Google Site Design
Google Site Design
By Bill Fischer
Embedded Files
Bill Fischer: Bio
Bill Fischer: Bio
Bill is a professor & founder of the Digital Art & Design program at Kendall College of art and Design of Ferris State university. He's the executive producer for The EPIC Project, an ongoing collaboration with faculty, K12 educators, & field experts in the creation of educational media. Bill is also author of the I-See-U blueprint, a design guide for inclusive, Socio-emotional, Entertaining, and Universal design. He's designed toys, automotive interiors, animated, and interactive media for over 30 years.
I-See-U.info a design guide for inclusive, Socio-emotional, Entertaining, and Universal design
They're Free
They're Free
All you need is a free Google Account
You can have as many free Google accounts as like. Each one will need a different email address, however.
All new Google accounts come with 15 GB of free storage for your photos and other content
There's no limit to the number of Google Sites you can have within each single Google account.
They're Easy
They're Easy
They work seamlessly with all other Google apps (also free)
They're cloud-based. You can edit them from any computer, laptop, or tablet.
The user-interface is very intuitive
It's easy to make an accessible site
I't easy to find fair-use images
They're responsive and will render perfectly on desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones
They're Secure
They're Secure
Access can be public or limited to individual Google account users
Search engine search-ability can be turned on and off
Multiple editors can be assigned to each individual site (teachers and students). This is great for collaboration.
Gives you control of your intellectual property.
Allows students to revisit the content before and after the semester
Accessibility
Accessibility
Google sites are Compatible With
Google sites are Compatible With
Full featured screen readers use by blind persons
Native text size controls for sight impaired persons
Text readers used by persons with Dyslexia
Highlighters used by persons with cognitive reading challenges
Embedded captioned videos
Embedded audio
Detailed Accessibility Guidelines from I-See-U
Detailed Accessibility Guidelines from I-See-U
A Minimalist Summary of Accessible Design
A Minimalist Summary of Accessible Design
Don't place text over images in your header
Add alt text to all images. If the information shown in the image is not critical to understanding the content, mark it "decorative"
Only use underlines for links
Write links so they make sense as a standalone phrase
Keep your text high contrast
Never use "small text"
Test your text wrapping with Command/Windows + and -
Test your site with the Webaim WAVE Accessibility Checker Extension (external link)
Use headers in logical order, like the example below:
Title
Header
Sub header
Normal
30 Minute Video Tutorial With Chapters
30 Minute Video Tutorial With Chapters
Video Demo: How Screen Readers Work
Video Demo: How Screen Readers Work
Lesson Outline
Lesson Outline
Create a Google Account if you don't already have one
Create a Google Account if you don't already have one
Create a new email address
Create a new email address
Go to the Google Account sign in page.
Click Create account.
Enter your name.
In the "Username" field, enter a username.
Enter and confirm your password.
Tip: When you enter your password on mobile, the first letter isn't case sensitive.
Click Next.
Optional: Add and verify a phone number for your account.
Click Next.
Use an existing email address
Use an existing email address
Go to the Google Account Sign In page.
Click Create account.
Enter your name.
Click Use my current email address instead.
Enter your current email address.
Click Next.
Verify your email address with the code sent to your existing email.
Click Verify.
Walk-Through Demonstration
Walk-Through Demonstration
Site Set-up
Site Set-up
Go to sites.google.com
Choose: Start a new site > Blank
Name your site: in the Top of the Header
Drag the Title below the header
Choose a header imager: Change image > Select Image > Search (dog brain diagram)
Change menu Background: Add logo > Navigation > Black or White
Add Content
Add Content
Add a column
Add a text Box
Give it a heading
Add text
Add a link
Add an image Select > Google Images (smart animals chart)
Add an alt tag to the image
Add another column
Copy and paste existing column
Replace the image (old dog chart)
Adjust image crop
Add a section with all text
Add a footer
Add a page
Add a video (old cat animation)
Add a page
Add a map and some text
Add a submenu
Set The Style
Set The Style
Change the Theme (Diplomat)(Dark yellow)
Darken or lighten the header
Publish The Site
Publish The Site
Click Publish then choose a site name (all one word)
Back Up With Take Out
Back Up With Take Out
Google Sites
Report abuse