Tom Barrett 'interesting ways' series

1. 21 Interesting Ways* to use Google
Search in the Classroom
*and tips The duckies invade
Google by Yodel
Anecdota
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Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 License.

2. #1 - Google Wonder Wheel
Encourage your students to
see a regular Google search
in a different way.
From the standard results
page, click "More Options"
under the Google logo.
Select "Wonder Wheel".
Choosing different words from
Image by Ivan Walsh
the wheel allows you to drill
down into different combined
searches too. @tombarrett

3. #2 - Google Timelines
Generate a timeline
of dated Google
search results...
A screenshot of the
timeline could
make for a nice
mystery starter...
Click on parts of
the timeline to
zoom into a
specific time
period.

4. #3 - Calculator & Converter
Google Tip:
You can use Google for much
more than searching. It is a
quick way to perform
calculations and conversions.
Try typing
My class find it more useful
than looking for the calculator 3.8 * 27.4
application or finding a 16 oz in g
conversion site as they can 100 c in f
type straight into the Google 20 gbp in usd
search on the browser
toolbar.
@stuartridout

5. #4 - Google Alerts
This search tool was recently Learners could set up some alerts:
described by Ollie Bray (LTS) as
allowing people to search the future • Prior to commencing a research project
web. Along with RSS, this changes • to keep up-to-date on college/uni focus
many conceptions of the web around • to track what is being written about them
sifting what is already there. • to find out what is going on in their area
• as part of their computing/ICT studies
Type in a term, choose a search type • to be better and more quickly informed.
and how often you wish to be notified
of new web content featuring your
term, and provide an email address to
receive the intro to content and a link.
I use this to keep embedded delicious
'virtual libraries' updated on websites
that I run eg ACTS. Go to
http://www.google.com/alerts and
complete this form.
@parslad

6. #5 - Google Squared
Create a table that compares a range of specifications for a subject with
Google Squared:
http://www.google.com/squared
Type into the search bar and compare things like:
• Australian primeministers
• Chemical elements
• Canadian states
It is simple to
edit and remove
unwanted data or
add extra
specifications.
Eugene de Gouw

7. #6 - Google Custom Search
If you want to focus your
students' searching on http://www.google.com/coop/cse/
specific sites use this tool to
build your own search Or even create a search engine
engine. based on your websites and
resources.
Additionally you can let
students contribute and help
build the sites available to be
searched. @itmadesimple

8. #10 - Google Define:
If you want a definition of a word then just type in define: into
the search bar. Don't forget the colon. Use Google as a
dictionary!
@prettejohn

9. #7 - Making Google Custom Search Safe
Putting a Google Custom
Search on your blog or VLE
can be useful: You can make
it default to Safe Search and
if you are a school you can
remove the ads. You could
also use it to build a themed
search engine as described
on the previous page to put
on a topic page. Children with SEN can also
It's simple: benefit from using Google
Link to instructions Custom Search as you can
present them with a much
smaller set of search results.
@hgjohn

10. #8 - Google Scholar
Note: you can also create
Google Alerts for new
scholarly publications
A scholarly search should begin with a formulated question.
When you have the question, use the advanced options to fine
tune the search to get a more focused set of results.
@michael_rowe

11. #9 - Google Scholar - Cited By
Click on 'Cited by' under each search result to search for academic
works that have cited that work. This allows you to search forward in
time instead of backwards.
@jessternrays

12. #11 - Investigating History @primarypete_
Use the timeline tool to investigate and question historical
events, e.g. The career of The Beatles, Mods and Rockers,
The Spanish Armada. Zoom right in down to the month for
most detailed view.

13. #12 - Authoritative vs Timely
On the left extreme end are more authoritative works but take a long
time before being published. On the right extreme end you have very
timely works, but they may lack credibility from recognized institutions.
Students learn to decide which search tool to use for their projects. For
example, timely searches can be used for a specific natural disaster
while authoritative searches for cross comparisions with other natural
disasters.
@jessternrays
via @markwagner at #gtauk

14. #13 - Google Fast Flip
The little known, but
powerful, Google Fast Flip
allows you to quickly
browse through a wide
variety of news articles
from across the globe.
Narrow by search,
section, popularity, topics
and even sources.
http://fastflip.googlelabs.com
@jessternrays

15. #14 - Weather results
Typing 'weather' and the name of a city or place will return a
weather forecast. This can be used in science or geography
lessons where researching weather patterns is required. It
is also useful before planning a school trip that is outside!

16. #15 - Search Stories
You can use the Google Search Story tool for creative story
writing. You can see what other people have come up with
on the YouTube Search Story Channel. Can make for some
fun story writing...

17. #16 - Google Squared on People
If you search
Google Squared
for an individual it
will return a variety
of facts and
pictures about that
person.
You can add your
own criteria at the
bottom and Google
will search to find
the facts to fill it.
Sally Thorne - @MrsThorne
Great for work on biographies

18. #17 - Convert Currency
Insert the amount and the currency code.
Use "in" and then the currency code to convert to.
A full list of
currency
codes
is here.
@tombarrett

19. #18 - Spell
Type any word in a Google search query and it will suggest
corrections if you have spelled it incorrectly.

20. #19 - Define
Type define:
and then the
word you are
looking up to
return a quick
definition.
Often
searches will
return a
definition at
the top of the
results.

21. #20 - Independent research in MFL
Type a French /
German word into
an Image Search.
Students will be
able to guess the
word without
having to resort to
dictionary.
@MarieFrance

22. #21 Use agoogleaday to set up a
starter
Agoogleaday.com poses a
daily question. Once students
hit the start button they are
timed and must use the
search engine to find the
correct answer to a question.
There is no correct way of
searching only the correct
answer!
Once kids are done, you can
share how they conducted their
searches to share best practice in @ali_mulla
effeciency. @LearnICTit

23. If you would like to:
• Contribute your ideas and tips to the presentation.
• Let me know how you have used the resource.
• Get in touch.
You can email me or I am @tombarrett on Twitter
If you add a tip (or even if
you don't) please tweet about
it and the link so more people
can contribute.
I have created a page for all
of the Interesting Ways Image: ‘Sharing‘
presentations on my blog. Thanks for helping
Tom Barrett
The whole family in one
place :-) Have you seen The Curriculum
Catalyst yet?