[Sigia-l] help for class on search engine

[AF Cossham]

Hi Camilla

I had a look at this the other day: Phil Bradley: Finding what you need with
the best search engines  http://www.philb.com/whichengine.htm
(Source: Neat New Stuff I Found This Week http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2005. )

which looks like it provides some of the sorts of answers your grid might
generate. So, possibly DON'T use this approach! However, might be useful in
developing something else.

Also
ResearchBuzz http://www.researchbuzz.com charts developments in search
engine functionalities - maybe you can adapt some of Tara's strategies for
evaluation. Or even get the students to develop some evaluation procedures
to test search engine functionality and run those tests over a selection
(5?) of engines. Downside of that is the length of time it will take to mark
- even in groups!

Good luck - and I'd be really interested in what you end up doing - either
on or off-list. 

Regards,
Amanda

Amanda Cossham 
Lecturer, Information and Library Studies
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
0508 650 200 extension 5518
or (04) 913 5518 (Wellington callers)
Fax: (04) 560 5727 
Email: Amanda.Cossham at openpolytechnic.ac.nz