Just Google It!

The internet is big, really, really big, and if you want to use it effectively you have to be familiar with search engines. Google.com has become the search engine of choice for millions of internet users.  There are others, and if the past is any guide, there will be a “better than Google” search engine some day. But for now Google seems to be the best.  Part of the reason they are the best is that they keep developing new ways of looking at the internet.  Below are a couple of additional features that Google offers that you might want to check out now and in the future as they continue to develop: news.google.com  Need a current event?  Forget about the newspaper, use the internet like teenagers do to find stories that are only minutes old. images.google.com/  Arguably the best image search engine in the world.  Try finding a picture of something today. google.com/shopping  Looking to make a purchase. Shop and compare prices online first using Google Shopping. google.com/finance  What to check the stock market, try this website for a quick overview. maps.google.com   Looking for an up to date map or satellite photo, check out these amazingly easy to manipulate maps and photos. video.google.com  Google has their own video search engine.  Find an educational video on the internet that you can play for your class youtube.com Several years ago Google bought Youtube which has become the premier video sharing website on the internet. scholar.google.com  Another project that Google is working on is to create a more efficient way to search scholarly papers. books.google.com  This is a great way to jump into some literature.  Check out a book online, read some passages and find out where you can buy a copy.

PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Just try out any of the webpages above to find something.  Find directions for a vacation destination, look for educational videos, shop for new classroom gadgets, check out the news. TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to learn more about Google try searching the internet for: Google Labs Stock Ticker Symbol:  GOOG About Google Google Milestones