Search Tools for Kids, Teens, and Teachers

What's the difference between different search engines and directories?  

What search tools are best for particular grade levels and topics?
 
How do I plan for a search?

What search strategies can I use to get better results?

Identifying General Search Tools

The Internet is like a huge flea market with wonderful gems of information scattered among piles of junk. Search tools are intended to help you find the information you need. Each search tool takes a slightly different approach. Search engines, directories, indexes, and portals can all be helpful. While each of these has a specific definition, many search engines have more than one option. For example, Google is a search engine, but it also has a directory available. While most search tools ask users to enter key words, some like Ask Jeeves are designed for questions.
 
How do the search tools find all the websites? Many of the search engines use robots, wanderers, worms, spiders, harvesters, and other automated systems to find websites. In addition, people sometimes add their own website to the list.
 
Search engines - resources are automatically databased by a computer. The results vary depending on the rules the sites uses to select materials.
Indexes and Directories - information is organized into categories or lists that are sometimes created by people and sometimes computers. Many search engines also have directories.
Subject guides - resources are selected and organized by people. They are good for large and focused topics, but provide fewer resources than search engines.
Meta engines - these sites explore a number of search tools to come up with diverse results. For example, Dogpile searches LookSmart, FindWhat, Overture, and several others.
Portals - create a virtual desktop that provides, in one central place, web-based information and resources needed by a user. The difference between a portal and a regular website is that information is customized by the user.

Tools for Teachers and Teens

• Search Engines
  • Alta Vista
  • All the Web
  • Excite
  • Google*
  • Hotbot
  • Lycos
  • Teoma
• Guides and Directories
  • About.com
  • Galaxy
  • Go.com
  • Librarian's Index
  • Open Directory Project
    
  • Yahoo*
• Meta Engine Search Tools
  • Ask Jeeves
  • Dogpile
  • EZ2find
  • Mamma
  • MetaCrawler
  • SurfWax
  • Vivisimo
  • WebCrawler
  • Wisenut
  • Zapmeta
• Visual Engine
  • Kartoo
• Science Search Engine
  • scirus
• Law Search Engine
  • FindLaw
• Audio & Video
  • Singing Fish
• Movies
  • IMDb
• Archives Engine
  • Wayback Machine
    

Locating Specialized Search Tools

In addition to the popular teen and adult search tools, there are many specialized search tools. For example, you can find search tools for children, as well as particular information formats (i.e., graphics, videos) and content areas. Ditto and FreePhoto are popular image sites. Use FindSounds for audio files. The advantage of a specialized tool is their narrow focus. Rather than getting "everything", they have selected those resources that fit a particular need. For example, KidsClick provides information about the reading level and number of illustrations contained on a website. Use CNET Search to search for software and hardware information.
 
Go to Starting Points for Kids or Kid's Search Tools for other pages with student search engines links.

Tools for Kids and Teens

• Search Engines
  • KidsClick*
  • Kids.net.au
  • EduHound
  • Ithaki Kids
  • LycosZone
• Directories
  • Alfy
  • Ask Jeeves for Kids
  • Awesome Library
  • CyberSleuth Kids
  • EduPuppy
  • Family Friendly Search
  • Internet Public Library
  • KidsKonnect
  • ThinkQuest
  • Yahooligans*

Evaluating Search Tools

You want to use the tool that will help you find the information you need. Read the page Finding Information.
 
If you need more search engine ideas, there are many websites that provide lists of search engines and resources.

• Tools for Searching - links to many search tools
• Searching the Internet - a nice guide to the difference types of tools
• Specialized Search Engines & Directories - search tools in many content areas
• Tool Kit for the Expert Web Searcher - nice explanations of each type of tool
• Choosing the Best Search for Your Information Need - choose a tool for your purpose
• Teacher Tap: Education Portals and Starting Points
• Searching Tools from the Internet Public Library 

High-End Resources

• About.com's Websearch Provides up-to-date information about web searching and search tools.
• Free Pint This ezine provides search tips.
• Major Search Engines - review of top engines
• Pandia Search Central
• Research Buzz
• Resource Shelf - blog of resources
• Search Engine Showdown - trends and new in search tools
• The Search Engine Report This page is for hard core searcher who want to keep up-to-date with the latest changes in search engines. Go to the Traffick: Portal Portal for even more information.
  
  

Conduct a Search
 
The best way to determine which is the best search engine for you is to try each of them using the same search topic. Try three searches using each search tool: try your name (Annette Lamb), a broad topic (frogs), and a narrow topic (spotted tree frog). Compare your results with different tools.

---