Conceptual Change (KAT) Differentiation (KAT) Lesson Preparation Professional Learning Networks (PLN) Content Curation Creating Resource Websites Join existing or setup PLN DescriptionGoogle Sites is a Google web application that allows users to create wikis and websites, with ease of use and collaborative design. Google Sites is free to use (with a paid option that offers more storage capability) and is included in the G-Suite for Business and Education list of tools. If you’re looking for a simple drag-and-drop web design tool for developing class websites, student project sites, or encouraging students to show their knowledge in different ways, check out Google Sites.
1. Go to www.sites.google.com
2. Click on the “Create” button, signified by the + icon
3. Now the content creation is up to you. Pick a theme from the options listed, choose how you want your website to be laid out, and drag and drop buttons and modules from the sidebar.
4. All of this is very dependent on your individual needs, but Google Sites has an extensive and easily navigable FAQ section here
Features- Site templates - Quickly and easily create high-quality sites optimized for common uses
- Announcement banners - Highlight important information to make sure site visitors see time-sensitive updates
- Drag and drop editing – page elements can be dragged-and-dropped, and arranged automatically on a grid layout.
- Google Drive Integration - Easy to add items from your Google Drive, such as Docs and Sheets, into the new Google Sites
- Mobile Friendly - Giving the user the ability to preview how the site looks on a phone, a tablet and a larger screen
Affordances- Publish your site with a click and share it as a doc
- Creating your own interactive, multimodal site that goes beyond a simple display of information
- Taking information from a more traditional source, and using Google Sites to make the information more accessible to all students
- Collaboratively designing a website in real-time with peers
Limitations- No table of contents feature
- Limited amount of text that can be seen on the drop-down menus
- Ability to add third-party gadgets
- Very limited styling options, no support for custom CSS
Educator UsageOther uses: More generally, any classroom teacher could use Google Sites to create a one-stop hub for their students. Homework reminders, important resources, syllabi, and discussion forums are just a few ways a teacher could utilize this tool to make their learning experience go beyond just the classroom.
E-Portfolios: Google Sites can be used to to track a student’s learning or progression throughout their year or multiple years. Check out more info on E-Portfolios here.
1. Getting Started with Google Sites
2. Google Sites tips and tricks
3. Google Sites Overview for Educators
Here are some Google Sites with examples and tips from educators about using Google Sites
Latest version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari browers
Other Resources Screenshot