in tact and proficient.