Google Search Tips and Tricks for Science and Math Classes
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Google is not just useful for conducting searches for information on the Internet. In fact, it can be used and manipulated with cool and tricks in ways which help you and your students search for information about science and math with more effectiveness. Along with all subject areas students are engaged in school.
The following are tips and tricks designed to help you and your science or math students take advantage of Google’s search engine.
Searching for Information
Exact Phrase – often students’ search efforts on the Internet a wasted by using phrases which results in the need to sort through useless information to find what they are searching. This can be eliminated by using “…” to narrow the search to an exact phrase.
Example: “photosynthesis”
Calculator – the next time you or your students need to do a quick calculation, instead of bringing up the Calculator applet, using a calculator, or pencil and paper. Just type your expression in to Google:
Example: 48512 * 1.02
Similar Words and Synonyms – let’s say you are want to include a word in your search; however, you want to include results that contain similar words or synonyms. To do this, use the “~” in front of the word.
Example: polynomial ~math
Word Definitions – if you need to quickly look up the definition of a word or phrase, simply use the “define:” command.
Example: define: newtons
Math Calculations – your students can use the search box as scientific calculator for metric conversions, unit conversions, and money conversions.
Example: sqrt(10) which represents square root of 10
Another Example : 5*9+(sqrt 10)^3= results in the answer 76.6227766
Measurement – your students can search for equivalent measurements.
Example: kg in pound which represents 1 pound = 0.45359237 kilograms
Another Example: how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon
Local Weather – you can use the search box to find the current weather in any city, anywhere in the world.
Example: weather Hong Kong
Wonder Wheel: A Search Thesaurus
Wonder Wheel is located in the left side panel on the Google search page. This wheel (of wonder) shows related search terms to the current searched query. It enables you or your students to explore relevant search terms which might be the ones you originally wanted to search for, or simply give you more options to gain more information.
Example: biomes
Time Lines
Time Line is located in the left side panel on the Google search page, below Wonder Wheel. This Google application provides a timeline of all relevant events (date, person, event, etc.) related to a specific timeline.
Example: mathematicians
Another Example: recycling
A Third Example: global warming
Specific Domains
Most websites have a .com domain name. Sometimes it’s better to restrict student searches to other domains, such as .edu or .net. This ensures students to not stray to undesired areas of the Internet, also helping them to focus on specific resources.
Example: site:edu biomes
Another Example: site:gov algebra
A Third Example: site:net algebra help
Comparisons
This search tool offers students the ability to complete “better than” searches for comparing something against other known information, products, or services.
Example: better than recycling
Another Example: better than equilaterals
These Google search engine tools not only make a teacher’s job easier, they are useful for students in completing homework, projects, or other science and math activities.
These tips and tricks should be taught to students, because it is something they can use both during school and after their school years.
Another Google Resource
How to Integrate Google Docs into Science and Math Like a Pro
Heather said,
Bing is, in my opinion, far superior to Google:
1) Each of your examples listed above works exactly the same in Bing; every single one.
2) Bing is in my experience better at deducing what you really want, avoiding the need to remember to use quotation marks or other symbols to indicate exact phrases or words, or include unnecessary punction
3) In your calculation example, Bing returned the Decimal answer as well as the Fractional answer. Google only returned the Decimal answer. Granted, that’s likely the format wanted, but the fact that Bing gives you both is a nice touch.
4) Bing uses a nicer results format; easier to look at, and offers you the ability to hover to the right of a result and get “more on this page” without having to click through.
5) Bing also provides you with relevant tasks and related searches along the left hand nav. For example, in your “Polynomials ~math” example above, the main results listed are all relevant, but in addition along the left nav you also see links for “Math Plynomial Practice”, “Polynomial Math Help”, “Solving Polynomials”, “Adding Polynomials”, “How to Do Polynomials”, “Multiplying Polynomials”, and “Sample Polynomial Math Problems”. If you think about what a Student is likely to actually WANT when searching the internet on Polynomials, I’m willing to bet that they are in fact looking for help, practice, examples, and how to instructions
. Check it out. likewise, in your “kg in pounds” example above, not only does Bing give you the answer (like Google does), but in the left nav, it also gives you quick links to figure out “Lbs in Kg”, “Lbs in a Ton”, “Inches in Cm”, and a bunch of other conversaions. See for yourself!
6) In your Wonder Wheel discussion, the same information is also available in Bing in the left nav – AND you don’t have to click through and lose your search results to see them. You get the results for the original search + the same “wonderwheel” type categories under “Related Searches” all conveniently located on one page. Which do you find more convenient?
7) Bing is inherently a more educational site than Google. People can’t help but learn something new when they visit http://www.bing.com even if they weren’t intending to. The photographs on the home page are stunning, draw you in, make you curious, and then you find yourself clicking the little squares embedded in the images and learning more. As an educator, you’ve gotta love that
8) Bing has some awesome features that Google does not. Give the “Visual Search” a try. It’s a lot of fun. Try playing with Bing’s Periodic Table visual search. . Hover over the elements. Try the “Narrow By” feature. Check out the easy access to the “Top 25 elements in the human body”, “in the Earth’s crust”, “First discovered”, Newest”, and “Noble Gases”. Or how about the visual search on U.S. Presidents.
While you’re at it, try Bing’s Video search. Search for Biomes in Videos. Right from the results page you can mouse over any of the clips listed and see it play in-place so you can decide whether to even bother click through. A very nice feature.
I hope I’ve convinced you to at least give it a good college try for yourself, and see what gives you the better educational experience, user experience, and overall results.
Heather
Maria Droujkova said,
Thank you for the tools! I especially liked the time line tool.
One frequent activity we do with kids in math club is image searches. They bring math alive. For example, last week kids searched for:
- fractal cow
- fractal flower
- fractal hand
- fractal human
…
And found many wonderful things.
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