Communication Strategies

Using Google for your communications routine allows you to access all of the tools through a single username, with seamless data integration between the various tools. The communications methods you use depends on what you want to accomplish.

Overview:

In this Module, you will learn how to use a variety of Google's communication tools including Sites, Classroom, and Blogger to stay connected with stakeholder.

Objectives:

Sites

Create a website
Add and edit pages with text, images, links, calendars, documents, and multimedia elements
Customize site layout and appearance
Share your site for internal or external use

Classroom

Set-up a Classroom and share a Class Code to enroll users
Post Announcements and allow users to comment
Post Assignments for users to paperlessly complete tasks
Upload digital documents for users to access

Blogger

Set up and publish a blog
Edit blog settings and user profile
Manage blog settings
Evaluate Blogger as a communication tool

Student Responsibilities: Please review the linked resources below, complete the tasks, and share your thoughts on Google Classroom.

Sites

View: Google Sites--Create Site; Edit Title and Banner; Add Text, Images, and Links
View: Google Sites--Add and Arrange Pages; Insert Content from Google Drive; Adjust Share Settings
View: Google Sites--Embed Content from YouTube, Calendar, and Maps
View: Google Sites--Themes, Publish Site
View: Google Sites--Update and Re-Publish Site
Read: Google Sites Support Center (Reference as needed; be sure to select the "new" Google Sites)

Classroom

View: Google Classroom 01--Set Up Class and Stream
View: Google Classroom 02--Stream Continued
View: Google Classroom 03--Students
View: Google Classroom 04: About
View: Google Classroom 05: Manage Classes
Read: Google Classroom Help Center (reference as needed)

Blogger

Read: Why I Blog--A Principal's 13 Reasons
Read: Social Media for Administrators
View: Blogger 01: Set Up a New Blog and Create a Post
View: Blogger 02: Edit Blog Settings, Update User Profile, and Embed HTML Code
View: Blogger 03: Adjust Blog Settings
Read: Blogger Getting Started Guide (Reference as needed)
View: Sample Blogs
- Notes from the Superintendent, Dr. Chris Brown, Superintendent, West Genesee CSD
- A Principal's Reflections, Eric Sheninger, former principal and current Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with ICLE
- The Principal of Change, George Couros, Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Consultant
- The 21st Century Principal, John Robinson, Principal, Newton North Carolina
- Teach It! Tech It! Learn It! Lead It!, Chris Atkinson, K-5 Principal, Carmel Clay Schools
- Practical Theory, Chris Lehman, Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia, PA

Tasks: Choose any TWO from the menu below

Sites

Create a "Principal's Page" informational website for an audience of either faculty, parents, and/or students using Google Sites.
Experiment with Google's editing tools:
- add text, images, and links
- add multiple pages as needed
- customize the theme and banner of your Site
- insert a Calendar, YouTube video, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides as appropriate
Publish your Site

Classroom

Set up a Google Classroom to facilitate a PLC. Alternatively, set up a Google Classroom as a vehicle for communication and collaboration among your entire faculty, various departments, or committees
Invite your staff to enroll in your class as "students" with your Classroom's Class Code
Post an Announcement with at least one attachment and solicit comments from your "students"
Post an Assignment with an attached Google Doc and invite your "students" to edit the document (hint: create a Google Doc with a table prior to attaching it to the assignment)
Upload materials to the About page for your "students" to access

Blogger

Create a Blog to communicate with your stakeholders using Blogger
Experiment with Google's editing tools by including text, images, links, and/or video.
Experiment with the visual theme of your blog and update your user profile
Publish at least two posts and include tags/labels to make your posts searchable within your blog.

Discuss: Complete the following on Google Classroom.

Share any relevant links to your Sites, Classroom, and/or Blogger publications.
Share your thoughts on the positive/negative aspects of using G Suite to collaborate and communicate with your colleagues, students, and families, and how you might integrate these tool into your leadership.
Feel free to comment on at least one other student's note.

Link to Google Classroom