Lab Activity One
First, read these two articles about the practice of "Ego Surfing":
"Self-Googling" Isn't Just Vanity" (University of Buffalo)
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=66380009"You're a Nobody Unless Your Name Googles Well" (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117856222924394753.html
Second, go to Google and enter search terms to bring back results about you. You may need multiple parts to the search. For example, to get results about me, I might use:
"nicole melander" oracle OR microsoft OR "american university"
If you need help with syntax, use Google's Advanced Search: http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
Third, go to Google Alerts and enter these search terms so you'll be notified of new search results: http://www.google.com/alerts
Done? Now have a little fun: start a "googlefight" with another student in the class: http://www.googlefight.com/
Lab Activity Two
Search yourself or your friends on "People Search" sites:
Intellus: http://search.intelius.com/
Peek You: http://www.peekyou.com/
WebMii: http://www.webmii.com/
PIPL: http://www.pipl.com/
If a potential employer used these tools, is this the "brand" you want to promote?
