Google sites is a free digital tool that allows anyone to create and publish a website. The websites that are created can be private to the owner only, open to those who have the exact URL address, or open to the world for all to view. This user-friendly program gives everyone the ability to create, produce, and publish ideas. Anything can be put onto a website for teaching and/or learning purposes. I have used this tool this past summer to help show students why mathematics is important.
The Main Features:
Not only can you create a basic webpage, but you can also embed various files to enhance the content and promote student understanding. For instance, you can create all kinds of Google documents, (i.e graphs, charts, presentations, etc.) and embed them onto the page. Slide shows, videos, pictures, photos, and links can also be added to further develop/explain difficult concepts. Finally, Google has created templates that users can use if he or she does not want to start with a blank template, however, they can if they wish. Everything about this tool has been created for the convenience of the user/publisher.
Level of Difficulty:
Using Google Sites is very easy to do and does not require too much time to learn. There is no software installation required and it is completely integrated with all of Google’s applications. Moreover, there are no programming or database skills necessary. Therefore, anyone with access to a computer and the Internet can get right on and start creating.
I work with math students in grades 7-12 and have found a great deal of resistance from students when it comes to learning, appreciating, and accepting mathematics. What these Google Sites have done, at least for me, is provide a new outlet to use in the classroom to spark student interest. Students are tired of the textbook; websites are a great way to present the content in a manner that students are not used to seeing in the classroom. It therefore, gives the subject matter a new look, ultimately promoting interest and curiosity.
- Google Sites can also be created by students when working on presentations or group projects within the classroom.
Conclusion:
This is certainly a tool worth learning, not only is it free but it is very simple and easy to learn. It can enhance any current lesson plan and help students learn by sparking interest.
Sample:
Here is an example of a Google Site that I created on the Fibonacci Sequence. I made this site to show students that mathematics can be found in everyday life!
I LOVE your work with google sites (the students must have loved this too), the math website even makes it exciting and engaging for me to read, and I know nothing about math. Is "google sites" the same as "google docs?"
ReplyDeleteHi Bridgette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words!! The students were really engaged and for the first time the students were not yawning in my classroom!! I was ecstatic.
To answer your question, I believe 'Google Docs' can be uploaded to the internet for viewing but they have to be posted separately (i.e A single document cannot contain a PowerPoint and a graph ). On a "Google" site however, you can embed all different google docs onto one page for viewing! For instance, I included YouTube clips, PowerPoints, photos, and presentations all in one location.
That is my understanding at least, if anyone else has an idea or better understanding, please feel free to interject :)