Helping your child use online research tools

Your child probably already uses search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing to track down information. But do they know how to get the most out of these tools? Here are some strategies your child can use to maximize their chances of finding the answers to their questions:

• Look for information in the news
• Use the advanced settings
• Use the image search tool
• Etc.

When conducting an internet search, it’s a good idea to use keywords (i.e., the most significant words related to a concept). To improve the likelihood your child will find the information they need, you can suggest that they use keywords while following these guidelines:

• Don’t use complete sentences
• Don’t use determiners
• Put specific phrases in quotation marks
• Place a minus sign (-) in front of words that should be excluded from the search
• Use correct vocabulary
• Etc.

When your child uses a search engine, they’re casting a very wide net. To narrow their scope, they can start by visiting credible websites:

• Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada’s website provides access to a range of information on the economy, health, society, and the environment. 

• The Radio-Canada archives

The Radio-Canada archives (French only) include an impressive selection of documentaries and films. Each one is like a memory bank of our country’s rich heritage. 

• Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

BAnQ is a true goldmine of information. On its website, visitors have free access to a multitude of unpublished documents related to Quebec’s heritage. The organization’s books, movies, games, music, and newspapers are sure to hold the answers your child needs.

• Google Scholar Canada

Google Scholar Canada, an academic search engine run by the digital giant Google, lets users search for scientific papers and other scholarly publications. In addition to providing access to quality content, the tool allows you to create a personal library of saved articles. You can also make a list of articles you’d like to read later.

• The Canadian Encyclopedia

The online Canadian Encyclopedia aims to document the history, ideas, and people of our country. From agriculture to energy to local athletes, your child will have access to a wealth of valuable information.

• Youtube

YouTube is the ultimate video-sharing platform. The third-most-visited site on the web, it’s an indispensable resource for finding instructional videos. In fact, kids can find our tutorials and other educational videos on YouTube.

• Canadian Museum of History

Many of the pieces in the Canadian Museum of History’s collection have been digitized, much to everyone’s delight. Having quick access to an artefact could help your child find an important date, or link the item to a historical event.

• The Encyclopédie Larousse

Of all the online resources available, the Encyclopédie Larousse (French only) is certainly one of the most comprehensive, with 135,000 definitions, 90,000 articles on various subjects, 92,000 synonyms, and much more !

Although most information on the internet is free, your child can’t necessarily use it however they like. When your child uses someone else’s words and ideas indirectly, they need to acknowledge their source using in-text citations or footnotes. These may include the following information:

• The author’s first and last name
• The publication’s title
• The city of publication
• The date of publication
• The page from which the information was taken
• Etc.

If your child uses someone else’s words or writing directly, they need to indicate that the material has been quoted. You can remind them of the following guidelines:

• When writing in French, citations of less than 5 lines must be enclosed in quotation marks («»), be preceded by a colon (:), and refer to a footnote.
• Quotations longer than 5 lines should be indented in the text and don’t require quotation marks. They should also refer to a footnote.