Google Sites Helpful Information
- What is Google Sites?
- Google Sites is another component of Google apps. Essentially, it is a free service to build and maintain a website. The great thing about Google Sites is that it can be used by any user: beginner to advanced. It will appeal to beginners because there is no knowledge of HTML, Java, or any other programming language necessary. Google Sites boasts that all it takes to create and expand a site is “a click of a button.” For the advanced users, there is the ability to add HTML to Sites and higher-level functionality. Google Sites integrates with Google and all of its various components. This makes it easy to embed and attach Docs, Sheets, Slides, YouTube videos and other features.
- There are various page types to add to a Google Site: Web page, File Cabinet, Announcement, and List. A Web page is a template that allows you to add and embed text, pictures, videos, and anything else that you may wish to include. A File Cabinet is a digital version of the physical namesake. You can update files from your computer or from Drive and add links. These can be organized with folders. An Announcement page type allows you to add posts, much like Blogger. Finally, a List page allows you to add information in tables. This is a very brief version of what a Site is; a more in-depth tutorial can be found here.
- What isn’t Google Sites?
- Google Sites is not a learning management system. Students and parents can interact with a Site by visiting, reading it, and downloading the files. However, they cannot turn in assignments like they can on Classroom. In training other teachers, I say that Classroom is for the students, while Sites is for the students, teacher, and parents.
- Examples of ways to use Google Sites
- I use my classroom Site as a “one-stop-shop” for everything relevant to my class. I use a file cabinet for uploading files that the students or parents may need. On the homepage, I have embedded a Google Photo slideshow to showcase what activities we are doing in class. The students use the Announcements page to share classroom news, in place of a physical weekly newsletter. The Site also includes a Calendar, digital agenda, a resource page with various important websites, and houses our Flipped Classroom Videos. If the students (or parents) need something in or out of class, it’s found on the Site. Similar concepts could be applied to an entire school.
- Sites can also be used for e-portfolios by students. If the school is a GAFE district, this would be a simple and streamlined way to highlight work and growth. This e-portfolio Site could travel with the student from grade level to grade level, allowing them to showcase their work throughout the years. Similarly, a Site can be used as a digital portfolio for educators who may be seeking new employment.
- Another use of Site is to connect schools from across the nation or world. Because inviting members Classroom is limited to the school domain (and not available to non-GAFE districts,) a Site could be built to link two schools. Just like anything else Google, collaborators can be added to a Site, so multiple students from different schools could add information to a Site.
*Information by Jeff Bradbury, January 23rd, 2016, whole article found here: http://www.teachercast.net/2016/01/23/the-great-edtech-debate-google-sites-vs-google-classroom-vs-blogger/