Six: Google Custom Search Engine

Ever wish you could create a customized search engine that searches only across sites that you specify and displays results that you know will be appropriate for you or your students? Google Custom Search Engine (CSE) allows you do do just that. All you need to do is choose the websites and pages you'd like to search, then follow a few simple steps to create a CSE. Think of it as putting the power of Google web search to work for you.
Let's say you're a teacher and you want your students to access only school-safe sites. (Ones that won't be blocked!) Using Google's Custom Search tool, you can pre-select the sites, list them in the settings of your new search engine, and then let your students use it -- knowing that they're searching the web safely. And because you choose the sites to search, they'll get a limited number of highly relevant search results, making the time they spend online more efficient and rewarding.

With Google Custom Search Engine, you can:

• Create a CSE at any time and Google will give you unique URL for easy access by you and your students.
• Control the look and feel of your CSE.
• Invite friends and colleagues to collaborate and contribute to your search engine, enhancing its usefulness to your community.
• Easily add more sites to your search engine's index as you surf the web.
  

What will your CSE look like? If you choose to have Google host it, it will look something like this Revolutionary Times CSE made for elementary school students:  This Revolutionary Times CSE contains approximately 180 web sites.

Try searching this site using one of the following: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross, revolutionary weapons....or anything else that you can think of that has to do with the American Revolution.

So, you use the CSE and think, so what? Looks like it is just searching the web! But, remember, when you search using a CSE you are ONLY searching the sites that were included in the creation of that CSE. This translates to safer searching for students and also better, more narrowed results. For students learning to do web research and navigate the internet, this allows them to be in a controlled environment while gaining the skills needed to become information literate.

ASSIGNMENT:

Now it's your turn...

1. First, watch this video about creating a Google CSE:



2. Now, come up with a varied topic that would be applicable to what you teach or hope to teach. (For example, if you hope to teach physical education, your topic might be sports. If you hope to teach elementary school, your topic might be Virginia Studies.) The varied topic will allow you to encompass a large number of sites within one CSE.

3. Next, spend some time finding some sites that fit your chosen topic. You can always add more later.

4. To get started creating your CSE you can:

• Click here to begin on your own.

OR

• Use the Google Custom Search Engine Tutorial. This page walks you through the creation of your first custom search engine and gives you a tour of the control panel.

Since this is a Google application, you can use your Google account information to log in and create your CSE.
5. You should include at least 25 sites in your CSE. Keep in mind, however, when creating a CSE, that QUALITY is just as important as QUANTITY!

Visit the Google Custom Search Help Center   for answers to FAQ.6. Once you are finished, be sure to post the URL (web address) and the title of your search engine on your blog page.


**The Google CSE has the potential to be a very useful and powerful tool. Its potential goes far beyond what is covered in this assignment. It can also be used collaboratively and /or integrated into a personal / business web page. If you'd like to know more, spend some time exploring the Google CSE site!