Databases...mid-year my district purchased from Facts on File their Issues & Controversies in American History and Science Online. I figured now is the perfect opportunity to play around with them...A nice feature about the Issues & Controversies was the collection of political cartoons...primary source documents....everything was arranged by era. They did a nice job...produced good results. However, the Science Online database blew me away. I loved the science dictionary, conversion calculator & science standard all available by tabs at the top. A teacher who used the NYTimes to introduce science in the news until we couldn't get it anymore...now uses Science Online. They have a list of news worthy science topics and always have a Today's Science feature. You can browse diagrams, experiments, bios, timelines by subject then era, videos and animation. They hit the nail on the head with this one...easy to use, great information..it is a fun databases to just browse!
Search Tools... I came across duckduckgo.com and I am now a huge fan. It has a similar feel to google...but much simpler. It was one of Time's top 50 websites of 2011. It promotes more privacy and less spam. Like google...on its search page its logo changes with events...for example the duck was dressed as Adam Yauch in honor of his passing. I like the way it presents search results...very no nonsense and relevant. Google tries to think for you and returns results it thinks you will like. You and a friend might do the same search but get totally different results...google trying to think for you. Google tracks your searches and saves them which can be legally requested. They save your browser & computer information which leads to all the 3rd party ads. I really appreciated the list of Apps duckduckgo provided for maximum protection while searching the internet! I love the Goodies it provides as well! I think it is a great alternative to the all mighty, all knowing google.
I have also had my students try out SweetSearch....results were good although they seem to miss the bells and whistles of a google search...I tried to explain to them the research experts' input into the results they get...but they were not impressed! LOL
I was interested in the Custom Search on Google...have not tried it yet but hope to ....next on my list of things to do.
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