A Google a Day

A Google a DayNearly a year since launch, A Google a Day is still running strong and continues to test the knowledge of the web. Created by Daniel Russell, a Google employee himself, the site was put together to create a game that would engage people in a playful way and teach them how to search.

The basic premise is that each day a new question is posted to the site. It is then the challenge of visitors to use their search skills to find the correct answer. Some more challenging than others, the questions are geared to encourage search skills across Google’s services. Whether it is co-ordinates on a Google map, images or basic search, the site puts a little fun into finding answers on the web.

A Google a Day

Question

A Google a Day is a really neat way to get students to broaden the way they use Google’s search tools. It encourages them to explore the search engine which is embedded directly above the question. By offering hints on what to search for, students can be guided to find the correct answer. As well as this, the site also links to Google tips and tricks, teaching how to use more advanced techniques with the search engine.

One of the cool features of the site is a Google side project, “Deja Google”. Deja Google is Google but from the day before the question was posted. The logic here becomes clear once you begin searching. If you “Google” the question, chances are that someone has already posted the answer on a blog or site somewhere. By using Deja Google, it is not possible to stumble across the answer, as the question did not exist a day prior. Yes, time travel can be confusing :)

If you want to put yourself or your class to the test, there are a number of ways to get involved on the site. You can just bookmark and visit when you please, follow “A Google a Day” on Twitter or install the Chrome app.

 

How would you rate you Google skills? And did you follow a formal learning path or just learn by experimentation?

 

Image courtesy of Flickr, Carlos Luna

3 Comments

  1. The problem i have with a google a day is the SLOW factor. It takes SO long to load in my classroom that it needs to speed up to get my kids to take it up.

    1. That is frustrating. Nothing is worse than watching the loading bar :) Have you tried using Google Chrome to view the site?

  2. The problem i have with a google a day is the SLOW factor. It takes SO long to load in my classroom that it needs to speed up to get my kids to take it up.

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