Creating a Classroom Website Planning Guide

Creating a Classroom Website was the single most important thing that opened my eyes to the power of technology in education.  I started my very first website 6 years ago... it seems so long ago now.  I was the first teacher in my district to get a classroom website- and many of my co-teachers thought it was pointless but I did it anyway.  It started small, and I wasn't sure if it would be used.  I stumbled upon Google Sites and that was my very first exposure to Google Apps for Education- although at the time, I had no idea what that was!  

6 years later I feel that having a classroom website is as important as ever.  With student connected at home and often times searching for things to do online- why not give them a push in the right direction.  I love that I can share a game or activity that we did during the day and then students are so excited to share with their parents- while practicing and reinforcing what was learned.  

I am in love with Google Sites.  It is super simple to create, share, and integrate Google Tools into the site.  I love that you can embed your classroom calendar and that students and parents can download the calendar to their phone.  I love that the ability to embed Picasa slideshows and being able to snap pictures and load them to the site automatically.  I know that there are other programs out there, but Google Sites has my heart. 

Deciding what to put on a classroom site is often times half of the battle of getting something up and running.  To help with this, I have created a Classroom Website Planning Guide- This guide has many different ideas and questions to help get the ideas flowing.  Take a look- and please give me any feedback that you may have, especially if something needs to be added!

If you plan to use Google Sites, here is my site that I use in many of my trainings.  Below is links from Google's Training Center for each section of Google Sites.  

Chapter 1- Introduction to Google Sites

Chapter 2- Create, Customize, and Format a Site

Chapter 3- Choose Page Types

Chapter 4- Manage Pages in a Site

Chapter 5- Embed documents, gadgets, media, and other Google tools
Chapter 6- Share, Publish and Protect a Site
Chapter 7- Use Sites to Manage your Class
Chapter 8- Gadget Gallery and Development

You know what the saying is, once you go Google, you won't go back!  I sincerely hope you give a classroom website a try!


Receive monthly tech tips, exclusive freebies and more sent directly to your inbox.  Subscribe to our newsletter

Ohio Goes Google

I am so excited to be spending the day at the 3rd annual Ohio Goes Google Conference!  If you have never been to a Google Summit I highly recommend it!  I am lucky enough to have an opportunity to present.  :-)  Embedded below is my presentation for you to follow along!  Be sure to follow the site via Google Friend Connect to stay up to date on all future Googley stuff!  I'm so excited to have you here with me today!




Receive monthly tech tips, exclusive freebies and more sent directly to your inbox.  Subscribe to our newsletter

Google Education on Air- Creating a Community of Collaboration with Google Sites

Tomorrow I will present Creating a Community of Collaboration with Google Sites on Google Edu On Air.  If you haven't visited this site it is a must see!  Google Certified Trainers and Teachers are presenting via hangouts on a variety of Google Topics.  It is an amazing collaboration of people and resources and I am so excited and honored to be a part of it! 

What is a hangout you ask.  Well, it is a group of up to nine people all online at the same time in a Skype-type session- It reminds me a bit of a Brady Bunch type screen but with all of the web cam video along the bottom of the screen.  Hangouts allow you to share live screen recordings, watch YouTube videos as a group and have a conversation.  Basically- it is amazing.  It is a situation where technology catches up with your imagination.  

The hangouts are happening live everyday at a variety of times.  All sessions are recorded so you can stop back and check out any past hangouts.  I would love for you to join me live on my Google+ page tomorrow or at least catch the recording.  Stop back tomorrow and I'll post the slides from my session as well as the YouTube recording.