Peer Review

Google ~Guide

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This website provides an extensive tutorial on searching Google. The tutorial contains a table of contents that allows users to select specific types of information. The tutorial provides information on how to input data for searching (using operators, phrase searching, etc.). The tutorial also contains additional information on how web developers can improve their ranking within Google searches. Primary use would be for any class in any subject where Internet research is expected. Also available in PDF format for printing. Available in Dansk and Hebrew.
Type of Material:: An interactive tutorial.
Recommended Uses:: Reference manual for information literacy courses and other courses where Internet research is assigned. Homework to students by college or high school instructors. Used by librarians to help provide instruction to library patrons.
Technical Requirements:: Internet browser such as Microsoft Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The user will learn how to search Google efficiently and effectively. The user will learn about Googles many features and how to effectively use them.
Target Student Population:: High school students Undergraduates/Community College students
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic computer skills (keyboard, mouse), basic understanding of web browsers and the world wide web

Rating:
Strengths:: Has good reference guides and shows shortcuts. Provides informed, in-depth explanations of how to construct searches and how search querries are interpreted by Google. Google Guide is published under a Creative Commons License.
Concerns:: The tutorial is text heavy and at first glance a bit daunting. Some material unrelated to Google searching is included on the site. The link on the main page, Teens Click Here, links to a quick guide for searching (another cheat sheet is also available). The title of this link is not helpful in describing the page it links to. The site contains very little information on searching Google Scholar. This information would be of use to college students.

Rating:
Strengths:: Users can jump to any part of the text using menu bar. By following the webpages in sequence as presented the information concepts are introduced progressively. Instructors could easily construct subject specific quizzes and examples based on the tutorial to reinforce concepts learned in the tutorial.
Concerns:: This guide does not explicitly detail learning objectives, nor does it provide an explanation of prerequisite knowledge. There are specialized links for experts and novices, but there is no explanation of how these terms are defined in the guide. Although the Google Guide can be used in instruction, this guide serves best as a reference tool than a teaching tool.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site is easy to understand, pages are not too cluttered and there are no ads. The site includes a well defined list of topics covered in the tutorial. The site is very Internet accesible for users with slower internet connections (e.g., dial-up). Google Guide is published under a Creative Commons License.
Concerns:: The screens are textually dense requiring the user to read through much material. Illustrations of screen shots are clear and germane to the text but are static. Although suggestions for learner activities are embedded in the text, this guide is not interactive and reflects a printed computer manual.

Other Issues and Comments:: I like this very much, and I could see using it with my community college students. It would be useful a san exercise to versatile Google is.It would make a good teaching exercise. I learned a lot myself by going through it for this review.
Creative Commons: