What is a Boolean?
A method of searching for information in databases that combines search terms with the operators AND, OR, NOT, and parentheses.
Objectives:
Students will :
learn that there are different ways to search internet sources that will give you more accurate hits.
be introduced to the search tools: "and", "not", and "or" to narrow searches for more accurate hits.
given the opportunity to use their new words in an actual Internet search topic.
Time Required:
1 week
Vocabulary:
Boolean, search, evaluation, navigability, design, interactivity, appealing, credibility
Materials:
Computer with Internet Access
Procedures:
Part ONE
Step 1: Students will be given a topic to search in the online encyclopedia.
Step 2: Students will count the number of sites that they find and list the top five sites.
Step 3: Students will then go to each of the top five sites and fill out a teacher-prepared site evaluation sheet.
Step 4: Classroom discussion will follow discussing how accurate their search was. They should be able to see that one word searches are not that accurate and will give you too many sites to search. They will see the need for more specific searches.
Part TWO
Step 1: The words "and", "not", and "or" will be written on the board.
The class will discuss the meanings of each word and give examples.
Step 2: Students will learn the definition of boolean searching: The term" boolean," often encountered when doing searches on the Web, refers to a system of logical thought developed by the English mathematician and computer pioneer, George Boole (1815-64). In boolean searching, an "and" operator between two words or other values (for example, "pear AND apple") means one is searching for documents containing both of the words or values, not just one of them. An "or" operator between two words or other values (for example, "pear OR apple") means one is searching for documents containing either of the words.
Step 3: Teacher will demonstrate the use of each word to narrow a search topic.
Step 4: Students will practice narrowing search topics given to them by the teacher.
Part THREE
Step 1: Students will be given the same search topic that they had in the beginning.
Step 2: Students will search their topics using each of the boolean search words.
Step 3. After each search, students will record number of sites and list the top five sites of each.
Step 4: Students will visit each of the top five sites and fill out the same evaluation sheets they filled out previously.
Step 5: Students will compare the search results of each type of search and draw conclusions.
Evaluation:
75% of the students will be able to correctly narrow 50% of the search topics given.