Teaching Research and Information Literacy (TRAIL) - Think Like a Researcher: Instruction Resources

This guide is a copy of the Think Like a Researcher/TRAIL guide used 2014-2017.

Outcomes

Course Learning Outcome: Demonstrate information literacy and be able to work with evidence

Goal: Increase students’ awareness of Google search functionality; provide students with strategies for determining website credibility

Specifically, students will be able to

Increase the effectiveness of their Google searches (searching by phrase, in a domain, using exclusion, and paying attention to word order)
Evaluate a web source using strategies (e.g. analyze purpose, identify author, recognize domain, look at quality of evidence, verify information, look at currency)

Tutorials

Students watch tutorials independently or complete as a group in class. (~10 minutes)
- How Google Search Works
- Why Word Order Matters in Google
- Search Tips (Find an exact phrase; Exclude words; Search for two things; Search within a site/domain)
- Credible Websites?
They locate a resource/article using Google that could be appropriate for their research interest & consider its credibility.
They write a response to the Research Journal prompt after completing the tutorials.

Matt Cutts from Google explains how search works. Length 3:15

Listen for four main areas to consider when evaluating the credibility of a website.

from Harness Library - Length 3:52

1 Minute Moceau illustrates that changes in word order can change the order and number of search results. Length 1:46

These four Google videos are less than a minute total. They give quick search tips.

none designated

For more search tips, see a full list of Google Search Features

Searching in Google; Evaluating Information

Answer the following questions about using Google to search for information on your topic.

How did understanding the way Google works change the way you constructed your search?
What criteria did you use to determine the credibility of the article you chose?