Google Sites: Creating a simple class website
In the video below I set up a very basic website in the first minute and a half. Instead of going into detail, I only pointed out a few editing features and I will leave it to you to explore them as much as you want. I'll be glad to answer specific questions for you if you contact me.
After making the video, I did add a couple other items (including a second page) to that sample site. You can view the site here to see how it would look to students.
Watch the video first, then work through the suggested exercises below.
After making the video, I did add a couple other items (including a second page) to that sample site. You can view the site here to see how it would look to students.
Watch the video first, then work through the suggested exercises below.
Suggested Exercises
1) If you haven't done so already, visit the sample site I created in the video. Notice how students can interact with the embedded items such as the Calendar with a sample project entered on August 1. Also, I added a new page to the site, which you can access through the left navigation menu.
2) Create your own site like I did in the video. If you don't want to plan the real site you'd use for a class right now, just do a sample one.
3) After you create your site, copy the URL and send me the link through district email. Let me know if you actually want me to post the link on the Launch Page for your building. That would be so students can have easy access to your site.
4) Share your site like I did in the video.
5) Type some headings and format them like I did in the video.
6) Add at least one link to another website.
7) Insert (embed) a Calendar or other content from your Google Drive. If you don't have a Calendar or other content to share, you might have to make a quick sample.
I didn't go into detail about these other settings or features in the video, but see if you can do any of these additional steps.
8) Insert an image to your page from you computer.
9) Add a new page to your site. After you add it, enter some sample text and Save the page.
10) On your new page, go to the Settings menu (the gear icon in the upper right) and select Page Settings. Uncheck the boxes for attachments and comments. Click Save.
10) Go back into Settings and select Manage Site. You'll notice many options on this page. Scroll down to the Configure Search button. Click that and uncheck the box next to Enable Search. Click OK. This turns off the search box on your site. It's a good tool if you have a large site, but for simple sites like this it's not useful.
11) Again in Settings, click on Themes, Colors and Fonts at the bottom of the left menu. Experiment with some changes here. For example, you might want to change the font used for your Site Header, since the themes usually have a very plain one. Be sure to Save changes after you make them.
If you want to see how some people have used Google Sites, here is a gallery of examples compiled by John Sowash.
1) If you haven't done so already, visit the sample site I created in the video. Notice how students can interact with the embedded items such as the Calendar with a sample project entered on August 1. Also, I added a new page to the site, which you can access through the left navigation menu.
2) Create your own site like I did in the video. If you don't want to plan the real site you'd use for a class right now, just do a sample one.
3) After you create your site, copy the URL and send me the link through district email. Let me know if you actually want me to post the link on the Launch Page for your building. That would be so students can have easy access to your site.
4) Share your site like I did in the video.
5) Type some headings and format them like I did in the video.
6) Add at least one link to another website.
7) Insert (embed) a Calendar or other content from your Google Drive. If you don't have a Calendar or other content to share, you might have to make a quick sample.
I didn't go into detail about these other settings or features in the video, but see if you can do any of these additional steps.
8) Insert an image to your page from you computer.
9) Add a new page to your site. After you add it, enter some sample text and Save the page.
10) On your new page, go to the Settings menu (the gear icon in the upper right) and select Page Settings. Uncheck the boxes for attachments and comments. Click Save.
10) Go back into Settings and select Manage Site. You'll notice many options on this page. Scroll down to the Configure Search button. Click that and uncheck the box next to Enable Search. Click OK. This turns off the search box on your site. It's a good tool if you have a large site, but for simple sites like this it's not useful.
11) Again in Settings, click on Themes, Colors and Fonts at the bottom of the left menu. Experiment with some changes here. For example, you might want to change the font used for your Site Header, since the themes usually have a very plain one. Be sure to Save changes after you make them.
If you want to see how some people have used Google Sites, here is a gallery of examples compiled by John Sowash.