When given an assignment, your first instinct may be to jump on your phone, connect with the internet, do a Google search of your topic, and use the first result you find. However, this method of finding information is NOT advised. While, we all have used Google at one time or another (or some of us ALL the time), there are some reasons to proceed with caution when using the Google search engine or any internet search engine for that matter. First of all, anyone can create and put information on the internet. There is no review process or standards of quality. While expert and trustworthy information does exist on the internet, some of the information out there is inaccurate, misleading, and sometimes purposely false. This is why you need to know how to evaluate credible sources from those that are not.
One appropriate time to use the basic Google search might be when you are in the discovery phase of your research and just getting familiar with a topic. Peruse the results from your Google search to build a foundation of knowledge about your topic. Make sure that you gather information from a variety of sources. Don't just rely on the first result. Once you start getting a feel for the topic, you should find information sources that are more scholarly in nature.
Even when you are using the Google search engine to find information that's not school/academic related, it is always a good practice to consult a variety of sources to find the answer to your question.