Mastering Google Search: Secrets to Smarter, Faster Online Research

Tired of off-target search results? To get better, more relevant results on Google, you have to know how to speak the search engine’s “language.” This course will teach you just that, through tips and step-by-step search examples. First, you’ll master core Google search techniques, then move on to additional techniques designed to help with your specific genealogy challenges and research goals.

COURSE BEGINS: There are no sessions currently scheduled for this course. It is available as part of the Google Master Class course.
COURSE LENGTH: 4 weeks
TUITION: $99.99 ($74.99 for VIP)
INSTRUCTOR: Lisa Louise Cooke (Bio)
Download course syllabus

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• The basic guidelines for successful searching—including Google’s limitations
• Techniques to refine your searches and ferret out irrelevant results
• Tips to tailor your searches to find genealogy information and ancestral data
• How to automate your Google searches so the search engine finds new websites and information for you
• Strategies to find images and other materials relevant to your family history

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

• genealogy hobbyists looking to save time in their Google searching
• people who are new to genealogy or online genealogy research

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: REQUIREMENTS & SUPPLIES

• A free Google account
• This course assumes you understand the basics principles of genealogy and have done some investigation into your family history. If you are a total beginner, consider taking the Discover Your Family Tree course before enrolling in this class.
• Students should have a basic understanding of how to use their computer and the web. If you’re new to the web, consider taking our Computer Boot Camp class first.

COURSE SYLLABUS
Lesson 1: Harnessing the Power of Google Search

• Basic Search
  • Search Strategy: Keep it Simple
  • Search Strategy: Imagine It and You Will Find It
  • Search Strategy: Use Descriptive Words
  • Search Strategy: Pull It All Together
  • Search Strategy: Use Multiple Searches
• Incorporating Operators
  • NOT
  • AND
  • OR
• Advanced Search Strategies
  • “+” Search
  • Quotation Marks
  • Alternative to NOT
  • Words Apart Search
  • Quick Definition Search
  • Numrange Search
  • Synonym Search
  • Link Search
  • Related Search
  • Allintitle Search
  • Allinurl Search
  • If You’re in a Hurry
• Keys to success
• Quiz

Lesson 2: Sift Through the Clutter to Get to What You Want

• Search Options Column
  • What the Search Options Column can do
    • Finding images
    • Finding videos
    • Finding books and blogs
  • Switch up your view
    • Related Searches
    • Wonder Wheel
    • Timeline
  • What’s not in the Search Options Column
• Google Alerts
  • Creating Google Alerts
    • Add a Google Alert Feed to Another Feed Aggregator
    • Add a Google Alert Gadget to Your iGoogle Home Page
  • Editing your Google Alerts
  • Alerts That Will Further Your Research
• Keys to success
• Exercise
• Quiz

Lesson 3: How to Find Hard-to-Find Website Content

• Google Site Search
  • Site Search Syntax
• Bringing Websites Back From the Dead
• Keys to Success
• Exercise
• Quiz

Lesson 4: Searching Visually

• Images Search
  • Conducting an Image Search
  • Conducting an Advanced Image Search
• Pictures From the Past
  • How to Retrieve an Image That Is No Longer Available
• Similar Images Search
• Looking to the Future
• Keys to Success
• Exercise