Why you should consider Google Sites

In her end-of-the-year post, Alice Keeler shares 6 reasons for using Google Sites.  It is easy to use (and if you are someone who has not considered Sites in the past few years, forget about the now sunset Classic Sites and give this one a chance).

Student Portfolios

Earlier this year I worked with some teachers on student portfolios.  If you are interested in using Google Sites as a student portfolio, check out this article from Kasey Bell (ShakeUpLearning).

Student E Portfolios

 

I’ve always been interested in using Google Sites as a showcase for student work.  In the beginning, Google Sites were cranky and not really user-friendly.  But with the rollout in the past few years of the New (as opposed to classic) sites, it would be a workable tool.

In this video by Sam Kary, he outlines the steps to create both a class site (with links to all the students- this is something I would leave for the teacher) as well as a student site.  I liked the use of reflective text so the student could explain why they were proud of the work.

I would love to try this with a class- just let me know!

Putting Buttons in your Google Sites

Alice Keeler demonstrates how to add a button (and why you would want to do it) in a Google Site.  (Just a reminder- Google Sites are not visible outside of our domain).

Templates in Google Sites

Google is rolling out two new features in Sites- the first, the template is live now
(with the banner feature to appear before the end of the month).  Richard Bryne
demonstrates the features in his blog post here.

I think the student portfolio one would be something to consider for our
students. How great would it be for them to have a reflective document
demonstrating their learning?

New tools for Google Sites

Google is always changing and adding features.  In this brief blog post, Alice Keeler shares new features for Google Sites.  Please see her suggestions here.

Google Sites as Portfolios

On Kasey Bell’s Shake Up Learning site. I found this guest blog post from Mike Mohammed.  Not only does he share student samples, he also provides step by step for creating portfolios with your students. While Mike’s students are able to publish to the world, our Google arrangement will keep the sites within the Sayrevillek12 world.

Make a copy of your Google Sites!

A few weeks, Google announced the ability to make a copy of your site.  It has

now be implemented in our school domain.

For those who have done escape rooms with me- you can understand my excitement!  
Now you can make a copy and make changes to differentiate the escape rooms.
Richard Byrne has complete directions on his blog here.

When you want to share a Google Site

Many folks have been creating digital escape rooms.  In the final step, you want to

share the site with your students.  Now Google has made this even easier-

you can copy a link to the site:

For the complete step by step directions, please see Alice Keeler’s post here.

Embedding in the NEW Google Sites

Up to this point, in the NEW Google Sites, all you could embed was a url (or web address)- now they have made changes to include almost anything (webpages, twitter, etc).  For complete directions, please see Alice Keeler’s post here.

Google Sites - the inside story

Alice Keeler shares her hidden tips for working with the new Google Sites.  Please see her post here.