Know and understand use of search engine including speed of searching, amount of information, the speed of finding relevant information, ease of finding reliable information

10 Communication – Using Search Engines

Learning Objectives (Mapped to Cambridge AO1‑AO3)

• AO1 – Knowledge: Define a search engine and describe the four performance factors required by the syllabus (speed of searching, amount of information, speed of finding relevant information, ease of finding reliable information).
• AO2 – Application: Demonstrate how to plan and carry out an efficient search using keywords, Boolean operators and evaluation check‑lists; record the data required for the four performance factors.
• AO3 – Analysis/Evaluation: Compare two or more search engines and critically evaluate the reliability and safety of the information retrieved.

1. Internet Basics (Effective Use of the Internet)

1.1. Key Networks

• Internet: Global public network of computers and servers.
• Intranet: Private network confined to a single organisation.
• Extranet: Controlled part of an intranet that external partners can access.

1.2. World Wide Web & Browsers

• The WWW is a collection of interlinked hypertext documents accessed through hyperlinks.
• Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) translate URLs into visual web pages.

1.3. URL Structure

protocol://subdomain.domain.tld/path?query#fragment

• Protocol: http, https, ftp, etc.
• Domain: the server address (e.g., example.com).

1.4. Core Internet Protocols

2. Email Communication (10.1)

2.1. Email Structure (Syllabus wording)

• To: Primary recipient(s)
• CC: Carbon copy – recipients can see each other’s addresses
• BCC: Blind carbon copy – addresses hidden from other recipients
• Subject: Concise description of the email’s purpose
• Greeting, Body, Closing, Signature
• Attachments: Include only necessary files; keep size < 5 MB where possible

2.2. Net‑iquette (AO1)

• Use a clear subject line.
• Write in a polite, professional tone.
• Keep paragraphs short; avoid ALL CAPS.
• Proof‑read for spelling and grammar.

2.3. Security & Spam (AO1‑AO3)

• Spam & Phishing: Look for unknown senders, urgent language, mismatched URLs, unexpected attachments.
• Security: Strong passwords, two‑factor authentication, never share credentials via email.

2.4. Mini‑Task – Draft a Correctly Formatted Email (AO2)

In pairs, compose an email to a teacher requesting clarification on a homework task. Include:

• All required headings (To, CC, BCC, Subject, Greeting, Body, Closing, Signature)
• One attachment (e.g., a PDF of your draft work)
• Apply net‑iquette and security reminders.

Use the checklist below to self‑assess.

2.5. Email Checklist (AO1)

3. What Is a Search Engine?

A search engine is a software system that automatically crawls, indexes and ranks billions of web pages. When a user enters a textual query, the engine returns a Search Engine Results Page (SERP) ordered by relevance.

4. Syllabus Factors – Speed, Quantity & Reliability (10.2)

4.1. Definitions (AO1)

1. Speed of searching: Time taken for the SERP to appear after the query is submitted.
2. Amount of information: Number of results reported (e.g., “About 12 000 000 results”).
3. Speed of finding relevant information: Number of clicks or time needed to reach a source that satisfies the information need.
4. Ease of finding reliable information: How simply a user can identify trustworthy, up‑to‑date sources.

4.2. How to Record Each Factor in an Exam Task (AO2)

5. Comparing Popular Search Engines (AO3)

6. Search Operators – From Basic to Advanced (AO2)

7. Personalisation, Bias and Mitigation (AO3)

Search engines tailor results based on previous queries, location and device. This can affect the ease of finding reliable information by favouring familiar or commercial sources.

• Use Incognito / Private Browsing mode to minimise tracking.
• Clear cookies or switch browsers between research tasks.
• Compare results from at least two engines to spot systematic bias.

8. Conducting an Efficient Search (AO2)

1. Define the information need using the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why).
2. List key concepts and possible synonyms.
3. Choose precise keywords and add appropriate operators (see Section 6).
4. Enter the query; skim the first results page – titles and snippets give quick clues.
5. Use Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F) to locate specific terms on a page.
6. Apply the reliability checklist (Section 9) to each promising source.
7. Document the search process: engine used, exact query, date, and the final source chosen.

9. Assessing the Reliability of Information (AO3)

Apply the following checklist to every web page before using its content.

Sample Evaluation (AO3)

Source: Nature article on renewable‑energy statistics 2023

• Authorship: Peer‑reviewed scientists; affiliations listed.
• Reputation: High‑impact, internationally recognised journal.
• Currency: Published March 2023 – current.
• References: 45 citations, data links provided.
• Bias: Scientific presentation; no commercial promotion.
• Safety: HTTPS, no ads or pop‑ups.

Result: Meets all reliability criteria – suitable for citation.

10. e‑Safety when Searching (8.2 & 10.2)

• Safe Search: Enable the search engine’s “Safe Search” setting to filter explicit content.
• HTTPS check: Look for the pad‑lock icon in the address bar before clicking a link.
• URL inspection: Verify the domain spelling (e.g., .gov vs .g0v) and avoid suspicious redirects.
• Avoid downloading: Only download files from trusted domains; scan with antivirus.
• Personal data: Never enter personal details (name, school, address) on untrusted sites.

11. Practical Activity – Measuring Speed, Quantity & Reliability (AO2 & AO3)

Work in pairs. Use the same query on two different search engines (e.g., Google vs. Bing). Record the data required by the syllabus and produce a short evaluation.

1. Choose a topic (e.g., “renewable energy statistics 2023”).
2. Run the query on Search Engine A and Search Engine B.
3. Record the following for each engine:

   • Time taken for the SERP to appear (use a stopwatch).
   • Number of results shown (“About … results”).
   • Number of clicks required to reach a source that passes the reliability checklist (Section 9).
   • Brief comment on how easily the reliable source could be identified (ease of finding reliable information).

4. Write a report (≈200 words) covering:

   • Which engine was faster (speed of searching)?
   • Which provided more hits (amount of information)?
   • Which allowed you to reach a reliable source with fewer clicks (speed of finding relevant information & ease of finding reliable information)?
   • Any evidence of personalisation or bias observed.

5. Present findings to the class and discuss which engine is best for different research tasks (e.g., quick fact‑checking vs. in‑depth academic research).

12. Summary Checklist for Effective Searching (AO1‑AO3)

• Define the information need precisely (AO1).
• List key concepts and synonyms; select accurate keywords (AO2).
• Apply relevant operators (quotes, site:, filetype:, etc.) (AO2).
• Choose a search engine that matches the task (consider speed, index size, reliability tools) (AO3).
• Skim titles and snippets; use Ctrl + F to locate terms quickly (AO2).
• Apply the reliability checklist to each candidate source (AO3).
• Check e‑Safety: HTTPS, Safe Search, URL spelling (AO3).
• Document the query, engine, date, and chosen source for future reference (AO2).