Lesson Plan

• Describe the key factors that affect search engine performance (speed, amount of information, relevance speed, reliability).
• Apply effective search strategies using keywords and operators to locate information quickly.
• Evaluate the reliability of online sources with a structured checklist.
• Compare search engine results based on speed and reliability in a paired activity.
• Document the search process and reflect on improvements for future searches.

• Projector and screen
• Internet‑enabled computers or tablets (pairs)
• Stopwatch or timer app
• Worksheet with reliability checklist and comparison table
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handout of search operators

Start with a quick poll: How many students use a search engine daily and what challenges they face? Discuss common issues such as slow results or difficulty finding trustworthy information. Explain that today they will learn how to search faster, use operators, and assess credibility, with success measured by a short comparison report.

1. Do‑Now (5'): Students list three difficulties they have experienced when searching online and share briefly.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Define a search engine and explain the four key performance factors, using the comparison table.
3. Demonstration (8'): Teacher models keyword selection and use of operators (quotes, minus, site:, filetype:) with a sample query.
4. Guided Practice (12'): In pairs, choose a topic, run the same query on Google and Bing, record load time, number of results, and clicks needed to find a reliable source (using a stopwatch).
5. Reliability Checklist Activity (8'): Evaluate one result using the reliability checklist and discuss findings.
6. Group Discussion & Report Writing (10'): Pairs summarise their data on the worksheet and share which engine performed better for each criterion.
7. Exit Ticket (5'): Each student writes one tip for efficient searching and one remaining question.

Review the step‑by‑step process of an efficient search and the reliability checklist. Invite a few students to share the tip they will apply next time. Collect exit tickets and assign homework: research a new topic using the taught strategies and submit a brief report with documented search steps.