Introduction to Search Engines

Tom Kelliher, CS 102

Sept. 19, 2001

Administrivia

Announcements

Assignment

Read the following and be able to answer the questions.

1. Recommended Search Strategy
   (www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Strategies.html)

   Name and describe the five steps of the search strategy. How should a distinctive phrase be entered into a search engine? If you seek an overview of a topic, should you use a search engine or a subject directory? What is the danger in following links to sites recommended by heavy use or commercial interest?

2. The BEST Search Engines
   (www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SearchEngines.html)

   Tell me three things about Google. Tell me three things about Alta Vista Advanced. How does a search engine work? What is a ``spider?'' What is the ``Invisible Web?''

3. Subject Directories
   (www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SubjDirectories.html)

   Tell me three things each about Infomine, Academic Info, and Yahoo. What is a ``gateway site?''

From Last Time

MS Word Lab.

Outline

1. Introduction to search engines.

2. Search engine Lab.

Coming Up

Types of search engines, comparisons, evaluating information.

Introduction to Search Engines

1. What is a search engine?

2. Why do they exist?

3. How do they work?
   1. Indexes

   2. Keyword-driven search engines.

4. The problems: too many ``hits,'' evaluating quality.

Search engine Lab.