1. Learn Web 2.0 with Maggie
Classroom tricks: Create your own search engine
Teacher’s guide to
creating your own
search engine
IA LOB

2. Learn Web 2.0 with Maggie
Classroom tricks: Create your own search engine
Outcomes
By the end of this e-torial, you will
 Understand the value of a customized
search engine
 Create your own search engine
 Embed your search engine into your
blog/website
IA
Tools
This e-torial makes use of the following Level
applications:
 Browsers: Internet Explorer/Firefox etc Intermediate  Advanced
 Google applications

3. Create your own search engine
Index
 Motivation
 Selecting the sites that you will
search
 Getting started
 Provide Basic information
 Adding your search sites
 Testing your site IA
 You can do more!!
 Finding your search engine
 Share your search engine
 Embed your search engine
Just click on the Home Icon (top right) to return to this index

4. Create your own search engine
Motivation
Why can’t I just use a
normal search engine?
 Specific Subject/project
 Focus your learners
 Protect younger learners against
possible “bad sites”
 Act as a knowledge filter
 Make good sites more accessible
 Eliminate possible millions of
irrelevant results
 Guide learners towards educator-
evaluated web sources
 …….
You can also embed (place) your search engine on any school site
or your class blog

5. Create your own search engine
Selecting the sites that you will search
You will have to do your research before hand. Make a list of all the sites that
you would like to be included in your search engine!
You can restrict the search to just one page!!
 For a Single page/document to be searched, use It might be a good
the page exact url eg idea to first type
www.mysite.com/mypage.html your list of web
(the last part of the URL address will have a file addresses in a text
name (.pdf; .htm ; .doc…) editor
Or you can search across an entire site…
 Entire sites: Add /*
onto the address
eg www.mysite.com/* will include all the pages on
www.mysite.com
 Examples:
www.factmonster.com/ *
www.kidsclick.org/*
Include the site Url in your list, 1 Url address per line

6. Create your own search engine
Selecting the sites that you will search
 Parts of sites:
Use wildcard patterns to include just You can even
certain parts of a site. restrict the search
Eg www.mysite.com/*about* will include to certain parts of a
only files on www.mysite.com that have website
about in their name.
 Entire domains: You can also specify
an entire domain using
*.mydomain.com./*
If you specify mydomain.com, it will
automatically be converted to
*.mydomain.com/*.
Include the site Url in your list, 1 Url address per line

7. Create your own search engine
Let’s get started!
 Open your browser and type in (or click):
To use all the
http://tr.im/googlesearch
 Sign into Google using your username and lovely Google
password stuff you need an
 or Register for an account: account!
Piet@gmail.com
**********
Video: Click here to Play
If you already have a Gmail Account you can sign into any Google
application with your username and password

8. Create your own search engine
Provide Basic information
Mrs M’s kid safe search engine
Only sites with safe information for kids…
Video: Click here to
Play
 Decide on a name for your search engine.
 Provide a brief description of exactly where your search
engine will be searching
 Restrict the sites to those you choose
By choosing a good search engine name, it will make it easy for
other teachers to find it easily and re-use it as well!

9. Create your own search engine
Adding your search sites
 Type in the sites
that you want to
http://www.askkids.com /*
include (1 per line) http://www.kidsites.com /*
 Or you can copy http://www.refdesk.com/kids.html
and paste the www.factmonster.com/
links if you have www.kidsclick.org/
www.lea.co.nz/ict/eResources/
prepared it
beforehand
 Format the urls
(/* to search the
whole site)
 Agree
 Next
You will be able to edit this list and add more sites later.

10. Create your own search engine
Congratulations!!!
 Type in a search
term
 Does your search
engine work?? Mathematics
 Click on Finish
You will now be able to share the link to your search engine or you
can even embed it on your school/class website or blog

11. Create your own search engine
You can do more!!
You will receive and
e-mail with further
instructions and
links
Keep this e-mail safe as a quick reference to what you can do with
your search engine

12. Create your own search engine
Finding your search engine
How do I find
my search
engine again?
 Sign into your Google account at
www.google.com
 Click on Settings (top-right)
 Under Products, click on My search
engines
 Double-Click on
your new search
engine to open
 It is a good idea
to save this page to your favourites in your browser:
Internet explorer: Favourites Add to favourites
Firefox: Bookmark Bookmark this page
You can copy the web address (URL) by putting your curser on the
link and pushing CtrlC on your keyboard

13. Create your own search engine
Share your search engine
What is the
easiest way to  Copy the search engine
share my search page link and paste
engine? it into an e-mail to share
with your friends/
colleagues / learners….
 Twitter it!
 Create a hyperlink to it
from your school website
eg My search engine
You can also bookmark it using your favourite bookmarking system like
Delicious or Diigo

14. Create your own search engine
Embed your search engine:
 Go to your setting page (see how on previous slide) Embed your
search engine in
your
blog /website
 Double-Click on custom search element
 Highlight and copy (CtrlC) the code
 Log into your blog/website and make sure that you are in the code view
 Paste your code where you want your search engine to appear
You can copy the web address (URL) by putting your curser on the
link and pushing CtrlC and share (paste) it in an e-mail

15. Learn Web 2.0 with Maggie
Classroom tricks: Create your own search engine
This e-torial was developed by maggiev
for use by subject advisors and
teachers in South Africa and
everywhere
Follow my learning tweets:
 www.twitter.com/maggiev
My learning places:
 www.school2.co.za
 http://learnwithmaggie.ning.com
 Mathsliteracy blog
 Library blog