ALEX Learning Activity

  

How Internet Searches Work

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: April Chamberlain
System:Trussville City
School:Trussville City Board Of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 1987
Title:
How Internet Searches Work
Digital Tool/Resource:
The Internet: How Search Works YouTube Video
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

Students will be introduced to how an Internet search works by experts in the field and practice conducting basic keyword searches.

This activity was created as a result of the DLCS COS Resource Development Summit.

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Digital Literacy and Computer Science
DLIT (2018)
Grade: 3
R5) Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students will:
  • locate information from digital sources to answer research questions.
    • curate information to present or share with others.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • curate
  • keyword
  • search engine
  • database
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • that information to research questions can be obtained from digital sources.
  • how to use resources to organize information.
  • how to use resources to present or share with others.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • create a list of keywords or phrases to enter into a search engine and/or database such as the Alabama Virtual Library.
  • use additional words or punctuation to narrow search such as AND (+), OR, NOT (
  • ), and quotation marks.
  • organize information.
  • share information by creating a digital resource.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • information can be located from a digital source to answer research questions.
  • information can be organzied and shared by creating a digital resource.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science
DLIT (2018)
Grade: 3
16) Conduct basic keyword searches to produce valid, appropriate results, and evaluate results for accuracy, relevance, and appropriateness.

Examples: Use search techniques, check for credibility and validity.

Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students will:
  • conduct basic keyword searches to produce valid, appropraite results, and evaluate results for accuracy, relevance, and appropriateness.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • keyword
  • search
  • valid
  • true
  • accuracy/accurate
  • relevance/relevant
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • strategies to conduct keyword searches.
  • strategies evaluate the accuracy of information.
  • not all information online is valid or true.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • conduct basic keyword searches using basic words and phrases.
  • explain how they know information located online is valid or true.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • using specific keywords while searching will deliver best results.
  • not all information online is valid or true.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 3
23. Identify and use text features in informational passages to locate information.

Examples: headings, photographs, illustrations, labels, charts, graphs, legends

a. Explain how text features support details in the text.

b. Explain how illustrations contribute to meaning in a story.

c. Interpret text features used in written and digital formats.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
23.
  • Text features
  • Locate
  • Informational passage
  • Identify
23a.
  • Explain
  • Text features
  • Supporting details
  • Text
23b.
  • Explain
  • Illustrations
  • Contribute
  • Meaning in a story
23c.
  • Interpret
  • Text features
  • Written formats
  • Digital formats
Knowledge:
23. Students know:
  • Informational passages often include text features that can be used to locate information within the text.
23a.
  • Text features can provide additional or clarifying information about details in a text.
23b.
  • Illustrations included with a story can contribute to the story's meaning.
23c.
  • Text features can be used in printed (written) and digital text.
Skills:
23. Students are able to:
  • Identify text features in informational passages, such as headings, photographs, illustrations, labels, charts, graphs, legends.
  • Use text features to locate information within an informational passage.
23a.
  • Identify text features and explain how the text features supports details in a text.
23b.
  • Identify an illustration and explain how it contributes to the meaning of the story.
23c.
  • Interpret text features presented in a digital format.
  • Interpret text features presented in a written format.
Understanding:
23. Students understand that:
  • Informational passages have predictable features that can be used to locate important information within the text.
  • Text features that are often used in informational text include headings, photographs, illustrations, labels, charts, graphs, and legends.
  • Using text features helps support their overall comprehension.
23a.
  • An author chooses to include text features to provide additional information, clarify information, or enhance ideas with in a text.
  • Using text features supports their comprehension of details in a text.
23b.
  • Authors and illustrators choose to include illustrations to enhance the meaning of the story provided in the text.
23c.
  • Text features are often included in written (printed) text and digital text.
  • In either format, text features can be used to locate information or enhance overall comprehension.
Learning Objectives:

Students will conduct basic keyword searches to locate and curate information from digital sources to answer a research question and evaluate results for accuracy, relevance, and appropriateness.

 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

Students will:

  1. View and discuss Code.org’s video The Internet: How Search Works to understand how an Internet browser uses an algorithm to return search results to a user.

  2. Create a list of basic keywords they can use to search for information related to a topic of interest or a topic currently being studied with a partner or small group.  Ex. The class chooses the topic of the American Revolution. Students will generate a list of keywords to answer questions they have about the American Revolution.

  3. Students will use the list they created to conduct a basic keyword search. Students will analyze the top ten returned resources to identify if the information is relevant and appropriate for the keywords used. If not, students will make a note on the keyword list then edit the keywords to narrow the focus of the request and search again.

 
Assessment Strategies:

Student keyword lists and notes will be used to determine their understanding of the standards.

 
Advanced Preparation:

Pre-watch Code.org’s video The Internet: How Search Works.
Variation Tips (optional):

Additional opportunities to conduct keyword searches for content that is interesting to individuals (Genius Hour).

Create the job responsibility of Researcher to add to weekly classroom roles. The researcher would have a device with them during the day so when someone says “I wonder” in class, they would conduct basic keyboard searches for the class. This job would rotate to a different student each week.

 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: