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Jaime Busquets Mataix,
Ignacio Despujol,
and
Ana María Checa Rubio
In a virtual world where there are hundreds of millions of pages available with information of all kinds, searching the Internet effectively is an increasingly necessary skill. Learn with us how to separate the wheat from the chaff by using the available tools and asking the right questions.
In the course you will learn how to plan a search from the beginning and how to use the various tools that the Internet puts at your fingertips to find what you need. We will look at tools to search for videos, images, royalty-free content and institutional information, among many other things.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/7hu3zm/searching
What's inside
Learning objectives
- You will learn how to plan a search from the beginning
- We will show you how to use the various tools that the internet puts at your disposal to find what you need
- We will look at tools to search for videos, images, royalty-free content, institutional information, and much more
- You will learn how to plan a search from the beginning
- We will show you how to use the various tools that the internet puts at your disposal to find what you need
- We will look at tools to search for videos, images, royalty-free content, institutional information, and much more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Explores internet search techniques, which is standard in librarian and information science
Taught by instructors who are experts in their fields
Taught by instructors at an accredited university in Spain
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Reviews summary
Practical strategies for web searching
According to learners, "Searching on the Internet" is a largely positive course, providing essential strategies for effective online information retrieval. Many students found the course surprisingly useful and immediately applicable, particularly for its coverage of advanced search operators, evaluating sources, and finding specific content like royalty-free images and videos. While it's considered a must-take for beginners and those seeking to improve efficiency, some more experienced users found parts of the course too basic and felt some interface examples were outdated. Despite minor criticisms, the course generally receives praise for its clear explanations and ability to transform casual searching into a more strategic and efficient process.
Pacing can be slow, and more practical exercises are desired.
"I wish there were more practical exercises instead of just explanations."
"Informative but a bit slow-paced at times... the overall structure could be more engaging."
"The pace was a bit uneven for me."
Provides a solid foundation for new or intermediate learners.
"Absolutely essential for digital literacy! This is a must-take for students and professionals alike."
"Fantastic course for anyone feeling overwhelmed by online information."
"It provided a good general overview of internet searching."
"Could be great for absolute beginners."
Covers valuable operators and specific content search methods.
"The section on advanced operators and finding royalty-free content was a real eye-opener."
"I learned so much about effective search strategies, beyond just typing keywords into Google. The content on evaluating sources and advanced queries was invaluable."
"The segment on finding institutional information was particularly useful for my work."
"The strategies for narrowing down results and finding obscure information are brilliant."
Equips learners with immediately applicable search strategies.
"I can now find what I need much faster and more accurately."
"The tips on planning a search really helped me structure my research better."
"The practical tips are immediately applicable."
"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
A few examples or interfaces appear slightly behind current trends.
"Some parts felt a little outdated in terms of interface examples, but the core principles are still very relevant."
"It feels like it hasn't been updated in a while."
"I found some parts a bit too basic, especially the initial modules on general search."
Experienced users may find much of the content familiar.
"Too basic for me. Most of the information presented here could be found with a quick search online."
"Honestly, this felt like a waste of time. I expected to learn advanced techniques for deep web searching..."
"Total disappointment. This course is for someone who barely knows how to use a computer. The content is extremely basic and superficial."
"I signed up hoping to gain a competitive edge in online research... most of it was common sense."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Searching on the Internet with these
activities:
Review search query operators
Show steps
Start the course with a stronger foundation by practicing search techniques in advance to get better search results.
Show steps
-
List out common search operators
-
Research detailed documentation of specific search operators
Follow tutorials on using advanced search features
Show steps
Following tutorials will help you brush up on fundamental skills and learn new techniques to improve your search efficiency.
Show steps
-
Search for tutorials on advanced search features
-
Watch and follow along with tutorials
Follow tutorials on browser extensions for better web searching
Show steps
By exploring browser extensions, you can improve your search experience and efficiency, allowing you to find the needed results faster.
Show steps
-
Search for browser extensions for web searching
-
Pick a few extensions and try them out
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice using Google Scholar to search academic resources
Show steps
Learn about different features of Google Scholar and how to optimize your searches to find credible and relevant academic sources.
Browse courses on
Google Scholar
Show steps
-
Search for tutorials on using Google Scholar
-
Watch tutorials and practice searching for academic resources
Join a study group to discuss search strategies
Show steps
Collaborating in a study group will allow you to share and learn from different perspectives and search techniques, leading to better search results.
Browse courses on
Search Strategies
Show steps
-
Join an existing study group focusing on search strategies
-
Attend study group sessions and actively participate in discussions
Follow tutorials on evaluating the credibility of online sources
Show steps
Understanding source credibility is crucial for avoiding misinformation and bias. This activity will equip you with techniques to critically evaluate online sources.
Browse courses on
Critical Thinking
Show steps
-
Search for tutorials on evaluating the credibility of online sources
-
Watch tutorials and practice applying these techniques to assess different sources
Create an infographic or visual guide on your most effective search strategies
Show steps
This activity encourages you to synthesize what you have learned and share your knowledge in a creative way, reinforcing your understanding of effective search strategies.
Browse courses on
Search Strategies
Show steps
-
Brainstorm key search strategies
-
Choose a visual format for your infographic or guide
-
Design and create your visual resource
Review search query operators
Show steps
Start the course with a stronger foundation by practicing search techniques in advance to get better search results.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- List out common search operators
- Research detailed documentation of specific search operators
Follow tutorials on using advanced search features
Show steps
Following tutorials will help you brush up on fundamental skills and learn new techniques to improve your search efficiency.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for tutorials on advanced search features
- Watch and follow along with tutorials
Follow tutorials on browser extensions for better web searching
Show steps
By exploring browser extensions, you can improve your search experience and efficiency, allowing you to find the needed results faster.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for browser extensions for web searching
- Pick a few extensions and try them out
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice using Google Scholar to search academic resources
Show steps
Learn about different features of Google Scholar and how to optimize your searches to find credible and relevant academic sources.
Browse courses on
Google Scholar
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for tutorials on using Google Scholar
- Watch tutorials and practice searching for academic resources
Join a study group to discuss search strategies
Show steps
Collaborating in a study group will allow you to share and learn from different perspectives and search techniques, leading to better search results.
Browse courses on
Search Strategies
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Join an existing study group focusing on search strategies
- Attend study group sessions and actively participate in discussions
Follow tutorials on evaluating the credibility of online sources
Show steps
Understanding source credibility is crucial for avoiding misinformation and bias. This activity will equip you with techniques to critically evaluate online sources.
Browse courses on
Critical Thinking
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for tutorials on evaluating the credibility of online sources
- Watch tutorials and practice applying these techniques to assess different sources
Create an infographic or visual guide on your most effective search strategies
Show steps
This activity encourages you to synthesize what you have learned and share your knowledge in a creative way, reinforcing your understanding of effective search strategies.
Browse courses on
Search Strategies
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Brainstorm key search strategies
- Choose a visual format for your infographic or guide
- Design and create your visual resource
Career center
Learners who complete Searching on the Internet will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/7hu3zm/searching
Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/7hu3zm/searching
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Effort
3 to 4 hours per week for 7 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Universitat Politècnica de València
Instructors
Jaime Busquets Mataix
Ignacio Despujol
Ana María Checa Rubio
Language
English
Transcript
English
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