“Flipped PD:” Tutorial for Making A Google Site Website
Renee Peoples (mail@reneepeoples.org)
This is a Google site link to a “how to make a google site” tutorial.
Using all four of Alessi and Trollip’s (2001) processes of instruction, this tutorial will:
present information
guide the learner
provide opportunities for practice
assess student learning.
This tutorial will consist of screencast and links to videos embedded on a site that contain information regarding use of the Google sites. Teachers will be able to proceed at their own pace and do it in the order they choose, once they start their Google site. This will strive to enable teachers to be able to maintain their own website independently. The tutorial will demonstrate the use of Google sites and be available for teachers to use in the future. In addition, teachers will be able to complete quiz questions to provide them with PD credit for completing the course.
The objectives are:
The teacher will be able to:
§ use basic Google sites designs, using page templates.
§ set layouts, including tables.
§ create, format and edit Google sites pages
§ choose colors and fonts
§ create hyperlinks
§ insert pictures, videos, documents, slideshows and gadgets
§ copy/paste or use Google sites tools to insert and edit text.
§ use Google Apps resources
This is for teachers in our county who will be required to switch to a Google site website. Many teachers have not had a website before. They have and use a school laptop and are accustomed to learning new technology on their computers.
This is designed for a teacher to use informally and independently at home but could also be used with a group or even during a whole school professional development in a formal setting. Due to the nature of the tutorial, reviewing parts as needed would be very simple. It has basic instructions so a person with only basic computer skills should be able to use it. It could be used with personal help or without any help except the platform. It will work in any platform. Teachers have already been told that they will have to change their website and are aware that it is coming. Some have even started trying to make a new website. In addition, most of the teachers use my website and are at least slightly familiar with Google sites because we are a Google district.
The tutorial is designed to be done a school provided PC, but could also work on a personal computer. All teachers will be required to complete the tutorial and create, then maintain, a website. The tutorial will be available through Google, our schools’ platform. How long it will take will depend on the detail that the teacher would like to use as well as the computer proficiency of the teacher. This tutorial is branching, which will provide learners the ability to skip information they already know, repeat sections as needed or want to do better on in the future. In branching tutorials, the sequence of the tutorial is affected by learner performance and choice (Alessi and Trollip, 2001). In this case, the learners will be able to choose the elements they want to add to their website. Teachers will be expected to revisit the website in order to add new elements later. Assessment will be based on evaluation of the project, the teachers’s websites. It is low-stakes because it can be redone and corrected as often as needed. It will be easier for teacher will higher computer skills to complete the tutorial but no prior knowledge except for basic computer skills. There will be no costs associated with this, since Google sites is a free site.
The object of o get a PD credit and have a website they can change as needed.
Because this is for adults (but of course, they are elementary teachers!), it will be attractive but not too childish with nice colors and chevrons since teachers like this. The videos will be actual screencasts of a Google site being created.
This tutorial will be web based so it can be used from and type of device.
Mostly there are YouYube videos with helps you can get as needed or Google site help on the page.
This tutorial will make use of control because teachers will be making their website look how they want it with the items they choose. As different teachers complete theirs, there may become some challenge for people to improve because of other websites. I tend to lean towards cognitivists thinking and believe that the motivation for teachers will come because they will want to learn and succeed in this website creation. A good site can offer their students and the parents a lot of valuable information and resources.
References
Alessi, S. M., & Trollip, S. R. (2001). Multimedia for learning: methods and development. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Deubel, P., (2003) An Investigation of Behaviorist and Cognitive Approaches to Instructional Multimedia Design, Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 12(1), p. 63-90
Hagan, R., & Golombisky, K. (2013). White space is not your enemy: A beginner's guide to communicating visually through grahic, web & multimedia design. Amsterdam: Focal Press/Elsevier.
Keller, J. M., & Suzuki, K. (1988). Use of ARCS motivation model in courseware design. In D. H. Jonassen (Ed.) Instructional designs for microcomputer courseware. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Norman, D. A. (2013). The design of everyday things. New York, NY: Basic Books