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tgb comments on Learn Power Searching with Google - Less Wrong Discussion
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Yes, for everyone here worried about text - it is available! However, beyond that I've been pretty unimpressed* with the course. So far it's been more along the lines of basic searching techniques. For example, topics covered:
1) Using ctrl+f
2) Refining searches with color choice in images
3) Auto-completion
4) Instant search
It feels more like an advertising program than a real attempt at turning us into search masters. TBH, I except that this will be more helpful to more people, but not that helpful to the typical LWer. I hope the later presentations pick up.
(*) Aside: I was going to use the word "nonplussed" here before stopping and realizing that I didn't really know what it means. Turns out there's a good reason for that: the two definitions for it that I got with my awesome google skills were: 'confused' and 'unperturbed'. Consider me nonplussed about the word 'nonplussed' - by either definition.
So far the units covered where "Introduction" and "Interpreting results". Isn't it a bit early to be complaining of this not being that useful? This is very much a procedural knowledge class. Since it builds on a everyday skill you shouldn't expect it to blow your mind, you should however expect it to show you two or three new things that will let you do stuff better. At the very least let them reach Unit 3 "Class 3 - Advanced techniques" rather than despairing at "Introduction" and "Interpreting results" not doing much for you.
Honestly I very much expected them to start at the pace they have, the things you mention seem very basic, but there is a huge demand for such basic introductions. This is why Udacity recently made the Stats 101 and the Physics 100 classes. Remember when he says that just using ctrl+f puts you above 90% of searchers. I'm pretty sure at least 10% of LessWrong users don't use ctrl+f.
To give you a related data point I didn't know you could use colour choice in image searches so this class has totally been worth it.
I think it must be aimed at beginners and not someone like me. Class 1 was just laughable, but Class 2 started to get into the real skill of searching: thinking about synonyms and alternative phrasings and how someone else would write what you want, and Class 3 (finally) covered the most useful operators like negation and
site:. The midterm was easy, but with the basics out of the way, I'm hopeful that 4-6 may teach me something new and so I'm going to continue (as much as it's otherwise been a disappointment).I also think the exercises & questions are skimpier than they ought to have been. Testing your syntax understanding is fine, but surely more can be done?
I finished the final exam just now. It was harder than the exercises, which was a good thing (although I still don't see how one could answer one of the book questions).
Overall, my opinion remains the same. Good for beginners, for power users who already know Boolean operators and site: etc, not such a good use of time. Also, probably everyone should skip the videos and read the documents instead (unless they're very fond of videos). It was a nice touch that they tried to teach about confirmation bias.
I signed up for the course, without ever watching the videos or reading the transcripts. A few minutes ago, I thought this might be a good time to finally get started. So I came back to the original LessWrong post to find the link to the course. But after reading gwern's comments, it's become clear to me that the course is not worth it.
Lesson: unless you have strong reasons for committing immediately to some time-consuming course or activity, wait until others whose judgment you trust have reviewed the course or activity.
Additionally, there's a somewhat more subtle advantage people may tend to downplay: the possibility to "refresh" already known, yet underused search tips.
I agree with your and GLaDOS's points. However, this was not the impression of the course I got ahead of time. I expected it to be aimed at 'power users' trying to step it up to the next level. The advanced topics in part 3 can be summed up with "click on the advanced search button and then fill in the form". This is a problem with my expectations for the course more than a problem with the course itself. But that doesn't mean I'm not still disappointed - I wanted the black art of searching straight from the masters themselves.
OTOH, with the text transcripts, I can turn these 50-minute classes into about 10 minutes if I already know the material with little chance of skipping any new stuff, so I'm definitely continuing and don't consider it a waste of time or anything.