Google Sites Instructional Manual

2009

Spring Semester

Google Sites Instructions

Google Sites Instructional Manual

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Table of Contents

Introduction to Google Sites ................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Setting up a Google Site ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Configuring your Sites Settings ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Selecting a Theme ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Editorial Tools for Google Sites ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Various Editorial Procedures ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Editing Site Name Appearance .................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Adding Content ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 9


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Introduction to Google Sites

If either you have some experience with designing web pages or you have used free online web templates, you will find Google Sites quite user‐friendly. Actually, you will find it user‐friendly even if you have not had either experience. Google has provided every tool needed for an educator or any other persons that finds themselves needing more time in the day. The tools for graphics, photos, mapping, emailing, calendars, surveying, online presentation applications can all be integrated into their sites.google.com tool. As a teacher of web design, I find this to be for the non‐technical person, yet have the power to accomplish some amazing sites. I have put this together for the EDUC 675 group. I hope you will find this “manual” useful, as I have been intentional in designing it to follow good teaching methods. If you find that I have made errors in this document, do not hesitate to let me know. I would prefer correcting my mistakes than going on forever allowing others to see them. If you are not logged into your gmail account, and you go directly to http://sites.google.com you will see a screen that looks like the one to the right. The objective of this document is to make the use of Google Sites clear as and understandable as possible. I realize that this is not for everyone. However, if you have the slightest interest in doing a website, this is an excellent tool in accomplishing that task. For the purposes of the Multimedia and Development course, the introduction to this and other tools will allow each individual to make informed decisions and add awareness to what is available. In turn, it is possible you will pass your knowledge on to your students and/or colleagues and find them to be users that can ultimately produce what you may be seeking to add to your instruction. My hope is to save you from frustration by explaining the necessary details of Google Sites. As this document is meant to explain the interface and functionalities it will not explain every single button or ever function, just enough to get you hooked ! When you are done with this manual and the instructions in class, you will be able to put together your own sites with no trouble. Since everyone is different and not all learners want to put their time into this toold, I cannot promise that everyone will be on the same proverbial page when we are done.


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Setting up a Google Site When you first login, you will see a screen that looks as the one to the right. The bright blue “create site” button is what you will click to start.

Before you go as far as to click on that button, read the information on this page, especially in the light blue area. The list is of just a few of the many things for which this site can be used. Note that “Team Project” is one of the items on the list.

Follow to the next page to see what comes next ….


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Configuring your Sites Settings

The settings options now come up for you to fill in the blanks. Your first task is to name the site. You can only use capital letters, lower‐case letters and numbers. Underscores and the like are not allowed in the naming of this site. After you have decided on a name, follow the instructions to the left of the screenshot below:

As you type the name in the “Site name” box, you will see that there is an additional box adjusting alongside your typing. This is the ULR of your site.

In the example to the right, you can see that I named the site “multimedialearning” and below it you can see http://sites.google.com/site/multimedialearning just as you will see the URL appear with the name you give your site. Keep in mind that not all names of a site will be accepted, as they may be taken. In the example to the right, I am not yet sure the name has not been taken. I will find out as I finish filling in the boxes and save my settings for the site.


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Selecting a Theme As you scroll down the page of setup options, you will see that you have the opportunity to look at additional themes.

Follow the numbered steps shown in the screen shot to your right.

Upon completion of selecting your theme, click on the “create site” button and go on to the next page of instructions.


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If you happen to select a name that has been already taken, you will receive a message informing you of such along with suggestions of names that are not yet taken. In the screen below, you will see an example of such.

I now must follow through the steps again as if I have just started from the point of naming my site. However, when I pick one of the name listed here, I know that I will be picking a name that is available. From that point I can go on to the content creating and all.


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Editorial Tools for Google Sites To the right you see a screenshot of what you will see when you first succeed in “creating” the site. From this point we will want to add pages, make changes etc. The tools for making any changes or adding content, are all located across the top. There are four buttons that I have highlighted in red.

1. Create new page 2. Edit page 3. More actions 4. Site settings

From these you can add more pages, edit content to the one you have before you, change site settings, and you have “More actions’ which brings yet more opportunities. The first change I would make would be the appearance of my site’s name. On the following page, you will learn how to change your sites’ naming on a given page.


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Various Editorial Procedures In the following section I have put together screenshots of various editorial procedures that I suspect will be of use to everyone. In the following portion, as the first item I am showing how to edit the appearance of the site’s name.

Editing Site Name Appearance

The changing of the name can be merely putting in spaces or completely giving your site a name that may not match the URL.

This is one of the options that is less than easy to discover as it is hidden under “Other stuff” which is under the “Site settings” button of the screen. After clicking on “Site settings” you will then be able to see three options:

1. Share this site 2. Change appearance 3. Other stuff

To change the name or the name appearance, click on “Other stuff” you will then be able to change the name and save it. The screen for doing such is simple and is therefore not included in this document.


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When you have finished editing the name of your site, you will then want to click on “Save changes” and you will still be in editorial mode. In the upper left‐hand corner is a small link as the one below, click on the “Return to site” link.

Adding Content

Now you are ready to add content to your first page.

As seen in the screenshot to the right, all you need to do is click on the “Edit page” button. Note the name of my site is now Multimedia Learning. Look over the page to see all of the options. After you click on the “Edit page” option, you will see the same page as you see here, however the differences are that your cursor will be below the word “Home” so you can begin typing. Additionally, you will have the usual formatting toolbar that will allow you to make changes to the appearance of text within the box.


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As in this screenshot, I decided to have two columns on my page while still in edit mode. It is as simple as the click on “Layout” and the option, “Two columns” I have done this so I can add other types of content such as photos or illustrations in the one to the right. In the following screen we will add an illustration. It does not matter what size the image is because Google Sites allows you to change in size if it is too large.


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Adding Illustrations / Photos

Now that you have content in your first page, before saving the page, you may want to add either an illustration or photo to help add to the appearance of your site. Since mine is about learning, I am going to add an image of a schoolhouse for fun. There are two screenshots to help you in this process. This one shows that you click on “Insert” and you will see a long list of options. The first option is “Image” – by clicking on this, you will then see a dialogue box that will be similar to what you have if you have ever attached a photo to an email. The image is in the following page.


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The image here is what you will see when you click on “Image” from the Insert option. Simply “Browse” for the image on your local hard drive, select it from your files and it will soon appear in this box. From there click on the button that is now “grayed out” that says “Add Image” – and it will be added to your site.


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Now that you have added content of one or two types, you want to be sure to save your work. In the upper left‐hand corner, click on “Save” and you will be taken back to your original page. The difference will be that it now looks a bit more like a webpage than it did before when it was without content.

Adding Pages to Google Site

Are you ready to add another page? Here is your first step. Click on the bit green + that is on your toolbar to ”Create new page.”


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Now that you have added content of one or two types, you want to be sure to save your work. In the upper left‐hand corner, click on “Save” and you will be taken back to your original page. The difference will be that it now looks a bit more like a webpage than it did before when it was without content.


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Follow the steps, 1 through 4 illustrated in the image to the right. Upon completion, of 1 through 3, you fill want to click “Create Page” which will then save your settings. Settings can always be changed, so if you want to try some new things out, go ahead. It is a great way to learn and discover.

Documents

Google Sites Instructional Manual