Tips for Getting Started with Your Google Site
What You Will Need:
- A Google Account. If you don't have one, you may create a free Google Account one here;
- Chrome version 24 or up, or the latest version of Firefox or Safari; and
- to enable Cookies and JavaScript.
TIP 1. To create your site, click the button below and follow the steps in the Google support resource.
TIP 2. Be inclusive by incorporating images of people from diverse groups.
Explore the resources shared on the @ONE PocketPD Guide for Free and Diverse Image Collections.
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TIP 3. Make it accessible to everyone.
Follow these tips in the Make Your Site More Accessible resource from Google.
- Embed YouTube videos that have accurate captions.
- Include alt-text for images
- If your image has no instructional value, select the "Decorative Image" box in the the alt-text window.
- Check for high color contrast
- When linking out to other sites, use descriptive link text
- Use numbered and bulleted lists where appropriate
- Apply text styles (Title, Heading, Subheading) to designate hierarchy of your content.
TIP 4: Publish & share your site.
You've done so much work on your site! But guess what? Nobody will see the changes you've made until you Publish your site and adjust your Sharing Options. And, by the way, this is true for all future changes you make too. Say it with us folks, "If you make an edit, be sure to Publish."
When you publish your site the first time, you'll be prompted to enter a "Web address" for your site. Keep it as short as possible. The address you enter will comprise the suffix of your site's URL (for example: Eng 1A Syllabus)
Tip! Select "Anyone on the web" and "Can view" in the sharing options to ensure your students will have access to your syllabus.
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TIP 5. Copy the (correct) link to your site.
When you want someone else (your students or peers) to view your site, it's very important that you give the right link. Be sure to copy the link to the published site, as opposed to the edit view you are working in (this is a very common mistake).
Follow these steps to find the link to your published site.
- Select the arrow next to the blue Publish button.
- Select View published site.
- Your site opens in a new tab/window. Copy the URL at the top of that page. That's the link you can include in your welcome email to your online students and in your Canvas course.
Tip! Access your site through Google Drive.
Google Drive is your portal to access all of your Google Docs, Slides, Sites, etc. If you don't have the link to your site handy, here is how to access it.
- Log into Google Drive using your Google Account credentials.
- If you don't immediately see your Site in the list of items, enter a keyword (like the name of your site) into the search box at the top.
