Search Tips & Strategies

Fluency in search techniques are the 21st century equivalent of using a card catalog. Some nay-sayers protest substituting such skills for traditional skills but our job is to prepare students for the future and online research will be critical to academic and workplace information.

Be aware that every search works a little differently. Use the Help or Advanced Search links if they are available.

Filters:
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Google Search Operators

You can use search operators and other punctuation to get more specific search results. A fast way to focus your results with just a few keystrokes.  learn more

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Google Search Tips

Matt Cutts, a software engineer at Google, provides tips for better web searching.  learn more

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How to search on Google

Google has a few tips and tricks to help you easily find information.  learn more

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Searching Magazines like New Scientist

When searching within a specific domain, remember to check out the domain's journal and magazine web sites. Many offer searchable indexes of articles and resources to speed your…  learn more

Basic Strategies

Here are some search tips to use when looking for information: If you are searching for a phrase, enclose it with quotes, e.g., "grass for football fields". Try…  learn more

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Multnomah Homework Center

The Multnomah Library Homework Center provides a list of primary sources for a wide range of subjects and topics. Historical research relies on documents and artifacts that date…  learn more

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How to Make Teaching Videos: Tips and Tools

The purpose of this post is to provide you, the educators, with practical tips and tools to help you create compelling educational content. In an era where digital…  learn more