Getting the Most Out of Your Searches

Today I wanted to share some helpful tips on improving your Google searches.  As a bonus, I am also going to talk to you about Wolfram Alpha.

Google Search Tips

There are many tips and features to Google's search engine that people are unaware of.  I am going to share a few of these tips and features.

• Want to get the weather forecast for your area or somewhere you are traveling to?
• Type in weather followed by the city or zip code

• Have a conference call in another time zone and you are not sure what time it is there?
• Type in time followed by the city or zip code

• Want to know the score of the NBA playoff game from last night?  
• Type in sport scores followed by the team name or league name

• Need a calculator?
• Type the math problem into the search box 

• Not sure of the meaning of a word?
• Type define followed by the word

• Need to convert units of measurement?
• Type in the conversion you want to make

• Looking for a place to get gas, eat, etc. 
• Type in what your looking for followed by the zip code or city

• Not sure what time a family members flight lands?
• Type in the airline followed by the flight number

• Looking for a map?
• Type in the location followed by the word map

• Want to track a package that is shipping to your house?  
• Enter the tracking number into the search box
• Don't know the entire title of a movie?
• Use * to replace the missing words

• Want to find a specific file-type, such as PowerPoint or PDF?
• Enter what you are searching for followed by filetype: and the filetype you are wanting, ppt, pdf, or doc

Understanding how to take advantage of these tools and tips when completing Google searches can save students and teachers time.  Many students and/or teachers do not even realize these time saving tools are available on Google searches.  These tools can help students/teachers when researching by making the most out of their searches.  

For even more tips and tools for upping your game on Google searches watch this video.  

Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha is an online search device that uses algorithms and a large pool of expert knowledge to answer questions.  You will be amazed at what Wolfram Alpha can do.  Wolfram Alpha is much more than a search engine.  To access Wolfram Alpha click here.  

The possibilities are endless with Wolfram Alpha but I want to list out some of the things Wolfram Alpha can do.

• math calculations
• graph
• solve equations
• gather information about a person in history
• get information about a past political leader
• convert Roman numerals to standard notation
• compare inventions
• get information about species of animals or plants
• get information about a type of dinosaur
• make conversions between different units of measurement
• complete calculations with units
• get current weather reports
• get specific weather data
• get weather history
• get information on a specific chemical element
• find and analyze data about a stock

Wolfram Alpha could be a useful tool for students when completing research.  Wolfram Alpha would also be a great site to find information about different people in history.  Wolfram Alpha could be used as tool to gather information on stocks for an economics class.  Wolfram Alpha offers many possibilities for how it could be used in the classroom or as a time saving tool.  

Below are two websites that provide you with ideas for how you can take advantage of Wolfram Alpha.

• 23 Non-Math Things You Can Do With Wolfram Alpha
• 10 Amazing Uses of Wolfram Alpha

For more detailed information about Wolfram Alpha, watch these two videos.  

Once again, thanks for reading my blog this week.  I hope you enjoyed hearing some useful tips on getting the most out of your Google searches and learning about Wolfram Alpha.