Technology Articles

The distinction between searching and researching is not always clear even amongst educated people. However, it is a distinction with great significance when teaching students how to use technology effectively and safely.

Research is the process of defining research questions, locating resources, accessing, organizing and presenting information. This is sometimes referred to as the information problem solving process.

Searching is locating specific information. In recent years it has become most commonly associated with using a search engine on the internet.

There is a time when it is appropriate to teach students to research and a later time when they are mature enough to learn how to search safely.

Students of all ages are learning (at least a modified version) of the research process. Young students are not required to learn how to search the internet in Alberta. The ICT program of studies does not specify that students in division 1 or division 2 to need to use search engines.

Elementary aged children using the Internet it should be supplied with URLs that have been previewed and checked for appropriate content by the teacher. Also, it is not advisable to have young students type in a given URL since misspelling a URL often takes you to unexpected and sometimes totally unacceptable sites. It is far safer to give young students links from a bookmark/favorite list, from a web page or from a hyper linked word document.

At the Jr. High level students should be learning how to use a search engine. However, amongst the hundreds of search engines available for use there is a core number of them created specifically for student use, some of which can be found at Student Safe Search Engines. The following links will provide guidance regarding basic concerns for student safety using the Internet:

High school students are required to know how to search more skillfully using the advanced search techniques. There is a video tape available in each of our school libraries demonstrating the 7 basic searching strategies necessary to limit the number of hits for a skillful internet search. There are also many locations on the internet giving detailed directions how use advanced search techniques to limit the number of hits in a search.

Simple search tutorial
Advanced search tutorial

Search Engines for middle school aged students:

Student Safe Search Engines

Search Engines for senior students and teachers:

Below are a selection of web sites that may be useful for students. Every effort is made to validate the educational substance of these sites. However, the dynamic nature of the Internet requires each of us to use caution when presenting any web sites to students.

This page was prepared as a resource for teachers not as a browsing place for students. The Internet is constantly changing environment. A reputable site yesterday may not be so tomorrow. It is the responsibility of the teacher to thoroughly examine and check out links before introducing them to students.