About ITIT for StudentsIT for FacultyIT for StaffServicesHelpDocumentationIT Home

Technology Tip of the Week - March 20, 2007

Google Tools

By now most of you are probably familiar with the use of Google for searching the web as well as for grabbing great images. However did you know that you could also use Google as a dictionary, a calculator AND a language translator? Here are three new ways to use this powerful tool.

Google as Dictionary

If you want a quick definition of a word:

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Go to the Google website at: http://www.google.com
  3. In order to tell Google you want to search for a definition type define:  followed by the word in the search box. Then click on the Search button. For example, if you wanted to search for a definition of the word Tao you would type   define: Tao. You will immediately see all the definitions of this word available on the web. (Try this, you'll be amazed at how many different types of definitions there are for this word!)

Google as Calculator

Say you want to do a quick calculation but your calculator is at home. You could always use the calculator program that comes with Windows that is under Start - Programs - Accessories - Calculator or....you could use Google! To have Google figure out your math problem:

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Go to the Google website at: http://www.google.com
  3. Type your math problem into the search box, for example 1287/24 and then click on the Search button. The answer pops up immediately. Don't you wish this had been around when you were doing your homework!
For more information on the Google calculator (and even a currency converter), see http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/features.html#calculator

Google as Translator

Some of you may use babelfish to do some quick online translations, but you can do the same thing right in Google. To use this feature:

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Go to the Google website at: http://www.google.com
  3. Click on the Language Tools link that is to the right of the search box
  4. Type or paste the text you want translated into the translate text box
  5. Choose your desired language from the drop down arrow at the bottom of the translation box
  6. Click on the Translate button
  7. The translated text will appear on the right. Isn't that cool??

For more help with these features, please contact one of the IT Instructional Support team (Norm Grant, Gene Grande or Linda Beith) or faculty mentors Tony Basilico or Kathy Beauchene.

Website of the Week

Virtual Timer/Virtual Stopwatch

If you are ever in the position where a timer would come in handy in your classroom (for example a game, a quick quiz session, a writing task, etc.) this free website is for you. Go to http://www.timeme.com/ and choose either the stopwatch or timer. The stopwatch buttons are pretty self-explanatory. If you choose the timer option, click on the Preferences link to set the desired time, click on Save Preferences then click on Start. You can even set an alarm!

Feel free to post your thoughts or opinions of this site in the Teaching Forum message board.

These tips are provided by the Department of Information Technology instructional support team. If you have any questions on these tips, or wish to offer your own, please feel free to contact Linda Beith at lbeith@ccri.edu. View an archive of past technology tips at http://it.ccri.edu/Training/Tips/tip_week.shtml.
Go to top of page