S.W.O.T.

http://www.screencast.com/users/JimmerLietz/folders/Jing/media/820e4192-3d68-4bdd-a7c2-8547ae64a1ef

The tool that I worked with for my Cool Tool Screen Casts was Google Custom Search. Google custom search enables you to create your own search engine that searches exclusively your website, blog, or a collection of websites. If you can figure out how to successfully navigate through this website you will find out that it is actually pretty cool, and can be a very useful tool in the classroom.

There are many strengths that this tool has. The coolest thing that it allows you to do is filter the material that you want to look through. Using this method it helps to solve the problem of search overload that Google is often associated with. Another strength that this tool has is it allows you to make your own search engine. You can design colors, filters, auto corrections, and anything that Google allows you to do, except now you’re in control of what the search engine looks and feels like.

Some weaknesses of this website are the fact that it can be really hard to get used to. It has a nice tutorial program, but after this basic introduction you’re on your own to read read read. I had a very tough time trying to get used to the tool. The auto corrections tab was confusing, and sometimes it seems to only show results from one of your websites that you chose, even though I know there is information on some of the others. However, once you work through the bugs I can see how this tool could be very beneficial.

I can see a lot of opportunities associated with this website. With this tool you can offer a search engine to your class and be positive that they are getting their information from a safe source because you picked them. Also through the collaboration link you could make a class search engine filled with websites that everyone in the class contributed.

The only threats that I can see when using this website is when you allow your students to add sights. If they add bad sights it could risk the health of the computer, and they may be given the wrong information. Also, if you have a few good websites on your search engine and the students have access to it they may become reliant only on your search engine websites. There are many good websites to find information on, and I’m sure you won’t list them all. The students may need practice finding good websites on their own, and not rely on yours.

I believe that I put a lot of effort into this assignment. First of all I had to get used to Google custom search, and for me that was not easy. I almost gave up and switched tools because I tried and tried but had a very rough time working through some of the bugs. Then I had to borrow a microphone from a friend, and figure out how to use Jing. Over all I have many hours into this assignment and I am proud of it.

This has a huge impact on my future teaching and life. I can really see myself using this tool in the classroom to show parents at home how to work certain tools, or gain access to important information. I also can see myself using this tool to show colleagues and friends how to work tools on the internet. Many of my friends are computer inept and if I can show them via a screen cast how to work something that would be awesome!