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.