Edublog (Blog Project) Resource Post

Note: This blog post is post #2 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.

                                                                                     Hello Grade 7s!



Today I wanted to talk about one of (if not the most) widely used internet resource available on the web.
I know it's one that I personally  use at least once per day!

...Have you guessed it? ...
That's right, it's our trusty Google search engine!

(2012, September 25). Google Search Engine [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.simpleorganizedliving.com/2010/08/04/go-paperless/google-search-engine/

There's both an art and a science to the way in which we conduct our searches!
When you think about it; our google searches reveal a lot about us and the way we learn/seek knowledge on the internet.

For example, in my own daily uses I use the google search engine to:

• double check the correct spelling of words (definetly? definitely?...)
• quickly calculate conversion rates (ie: Euros to CDN $, inches-feet) 
• answer a pressing question that's on my mind ("Why do cats purr?  Why is the sky blue?") 
• locate a website that I've forgotten the URL for (Find: "Ontario Curriculum Documents")
• look up/research facts 
• discover the weather 
• search for images
• etc...

(Question to ponder: How does YOUR google search engine help make your life a little easier??) 

More often then not my Google.ca page becomes a tool through which I can more quickly access other information.  Rather then have to locate a website which will convert inches to feet for me, I can just type the number of inches I need to convert (ie: "12 inches") into the google search bar in the following way: "12 inches to feet" to find out the conversion rate.

It's like a handy-dandy short cut tool, that makes my life a little bit easier, and always provides me with a quick answer at my fingertips.

But a question to consider is: Can we always trust the "answers" we get through a google search??

This is something I really want you all to think about.  Remember... Just because someone has created a website, or a web article talking about the subject you are searching for, doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best resource, or even a valid resource at all!

We still have to take the time to read, assess and infer about the sites we are taking information from and ask ourselves "Is this a credible source?"

We will be talking more about What Makes a Source Credible this upcoming week in class.
It is my hope that this process will aid you guys in your future projects in my class; and ultimately as you move towards entering highschool.

Hope everyone has a great weekend...See you on Monday!

                                                                                                                                              -Miss Pollard