YOUR BROWSER IS LIKE A
TAXI!
Software used to view Internet sites. Many browsers are available but
Netscape's Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer are two of the
most popular ones. A browser can be thought of as the vehicle used to
get and display information. It is not a destination but a means of
transportation.
CRITICAL BROWSING
Critical browsing is evaluating content, design, and quality of
information on a Web site.
USE MORE THAN ONE SEARCH ENGINE
Alta Vista (http://altavista.digital.com)
boasts the largest database of documents and returns the most
comprehensive results. Excellent for finding obscure facts and phrases.
It is considered to be one of the most powerful search engines
available. Has good field-search options that allow you to limit your
search results by specific criteria.
Excite (http://www.excite.com)
provides concept searching. It is also particularly good on identifying
current news articles.
InfoSeek Guide (http://guide.infoseek.com)
handles "Plain-English" queries particularly well. You can
also hone your search by doing a second search of just the results
returned by your original query.
Hotbot (http://www.hotbot.com)
offers a number of ways to customize your search to zero in on links
that are most relevant. Interface is easy to master. Good for locating
multimedia files and to locate Web sites by geography.
Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com)
offers the best, most detailed Web directory, making it a good choice to
explore a subject to find out what's available on the Web.
You can choose from among dozens of search engines. To find additional
search tools, the Netscape Home Page (click on Internet Search on the
browser command menu) and Search.com (http://search.com)
offer comprehensive links. If you're not sure which search engines to
choose, visit
Debbie Abilock's Choose the Best Engine for Your Purpose (http://www.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us/~debbie/library/research/adviceengine.html)
MAKE SEARCHING A MULTI-STEP PROCESS
Don't assume that you'll find what you want with the first query. Review
the first couple of pages of results and pay attention to the sites that
contain the kind of information you want and don't want. Use this
information revise your query.
Use Unique Keywords: Before launching your search, think about what
unique words or phrases are likely to appear on the pages you want to
find. What unique words appear on those pages? Use those words.
Search By Title: Search for your keywords in the titles of Web sites
only. (AltaVista and Infoseek offer this field search).
Use NOT to exclude leads: Are you getting results that are not relevant?
Use a NOT search to focus your results? (see below).
Narrow Your Leads By Searching Just Your Previous Results: If your
keyword returns relatively good information but too much to review, try
a second search of just those leads or what is known as "set
searching." Procedures vary from search engine to search engine,
but Infoseek makes it easy.
BROWSE KEY FILTER SITES
A "filter site" or "index site" is one that is
focused on a particular topic and contains a huge number of
well-organized links in that topic area. These sites are typically
maintained by individuals or organizations who have spent many hours
searching the Internet for relevant links and has presented the
information in context. Browsing a filter site on your topic can save
you a great deal of time. If you know of an organization or company that
may have a Web site with relevant information, cut to the chase and try
to guess their URL. Type it in the browser location window.
You can find a comprehensive list arts-related filter sites in Arts
Wire's SpiderSchool
(http://www.artswire.org/spiderschool/1997/links/index_finding5.html).
Yahoo is a good place to identify filter or index sites in almost every
topic.
LEARN MORE ABOUT
INFORMATION LITERACY
Arts Wire SpiderSchool Explore Critical Browsing on the Web (http://www.artswire.org/spiderschool/1997/links/index_critic.html)
COOKIES
The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare
customized Web pages for them. When you enter a Web site
using cookies, you may be asked to fill out a form providing such
information as your name and interests. This information is packaged
into a cookie and sent to your Web browser which stores it for later
use. The next time you request a page, your browser will send the cookie
to the Web server. The server can use this information to present you
with custom Web pages. This can also be used to keep track of scores on
quizzes or browsing an interactive catalog.
CABOODLES PRIVACY POLICY
Caboodles Online collects information about users in several ways
through voluntary submission and through the use of cookies. Information
obtained through voluntary submission is used solely for our own
informational purposes and is not commercially sold nor distributed.
With voluntary submission, there is always an option to opt out of
future e-mails and promotions. The use of cookies is strictly to provide
users with additional functionality. If you would like your information
removed from our database, please e-mail us at customercare@planomolding.com.
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