Get Going with Google Sites for Teachers
Lisa Perez, CPS Dept of Libraries
WHAT ARE GOOGLE SITES?
Google Sites is a free online webhost and website editing software.
BENEFITS OF GOOGLE SITES
Sites Benefits• Free• Easy learning curve • Editing available in the cloud • Choice of templates• Control of accessibility• Easy integration with other Google applications• Easy storage for other files• Revision history
APPLICATIONS OF GOOGLE SITES FOR TEACHERS
Sites Applications• Teacher website• Collaborative research
website • E-Portfolios • Art portfolios• Field trip websites• Administrator websites
• Scientific data collection• Tutorials/training• Journaling• Centers• Pathfinders/WebQuests• Data Tracker• Committee work
USING WITH STUDENTS
not with students
Does NOT apply to Google Sites due to account requirements
not with students
Legal age = 18
with students
• Adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy• Don’t let students create their own accounts• Never give students the password to teacher-created
accounts
GOOGLE VS
GOOGLE APPS FOR EDUCATION
SOME EXAMPLES OF GREAT GOOGLE SITES FOR TEACHERS
Example Sites• Reflections: What Does Vietnam Mean?
– https://sites.google.com/a/nscds.org/reflections• Art Portfolio
– http://sites.google.com/site/rebeccagigliosportfolio• Community websites (UK)
– https://sites.google.com/a/stjohnsapps.co.uk/local-area-websites• Virtual Class Trips
– http://vtrips.ccsd.edu
More Example Sites• Keyboarding
– https://sites.google.com/a/ccsd.edu/keyboarding• K-5 Principals Page
– https://sites.google.com/a/ccsd.edu/mrs-forman-s-page • Teacher’s Class Site (New Zealand)
– https://sites.google.com/a/ptengland.school.nz/room-13-2011• Summer Camp Site• https://sites.google.com/a/ptengland.school.nz/camp-charged-up
Even More Example Sites• Technology Teacher Website
– http://sites.google.com/site/atkinsontme• Middle School Math
– https://sites.google.com/a/stacsvt.org/team-u-s-a• Vernal Ponds
– http://sites.google.com/site/vernalpondsproject• Human Dimensions Project
– http://sites.google.com/site/ciese07030/Home/human-dimensions-project
GETTING STARTED WITH GOOGLE SITES
Get a Google ID
Login at sites.google.com
Create a New Site
Template/Name/Theme/Privacy
Dozens of Educational Templates
More Actions > Page Settings
Edit the Site Appearance
Change logo/banner
Editor Toolbar
Select a Page Layout
Insert Items
Cool inserts: Docs, forms, calendars, images, slideshows, maps, Google presentations
Add Gadgets
Create New Pages
Revisions/Subscribe/Page Templates
TIPS & TRICKS
Tips
• Link to items in Google Docs & other locations – Limit 20 MB per file upload/100 MB per site
• Use tables effectively• Make the most of your sidebar:
http://googledocs.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-tricks-making-most-of-your-sidebar.html#!/2010/10/tips-tricks-making-most-of-your-sidebar.html
• Adjust the comments/attachments option on the page according to your desired interaction.
• If you change the page template mid-stream, be sure to deselect the box in front of “Apply default content” or you will erase your work.
GREAT TUTORIALS
Tutorials
• You Tube: Search “Google Sites” to get access to various screencasts
• SitesHelp.com– http://www.siteshelp.com/google-sites-tutorial
• Mary Fran’s “Getting Started with Google Sites– http://sites.google.com/site/mflynchsites
• Unofficial Google Sites Help Center– http://siteshelp.kccloudsolutions.com/videos
LOOK AHEAD
• Insert iFrames & Flash• Create custom gadgets
• Insert custom scripts
Google Sites Resources• Google Sites Terms of Use
– http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS?loc=US
• Google Sites Help– http://sites.google.com/support/?hl=en
• Sites for Teachers– http://www.google.com/support/sites/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=153055
• Google Sites Template Help– http://sites.google.com/site/sitetemplateinfo/tips
Lisa [email protected]
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