Images

 

Google Image:
Google Image is a search engine that enables users to search the internet for images. 

Search Query:

• Is there a correlation between students that are identified as having a learning disability and the high school dropout rate? 

I conducted a natural language keyword search in Google image using the terms: learning disability and the high school dropout rate.  I designate the following limiters: size - medium and color - full color. 

Screen shot of my search strategy:

 

Best Hit:

Image Citation:  “What the Numbers Tell Us,” accessed November 2, 2014, http://ideas.education.alberta.ca/media/63195/6disability2009-2013_649x390.jpg

What I learned: Content
This image distinguishes the difference between the graduation rate of All Students, Learning Disability and Emotional/Behavioral Disability.  It demonstrates that the graduation rate of all students and students with learning disabilities has steadily increased slightly from the 2008/2009 school year to the 2012/2013 school year.  In contrast, the completion rate of students with emotional/behavioral disabilities has markedly increased from 2008/2009 to 2012/2013.  Nevertheless, the rate of completion for this subset of students is less than half its population.  This graph also clearly demonstrates that students, who have been identified as having an emotional/behavioral disability, are at the greatest risk of dropping out of high school.        

Searching Tip:
Given the number of images that can be retrieved from Google image it is best to employ as many relevant limiters as possible.  

Reflection:
I have used Google image many times before this search, however before this search I did not know that I could apply limiters.  The most important feature that I learned about is the copyright limiter.  The “usage rights” limiter allows the user to limit the search to images which can be legally reused.    Before now, I discouraged my students from using Google image to find content for their projects.  However, now I know that if the “usage rights” limiter is applied to the search, then the image can be legally obtained.