Google Site

The Basics

Creating a New Google Site

Here are some of the benefits of using Google Sites as a basic learning management system:

• • Managed by the teacher, not IT department.

  • Easy integration with all Google tools including calendars, documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms, maps, and video.

  • Include a variety of educational and interactive gadgets using the Sites gadget directory.

  • Measure participation with revision history, recent site activity, or page notifications within Sites.

  • Create flexible designs and layouts without needing any knowledge of HTML code

  • Collaborative environment for teachers and students.

Creating a New Page

To create a new page, click on the Create Page button in the top right corner of your site.

After naming your new page, you will then select from a variety of templates.  Before selecting a template, consider what you want to do with the page.

*Note.... click on the "type" of page below for samples/suggestions.

Web Page - This template will give you a blank page to create and design as you wish.  A variety of "layouts" are available for you to choose from.  The Home page is a good example of this style.

Announcements - This template will create a type of blog page where discussions can be posted and followed.

File Cabinet - This template will create a place to "store" documents, presentations, pdf's, images, or any digital file.  These items can be organized into folders.

List - This template, once selected and named, will provide you with a page that has "columns" of information that can be sorted.  I most often use the option "Create your own" to design pages to identify team members of the site or a resource page for users to post items (see samples).

Check out "Sample Use of Pages" for more ideas on how to use these pages.

About Layouts...

Depending on the "Layout" style you select (see menu "Layout" when you edit your new page), quite a bit of content can be placed on the page - again...images, links, videos, instructions, documents, etc.

Delete or Remove a Page

There are two ways to remove a page from the view of your audience.  1) Delete the page, and 2) to Remove the page from the Navigation bar.

1.  To Delete a page

        a. Go to the page you wish to delete

        b. Click on the More Actions button

        c. Select Delete Page

            *This action will completely delete the page from your site.

However, there is a neat feature in Google Sites that if material is deleted, removed, or changed, the owner can return the site to a previous revision.  To do this simply go the More Actions button and select Revision History.  The owner of the site can return the site to any previous revision, thus recovering deleted or changed items.

2. Remove a page from your Navigation bar.

        a. Click on the More Actions button

        b. Select Edit Site Layout (the top part of your site will now display an editing mode).

        c. Click on the Navigation bar you wish to edit.  An edit window will now appear.

        e. Be sure "Automatically organize my navigation" is unchecked - this will give you the opportunity to manually "Add Pages" and place them in any order you wish.

            (Note.. If this box is checked, Google Sites will automatically place your new page in the Navigation Bar)

        f.  Highlight the page you wish to remove, click on the "remove" symbol (X).  This will remove the page from the Navigation bar, but will keep it if you wish to publish again.

        g. Save changes.        h. Now, click on the "Close" button at the top of the site to return to the viewing mode of your site.

Adding Links

Adding links to your pages in Google Sites is a great way to direct your viewer to content on the web. 

There are a couple ways to accomplish this, turning text into a link or turning a URL into a link.

Let's take a look at these two methods.  (scroll down for how-to video)

Turning Text Into a Link

*Before you begin, go to the web address of interest and copy the URL, then return to your Google Site

1. Be sure to be in the editing mode of the page you are working on

2. Highlight the text you would like to turn into a link.

3. Click on the "Link" button in the tool bar above.

4. Select "Web Address" in the left hand frame (note... it defaults to "existing page", which allows you to link to a page in your Google Site)

5. Paste the URL in the space provided.

6. Option... you can choose to check the box "Open this link in a new window".  This will keep your site viewable and also display the new site.

7. Click on OK

8. Save the changes on your page and test your link.

Turning a URL into a link

*Before you begin, go to the web address of interest and copy the URL, then return to your Google Site

1. Paste the URL on your Google Site page where you would like it.

2. Highlight the URL you would like to turn into a link.

3. Click on the "Link" button in the tool bar above.

        Unlike the previous method, this will automatically turn the URL into a link.

        If you would like to check the box "Open this link in a new window".  You will need to click on "change" to get to the check box

4. Save the changes on your page and test your link.

Edit Site Layout

There are a number of things you can do to customize the look and layout of your Google Site.  Lets take a look at the many features that exist in Edit Site Layout.

To get to Edit Site Layout go to the the More Items button, select Edit Site Layout.  The following short video will give you a tour of the many features found in Edit Site Layout.

Insert Images

To insert an image(s) to your web page, you will need to be in the editing mode of the page.

Place your cursor where you wish the image to go, select the Insert menu > select Image.

You can insert an image from your computer...

or, link to a photo from the web...

Special note... notice the Alt Text option when inserting an image.  Type in a descriptive text to allow screen readers for the visually impaired to "hear" what the image is.  This will also help make your site ADA compliant. 

Each time you insert an image, you will be able to do some "adjusting" with the tools that appear:

You will be able to "adjust" the Alignment, Size, and turn Wrap on or off, as well as remove the image.

Forgot to add a Alt Text when inserting an image, no problem.  Notice the "change" link in the above image?  This will take you to a "Text to Display" field where you can add a descriptive text.

Insert a Video

There are a variety ways to provide your viewers access to a video you would like them to see.  Check out the options below, with videos on the right.

Insert a YouTube Video

This method allows you to "display" to a video that already exists on YouTube.    Process:  Go to the Insert menu > select Video > then select YouTube.  You will then be provided with a space to "paste" in the URL provided at the actual location of the video. When done, simply click Save.  See video on the right.

Insert a Video from your Google Drive

Yes, it is possible to upload videos directly to your Google Drive and share these videos as you would any Doc, Spreadsheet, or Presentation.  

To begin, Go to your Google Drive and upload a video (see the upload icon next to the Create button).  Don't panic if you're not able to view right away, it take a little while for Google to process the video.

To insert in a Google site first make sure that you have set the visibility of your video to either Public on the Web or Anyone With The Link.  Now, go to the page on your site you wish to insert the video. Click Edit page > go to the Insert menu > select Drive > then select Video.  Select the video you wish to insert.  That's it!  Very slick.  Most video formats are accepted.  Click HERE to review Google's Specs.

Link to a Video

This method allows you to "point" to a video on another website.  You could simply copy and paste the URL on the page you are designing, or type in a description or key works and use the Link button above and paste in the URL to the site of interest.  See the "Adding Links" page for a video instruction.

Using "Embed" gadget

You can also insert videos that have an "embedding" code by using a gadget called Embed Gadget.  Go to the Insert menu > go all the way to the bottom and select More Gadgets > selected Featured > then search for Embed Gadget.  This gadget will give you the opportunity to insert an embed code and adjust the size of the video frame. See video on the right.

Insert an entire web page (iFrame)

Ok, you found a video, but it's not on YouTube nor does it have an embedding code.  And, you would prefer not to simply "link" to the video.  Well, there is another neat gadget that will allow you to insert anything that has a URL.  That means you can insert the actual web page into one of your web pages.  This can be done using a gadget called Include Gadget (iFrame).  Go to the Insert menu > go all the way to the bottom and select More Gadgets > selected Featured > then search for iFrame.  This gadget will give you the opportunity to insert any URL and adjust the size of the viewing frame. See video on the right.

Manage Your Site

Page Settings & More

Sharing Your Google Site

Google Sites come in three basic flavors:

1. An "open" (public) site where anyone in the world can access and view your content.

or

2. A "closed" (private) site where only those individuals you "invite" can access, communicate, and collaborate.

or

3. A combination of the two.... You can open a site to the world and invite some individuals as owners or collaborators.

If you choose the first option, you need only provide viewers with the URL of the site.  Once they have the URL, they can access the content/pages of the site.

For example, to provide viewers access to this site (if "open") I would give them this URL:  http://sites.google.com/site/amslerclassroom

.......

If you choose the second option - a "closed" site, you MUST invite individuals - via the Sharing option - to access this site.  Even if someone has the URL, they WILL NOT be able to access the content unless they have been invited.  Special note.... To be invited to a Google Site, the individual MUST have a Google Account.  See attachment below that you can share with others to guide them through this process.

To invite individuals to your"closed" Google Site...

Click on the Share button found in the top right (you must be logged in to see these tools). 

This will take you to a Sharing Setting window.  From here you can:

        1. Copy/paste the link to your site

        2. Change the Visibility options (see "change" link)

        3. Add, remove, and change rights for people invited to the site

Click on the "Change" link to see the Visibility options, what setting you currently have, and the ability to change visibility.

To invite individuals to your site, click in the Add People space and type in the "Google Account" address of the individual(s) you wish to invite     

 AND

 Indicate the type of user you wish them to be:

Owner, Editor, or Viewer.

*Note... A Google Site can have more than one Owner!

    >  At this point you can type in any personalized message you wish in the Optional area.

    > Here, you can also indicate to send an email notification.  

Click Share when done.

(However, if you uncheck this box you can "Skip" the email invitation and the site will automatically appear in their list of Google Sites.)

Once complete all invited individuals will appear in this window.  At anytime you can change their permissions or remove them from the list.

Fun Features

Adding Multiple Images

Adding multiple images on a Google Site page can be challenging.

The alignment of images and html often cause difficulty getting your page to look the way you want it to look.

Here a are few methods teachers have used:

1. Using the Layout menu, create a 3 column page and insert your images and captions in each column (use your return/enter key to line them up).

2. Create a Table, with the desired columns and rows.  Insert the image in the desired table cell.  Maybe use the cell directly below the image for your caption text.  You may wish to "size" your images the same height or width resolution to produce a more pleasing visually alignment look.

*Note. If you wish to remove the borders/line from your table, click HERE for instructions.  It's a little geeky, but it works ;)

3. Use a "Shared" Google Folder.  Create a folder in your Google Drive.  Change the sharing setting to "Anyone With The Link".  

Upload your photos to this new folder.  Now you are ready to insert this folder on a Google Site page.  

Place your cursor where you want the folder to go > go to the Insert menu > select Google Drive > select the folder of choice.  Note... Be sure to choose "grid" view, rather than list view.

Check out this page to see how it would look!

Do you have any other ideas?  Please send them to me via may Contact Page.