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 Perezleperez1@cps.edu