Understanding more about how different search engines work would
be really helpful to me as a teacher-librarian. I would be able to
direct students to search engines that would rank relevant webpages higher. It would also help me explain to students why
they should try different search engines for their inquiries. Understanding search engines will also help me
explain why the key words chosen, their spelling, single vs plural and the
language used will affect the success of their search[1]. Talyor noted "when the input and search engine index terms mismatch major problems arise
reducing retrieval from
the search engine databases. I find poor
retrival of information occurs for many elementary students" [1]. In one library class I taught we talked about how to
write inquiry questions and then choose the key words from the question, and
listed synonyms that could also be used. I think these students were more
successful in retrieving information for answering their inquires.
I can see that knowing about search engines is useful when
teaching students about blogs and creating webpages. Telling students why keywords are important[2] and how they update the
information on their page will affect which search engines will find their page[3]. I am thinking of having students do book
reviews and posting them on a library webpage. How we present this information
will also affect how easy it will be to find.
The webpage will be linked to the school library website so I will not have
to have a hyperlink in my library blog for search engines to find it[4]. Other web design strategies are repeated key
word to will help search engines spiders identify a website, students definitely
could be encourage to use this strategy.
[1]
Taylor, C. (2003). An introduction to metadata. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2012 from http://www.itb.hu/fejlesztesek/meta/hgls/core/Background/An_Introduction_to_Metadata.htm
[2]
How search engines rank webpages, accessed Sept 17, 2012 at http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2064539/How-Search-Engines-Rank-Web-Pages
[3]
Search Engine Watch, accessed Sept. 17/12, at http://searchenginewatch.com/2168031
accessed Sept. 17/12
[4]
Berkeley Library, accessed Sept 17, 2012, at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SearchEngines.html.
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