Google can be very helpful but it is much more useful if you know how to use it effectively.
Some basic search tips:
- Use quotation marks when searching for a phrase e.g. "genetic engineering"
- Use the I'm feeling lucky button to find the most popular website on a topic
Search website titles:
- e.g. allintitle:climate change
Search specific sites or domains:
- eg: site:edu (searchs .edu sites only)
- eg: site:gc.ca (searches the government of Canada)
- eg: site:gov.bc.ca (searches only BC government sites)
Search for specific document types:
- eg: filetype:pdf filetype:ppt filetype:xls
Find a definition:
- eg: define: nanotechnology
Advanced search option:
- You can combine many of the above commands and add date restrictions, if you start your search in the Advanced Search screen
