Google Searching, including Customized Searches

Google has changed it's look in a fairly small way. If you interested in how they are changing there search engine (combining multiple smaller search engines) take a look at this articles - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/technology/17google.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Here are two helpful pages that I didn't mention in my presentation. Search Features is a page with a list of special features that you can search for right from the search box but you might need some specific syntax. Example: If you want the definition of a term in addition to webpages about it, type "define" and a space before you term. Google will return a definition at the top of your search results.

Get more out of your searches by using this Cheat Sheet.

If you would like a customized homepage, including a google search box, try iGoogle. Under add stuff you will find a number of custom search engines that you may find helpful. Or create your own...

Custom Search Engine

Harness the power of Google search to create a free Custom Search Engine that reflects your knowledge and interests. Specify the websites that you want searched - and integrate the search box and results into your own website. Check the featured examples. One is given below.

Mrs. Gray's Research Sites for Kids Custom Search Engine homepage A Chicago-based computer science teacher created a Custom Search Engine limited to sites for her middle school students to conduct web research. Try these queries: global warming, pollution

SearchMash
Another Search engine from Google. The results page sets itself apart by listing "extra links" under categories images, blogs, videos and Wikipedia in addition to the main search results. In the main search list click on the blue title link to go to the webpage. Click on the green domain name to preform your search again with in that domain. Also, there are no ads displayed.

There is more information about SearchMash by Mary Ellen Bates in one of her BatesInfoTip newsletter at http://www.batesinfo.com/may-2007-infotip.html

Google Resources for Educators

The Infinite Thinking Machine

"The Infinite Thinking Machine (ITM) is designed to help teachers and students thrive in the 21st century. Through an active blog, an Internet TV show, and other media resources, the ITM shares a "bazillion practical ideas" for turning the infinite universe of information into knowledge." (Sponsored by Google.)

http://www.infinitethinking.org/

Google for Educators

Google has assembled a number of resources to support teachers. I have listed some of them below.

Tools for your classroom
This page includes many of the Google Tools that educators might want to use. There is a link on this page to classroom activities, which includes pdfs on how to use the tools as well as how they are being used. There is also a link to posters you might want to hang in your classroom.

http://www.google.com/educators/tools.html


Google for Educators Discussion Group
Collaborate with other educators using Google tools.

http://groups.google.com/group/google-for-educators?lnk=gschg

Google Teacher Center
This is another area to find information about using Google tools. It includes a discussion area where Google posts newsletters for teachers.

http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Teacher-Center

Google Apps for Educators
Looking to outsource some of your technology needs (ie: email). Check out this area. You can use your own domain name, but Google will take care of the technology side.

http://www.google.com/educators/p_apps.html

Google Tools

Google Notebook for Firefox

This is a great way to clip parts of web pages and store them in various "notebooks". The "mini notebook" has a link in your browser's lower right hand corner for quick access. When you highlight part of a web page and click "clip", the notebook copies that part of the web page and automatically adds the title and URL for that web page. A tour of this extension is available here. You can make an single notebook publicly available as I did here. (Note: That notebook only contains some of my links from the NJECC presentation.) Though you need to download the extension to "clip" parts of web pages, you can log in and access your notebooks from any browser.

Google Browser Sync

"Google Browser Sync for Firefox is an extension that continuously synchronizes your browser settings – including bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords – across your computers. It also allows you to restore open tabs and windows across different machines and browser sessions."

http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/browsersync/

Foxmarks Bookmark Sychronizer for Firefox

"If you use Firefox on more than one computer, you'll want Foxmarks. Install Foxmarks on each computer, and it will work silently in the background to keep your bookmarks synchronized. As a bonus, log in to my.foxmarks.com from any computer anywhere to access your bookmarks.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2410

Miscellaneous Links (not presented live)

Audio Portfolios for Language practice.

"Audio Portfolios is a tool that provides an environment for students to practice speaking. The program runs in a web browser window. Students log in to their own accounts and record themselves. When they are satisfied with their sound files, they "share" them with the instructor. Shared files are accessible to the instructor. All sound files are stored on the server, and are accessible only to the student and the instructor."

Yahoo! Teachers "The easy-to-use site and peer network designed by and for teachers. Get ready to create, modify and share standards-based curriculum." (not yet public, but you can put in your email to be notified when it is)

Googlepedia by Michael Miller This is Kathy Schrock's blog entry about the book. There's so much to learn about using Google tools. My eyes were openned just reading this entry where Kathy mentions that you can limit your search results by putting "intext:"(w/o the quotes) in front of your search terms and this avoids searching websites search terms by only looking at the text on the page. She also mentions that the order of your search words is important. The first word is given more importance than the second so put the key word first.

Transl8it! from chat txt to English or vice versa.

Google Mobile Text a search query to GOOGL (466453) and they'll text back the results. You can try it out on the linked page. Also, see examples of the types of things you can text in.

The Generator Blog "This blog is not about those machines used to change mechanical energy into electrical energy. It's about software that creates software. Software to play around and have fun with." Want to see you name in lights or maybe on the side of an airplane. This blog is pure fun!

Geo Greeting One more site that's pure fun! The site will send any message you want to an email address that you input, but the message is spelled out with building around the world as seen from outer space. You have to see it:-)

Online Videos for Education

We all know about You Yube. Some of us may use TeacherTube.

Next Vista for Learning also has videos, its focus is a bit different. "Its central project is a free, online library of teacher- and student-made short videos for learners everywhere. Next Vista believes a strong four-minute video could save students days or weeks of frustration by providing a variety of presentations on the topics that give them trouble." There are three categories of videos: Light Bulbs are instruction on various topics, Global Views are made for and by teenagers with intros to different parts of the world, and Seeing Service contains profiles of people "who make life better for others". This site is young and I believe the founder, Rushton Hurley, is looking for contributions.

Imagination Cubed by GE

GE has created a wonderful online whiteboard.

Besides the fact they have included the ability to invite other to collaborate with you (and chat in a small side window), they have included many options - to name a few: stamps, shapes, lines and text. You can change the color and somethings have a size option. You can undo your own work. You can print, save, email and even replay what you drew. Great for all ages. Have fun!

http://www.imagination3.com/LaunchPage

MindMeister for Mind Mapping (Webbing)

From the MindMeister website:
"MindMeister supports all the standard features of a classic mind mapping tool - only online, and with as many simultaneous users as you like!"

Invite users to collaborate on a map or just view it. Publish it to the web for all to see if you like. You can even

Some shortcuts I found - enter/return and tab are the keys you will use most. Enter/return cements your text. Press enter again and you get a new bubble at the same level. Press tab and you get a bubble attached to your current bubble. Drag the bubbles around to rearrange, though it is quite picky about where you drop things. If it's not doing you want it to, try dropping the bubble on top of the one you want to attach to.

http://www.mindmeister.com/

Feedback Please (Google requires it:-)

If you heard me speak at NJECC please provide me with feedback. Since my presentation is part of my action plan from the Google Teachers Academy, I really need to hear what you thought about the presentation and how you are using (or intend to use) the resources I presented. Also, if you intend to pass these resources, specific ones or the whole blog, on to others please let me know. Thank you in advance.

Cool Tools for Educational Technology

This blog complements a presentation I gave at the New Jersey Educational Computing Cooperative (NJECC) on May 17, 2007. You will find here posts organized mostly by the different tools shared during my presentation. Don't miss the the post on miscellaneous tools and fun stuff not presented live. Please feel free to comment and share resources if you would like. Also, please indicate if you were at the presentation. Enjoy!