I thought this was great for parents and teachers. Google has teaching videos on how to use Google for search:
Web search can be a remarkable tool for students, and a bit of instruction in how to search for academic sources will help your students become critical thinkers and independent learners.
With the materials on this site, you can help your students become skilled searchers- whether they’re just starting out with search, or ready for more advanced training.
The idea here is that kids need to be visually literate, digital search literate and literate with search in print. It is becoming the new digital divide: those that can search online. It’s not just about screen time, but about critical thinking skills and being an independent learner.
Is this true in real life for my kids? I have two kids that are motivated to learn online. PickyKidPix has taught herself to do intricate braids by following, obsessively, Cute Hair Styles. She’s watched hundreds of them. I can recognize the vloggers voice now … from a different room even! And it works.
My son has been teaching himself the finer points of Minecraft watching videos. The videos have prepared him well for his week of Minecraft camp, I’m told!
Anyone can become a “Power Searcher” including kids. Many of Google’s webinars are self-paced.
Teaching Students Better Online Research Skills
Online research skills including critical thinking are more important than ever and feels a lot of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)! Teaching students to be savvy online researchers starts with knowing how to use key words. Other tips include:
- Sites and search engines written specifically for children.
- Finding the right search engine or database.
- Predict the results they expect to see.
- Skim search results for words that pop up, especially unfamiliar word.
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I LOVED Google Scholar when I was in grad school – such an easy way to find relevant research!
Hi MaryAnne,
I didn’t know Google Scholar was around for so long. It’s nice that there are training modules for kids to learn search skills. It’s a good life skill!
I have to look into the links! We would like to be able to give our daughter more online freedom as she gets interested in various topics, but for now everything is done with supervision, after all, she is only 6! Thanks for sharing this resource!
Hi Natalie,
I’m going to be looking into it as well for my kids. It seems like a useful skill for all kids to have, even young kids!
And our kids need to learn NOT to put too much personal information online.
Hi Aras,
Yes, good point!
That is great that Google is educatiing kids on how to research. I’m going to check out these videos with my kids.
Hi Ann,
I thought the same thing! That’s a useful skill too!