Keywords: Google Sites, Create Site, Share Site

Aliases: sites, websites, google sites

Learn how to use Google Sites to share your students’ work with the school community, create a portal for your class, and create and curate online resources.

Innovative Uses of Google Sites

1. Digital Breakouts

• Description: A way for students to collaborate and problem-solve in an interactive manner, similar to a virtual escape room.
• Creator Mentioned: Tom Malini, a middle-school digital learning coach.
• Tools Used: Google Sites, Google Forms, and Tour Creator (for 360-degree VR tours).

2. Centralized Classroom Resource Hub

• Description: A centralized hub on Google Sites for syllabus information, homework assignments, resources links, and a Google Calendar.
• Creator Mentioned: Bethany Petty in Missouri.
• Benefits: Easy sharing with colleagues, students, and guardians; keeps everyone informed of important dates.

3. Student Portfolios

• Description: Portfolios to showcase student growth, consolidate work samples, and prepare college resumes.
• Implementation: Used for sharing progress through report cards and tracking growth over time.
• Creator Mentioned: Stuart Lee in South Carolina.
• Benefits: Allows students to customize and demonstrate their learning.

4. Blogging

• Description: Using Google Sites for students to share thoughts and ideas digitally.
• Purpose: Helps students practice and build digital proficiency in a safe online space while gaining storytelling confidence.
• Creator Mentioned: Susanna Polanco, a foreign language educator.
• Application: Creation of interactive blogs for engaging and commenting in Spanish with classmates.
  
  This video walks through a quick overview of how Google Sites can be used:

Step 1: Start Your Site

• Navigate to Google Sites: Go to sites.google.com in your web browser. Make sure you're logged into your PSD401 Google account.

Step 2: Choose a Template (Optional)

• Select a Template: Google Sites offers various templates for different purposes (e.g., portfolio, project, team). You can choose one that fits your needs or start with a blank template.

Step 3: Customize Your Site

• Site Name: Click on the placeholder site name at the top to rename your site.
• Insert Content: Use the Insert menu to add text boxes, images, Google Drive files, and other content to your site.
• Choose a Theme: Click on the Themes option on the right to select a theme and customize the look of your site with different colors and fonts.

Step 4: Add Pages

• Add New Pages: Click on the Pages button on the right, then click the + button to add new pages to your site.
• Organize Pages: Drag and drop pages to organize them or create a hierarchy (subpages).

Step 5: Customize Navigation

• Navigation Bar: Customize the navigation bar from the Pages menu. You can choose to have it at the top or on the side of your site.

Step 6: Preview Your Site

• Preview: Click the Preview button (eye icon) to see how your site looks on different devices (desktop, tablet, and mobile).

Step 7: Publish Your Site

• Publish: When you're ready, click the Publish button at the top right.
• Set the Web Address: Choose a URL for your site. Note that your site will be available publicly unless you set viewing permissions.
• Share or Publish: Click Publish to make your site live. By default your site will be accessible to anyone with a PSD401 staff or student account. You can also share it with specific people or Google Groups if you want to keep it restricted.

Step 8: Share and Collaborate

• Collaborate: Use the Share with others icon to add collaborators who can edit the site with you.
• Settings: You can manage who can view or edit your site from the Settings menu.

See Get started with Google Sites for more information.