Search Engine Use Within the Classroom

By: Kendall Greening & Sean MacDonald

What is your technology inquiry question?

  • How could search engines be integrated into classroom use in an appropriate, effective, and safe manner? Due to the amount of search engines available, we will be focusing on the largest and most common one, Google.

What is the relationship of your topic to teaching and learning?

  • The topic of search engines has a direct relationship with both teaching and learning. 
  • Search engines could be used by educators for teaching purposes in tons of ways which would be beneficial including:
  1. Gathering resources for lessons and activities
  2. Getting lesson and activity ideas.
  3. Reinforcing knowledge prior to lessons.
  4. Gaining new knowledge for future lessons.
  5. Getting multi-modal examples for students including videos, images, audio, etc.
  • Search engines could also be used for increasing student learning in several ways as well, including:
  1. Finding resources for projects.
  2. Expanding their knowledge on personally important topics outside of class.
  3. Allows for student independent in their learning experience.
  4. Supports students who are pre-spellers with autocorrect on their searches which allows them to work just outside their zone of proximal development.
  5. Allows for learning support outside of the classroom. 

What are the pros, cons, and risks?

  • Pros of Google:
  1. Generates the most relevant results of all search engines.
  2. Is constantly being updated with new information.
  3. Google has a ton of other features which could be used (Ex. Maps, Classroom, Docs, Etc.). 
  4. Accessible from all devices (Tablet, Computer, Phone, Etc.).
  5. Easy to use interface for younger students. 
  6. Safe Search options.
  7. Use of google can eliminate other bulky resources and free classroom space (Encyclopedias, Etc.).
  8. More relevant to their lives outside of academia.
  • Cons of Google:
  1. If the student is unaware how to use the search engine they may get few relevant results. 
  2. Results are determined by trends which may lead to unreliable results.
  3. Impersonal for students (Google should not be depended on by teachers).  
  4. Has been shown to track users, including minors, across websites, devices and outside their educational experience without parental consent. 
  5. Not all sources are the same validity.
  • Risks of Google:
  1. Most of the risks associated with using Google searches with students will have been mediated by the school through the implementation of safe search. 
  2. Creating a dependency on search engines within students. 
  3. Content can sometimes bypass the safe search and students could get onto websites which could be damaging to them. 
  4. Too much screen time could affect student attention span 
  • Sources:
  1. Pros & Cons Of Search Engines | Mj Media Internet Marketing
  2. Pros and Cons of Google Classroom! – review the classroom (wordpress.com)

What are some of the strategies, best practices, and tips regarding your inquiry findings?

Strategies:

  1. Clarify: Before starting, refine specific information you are looking for.
  2. Search: Start with only the important words, then refine your search as you go.
  3. Delve: Don’t only look at the first few results.
  4. Evaluate: Skim or use search function to find if information is on the page.
  5. Cite: Always cite and give credit to sources.

Best Practices:

  1. Teach students to stay organized and keep track of their research
  2. Ask the school librarian for assistance.
  3. Teachers should integrate lessons about search engines with other areas of curriculum.

Tips:

  1. Don’t worry about spelling or punctuation.
  2. Explore advanced options once comfortable.
  • Sources:

How to Teach Online Research Skills to Students | 5 Steps for Teaching Students How to Search and Filter Information (kathleenamorris.com)

Some Very Good Google Search Tips Students Should Know about | Educational Technology and Mobile Learning (educatorstechnology.com)

Infographic.