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If I had my way, I would introduce internet search techniques as a core module in all university programs.

Too often I see in my students work evidence of lazy searching. It is as if they expect Google to be able to read their minds or even foresee their future intentions. Lack of variety of search terms is a key shortcoming. Also, lack of exploration of terms which are tangentially related to their search topic.

An internet search should be playful and exploratory. Above all, it should be understood that the internet is beyond simple linear indexing.



But search techniques change over time. You can see that in the responses in this thread. What used to work doesn't anymore.


It is as if they expect Google to be able to read their minds or even foresee their future intentions.

That's exactly what Google and other interests want --- gullible, uncritical sheeple that can be exploited to extract $$$ and worse.


So I actually did have this as a class, or at least part of one.

I think there is / was an official standard or name, I can't remember it though. It never worked with Google really, but it worked on the search engines for our university and other academic sites.




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