Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2009
Google Sites Instructions
Spring Semester
Google Sites Instructional Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction to Google Sites ................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Setting up a Google Site ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Configuring your Sites Settings ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Selecting a Theme ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Editorial Tools for Google Sites ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Various Editorial Procedures ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Editing Site Name Appearance .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Adding Content ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Introduction to Google Sites
If either you have some experience with designing web pages or you have used free online web templates, you will find Google Sites quite user‐
friendly. Actually, you will find it user‐friendly even if you have not had either experience.
Google has provided every tool needed for an educator or any other persons that finds
themselves needing more time in the day. The tools for graphics, photos, mapping,
emailing, calendars, surveying, online presentation applications can all be integrated into
their sites.google.com tool. As a teacher of web design, I find this to be for the non‐
technical person, yet have the power to accomplish some amazing sites.
I have put this together for the EDUC 675 group. I hope you will find this “manual”
useful, as I have been intentional in designing it to follow good teaching methods.
If you find that I have made errors in this document, do not hesitate to let me know. I
would prefer correcting my mistakes than going on forever allowing others to see them.
If you are not logged into your gmail account, and you go directly to
http://sites.google.com you will see a screen that looks like the one to the right.
The objective of this document is to make the use of Google Sites clear as and understandable as possible. I realize that this is not for everyone.
However, if you have the slightest interest in doing a website, this is an excellent tool in accomplishing that task.
For the purposes of the Multimedia and Development course, the introduction to this and other tools will allow each individual to make
informed decisions and add awareness to what is available. In turn, it is possible you will pass your knowledge on to your students and/or
colleagues and find them to be users that can ultimately produce what you may be seeking to add to your instruction.
My hope is to save you from frustration by explaining the necessary details of Google Sites. As this document is meant to explain the interface
and functionalities it will not explain every single button or ever function, just enough to get you hooked ! When you are done with this
manual and the instructions in class, you will be able to put together your own sites with no trouble. Since everyone is different and not all
learners want to put their time into this toold, I cannot promise that everyone will be on the same proverbial page when we are done.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Setting up a Google Site
When you first login, you will see
a screen that looks as the one to
the right. The bright blue “create
site” button is what you will click
to start.
Before you go as far as to click on
that button, read the information
on this page, especially in the
light blue area. The list is of just
a few of the many things for
which this site can be used. Note
that “Team Project” is one of the
items on the list.
Follow to the next page to see
what comes next ….
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Configuring your Sites Settings
The settings options now come up for you to fill in the blanks. Your first task is to name the site. You can only use capital letters, lower‐case
letters and numbers. Underscores and the like are not allowed in the naming of this site. After you have decided on a name, follow the
instructions to the left of the screenshot below:
As you type the name in the “Site name” box,
you will see that there is an additional box
adjusting alongside your typing. This is the ULR
of your site.
In the example to the right, you can see that I
named the site “multimedialearning” and below
it you can see
http://sites.google.com/site/multimedialearning
just as you will see the URL appear with the
name you give your site. Keep in mind that not
all names of a site will be accepted, as they may
be taken. In the example to the right, I am not
yet sure the name has not been taken. I will find
out as I finish filling in the boxes and save my
settings for the site.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Selecting a Theme
As you scroll down the page of
setup options, you will see that you
have the opportunity to look at
additional themes.
Follow the numbered steps shown
in the screen shot to your right.
Upon completion of selecting your
theme, click on the “create site”
button and go on to the next page
of instructions.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
If you happen to select a name that has been already taken, you will receive a message informing you of such along with suggestions
of names that are not yet taken. In the screen below, you will see an example of such.
I now must follow through the steps again as if I have just started from the point of naming my site. However, when I pick one of the
name listed here, I know that I will be picking a name that is available. From that point I can go on to the content creating and all.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Editorial Tools for Google Sites
To the right you see a screenshot of
what you will see when you first
succeed in “creating” the site. From
this point we will want to add pages,
make changes etc.
The tools for making any changes or
adding content, are all located across
the top. There are four buttons that I
have highlighted in red.
1. Create new page
2. Edit page
3. More actions
4. Site settings
From these you can add more pages,
edit content to the one you have
before you, change site settings, and
you have “More actions’ which brings
yet more opportunities.
The first change I would make would
be the appearance of my site’s name.
On the following page, you will learn how to change your sites’ naming on a given page.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Various Editorial Procedures
In the following section I have put together screenshots of various editorial procedures that I suspect will be of use to everyone. In the following
portion, as the first item I am showing how to edit the appearance of the site’s name.
Editing Site Name Appearance
The changing of the name can be merely putting in spaces or completely giving your site a name that may not match the URL.
This is one of the options that is less than easy to
discover as it is hidden under “Other stuff” which
is under the “Site settings” button of the screen.
After clicking on “Site settings” you will then be
able to see three options:
1. Share this site
2. Change appearance
3. Other stuff
To change the name or the name appearance,
click on “Other stuff” you will then be able to
change the name and save it.
The screen for doing such is simple and is
therefore not included in this document.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
When you have finished editing the name of your site, you will then want to click on “Save changes” and you will still be in editorial mode.
In the upper left‐hand corner is a small link as the one below, click on the “Return to site” link.
Adding Content
Now you are ready to add content to your first page.
As seen in the screenshot to the right, all you
need to do is click on the “Edit page” button.
Note the name of my site is now Multimedia
Learning. Look over the page to see all of the
options.
After you click on the “Edit page” option, you
will see the same page as you see here,
however the differences are that your cursor
will be below the word “Home” so you can
begin typing. Additionally, you will have the
usual formatting toolbar that will allow you to
make changes to the appearance of text within
the box.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
As in this screenshot, I decided to have two
columns on my page while still in edit mode. It
is as simple as the click on “Layout” and the
option, “Two columns”
I have done this so I can add other types of
content such as photos or illustrations in the
one to the right.
In the following screen we will add an
illustration. It does not matter what size the
image is because Google Sites allows you to
change in size if it is too large.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Adding Illustrations / Photos
Now that you have content in your first page, before saving the page, you may want to add either an illustration or photo to help add to the
appearance of your site. Since mine is about learning, I am going to add an image of a schoolhouse for fun.
There are two screenshots to help you in
this process. This one shows that you click
on “Insert” and you will see a long list of
options. The first option is “Image” – by
clicking on this, you will then see a dialogue
box that will be similar to what you have if
you have ever attached a photo to an email.
The image is in the following page.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
The image here is what you will see when
you click on “Image” from the Insert option.
Simply “Browse” for the image on your local
hard drive, select it from your files and it will
soon appear in this box. From there click on
the button that is now “grayed out” that
says “Add Image” – and it will be added to
your site.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Now that you have added content of one
or two types, you want to be sure to save
your work. In the upper left‐hand corner,
click on “Save” and you will be taken back
to your original page. The difference will
be that it now looks a bit more like a
webpage than it did before when it was
without content.
Adding Pages to Google Site
+
Are you ready to add another page? Here is your first step. Click on the bit green that is on your toolbar to ”Create new page.”
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Now that you have added content of one
or two types, you want to be sure to save
your work. In the upper left‐hand corner,
click on “Save” and you will be taken back
to your original page. The difference will
be that it now looks a bit more like a
webpage than it did before when it was
without content.
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Google Sites Instructional Manual
Follow the steps, 1 through 4
illustrated in the image to the
right.
Upon completion, of 1 through
3, you fill want to click “Create
Page” which will then save your
settings.
Settings can always be changed,
so if you want to try some new
things out, go ahead. It is a
great way to learn and discover.
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