Technology Medley

Have you noticed the new options that show up when you do a Google search? Typically, you search for a term, reach the main Google page, and start clicking. But now you have more information right at your fingertips! First, click on the Show Options link at the top of the search results page.

You’ll notice numerous new options on the left side of the page. Now you can narrow your search by the most recent pages, forums, videos, etc.  Take a look at the Wonder Wheel near the bottom.

When you click here, Google gives you a visual of related links that may help you narrow down your search results. (The actual search links still show up on the right side of the window. If you click on one of the spokes of the wheel, Google will display a new wheel of related topics. Each of the former wheels moves to the bottom of the screen, so you can always return to your original search.

Another interesting option is the Timeline link. Clicking on this option when searching for Salem yields the following results:

So, the next time you’re searching for something in Google, check out all of the options in the left sidebar. Hopefully, these will lead you to your desired results in record time!

If you work in an elementary school, you will love this video created by Karen Rose and her third graders in Melissa, Texas. The video was selected as the winner of a digital storytelling contest this summer at the National Educational Computing Conference.

Listen carefully to the lyrics as you watch. You’ll hear lines such as “Watching videos, hearings audio, yeah, we think they’re ok. But watching out own that we’ve created makes work feel like play!”

Who wouldn’t want to their students to feel this way about their own learning? Enjoy!