That way, students will be able to formulate narrowly tailored search queries, avoiding a long list of search results that may contain many sites unrelated to the information they are seeking. These search indexes contain a limited number of sites that have been selected for their quality, and are useful for conducting initial, exploratory searches when you don't want a long list of hits. They are also useful for finding the official web site for a specific organization or company. This can be a real time-saver. When searching, students should choose the search engine that is best suited to the type of query they are formulating.
Search engines can make a significant difference in the quality and quantity of search results.
If students understand what these tools can do, they're less likely to stay with only one search engine rather than explore others. Of course, traditional print sources should also be part of the student's information search. Information-literate students should know the benefits and drawbacks of both digital and print information. On the plus side, Internet-based information can be timely and can be accessed from anywhere with a computer and modem. The source or authorship of the digital information, on the other hand, must be closely scrutinized.