Google Sites vs. Google Classroom
G-Suite enables students to access course content and to learn 24/7/365, and now that the new Google Sites makes creating and maintaining a website as simple as creating a Google Slide, teachers have more choice in where and how they house content for students. Here are a few suggestions on deciding where to put online content for your students.Use Google Sites...
- if you want your students and their parents to have access to the content without having to sign in (ie weekly spelling lists, flipped lessons, study materials, extension activities, etc. especially for our youngest students.
Use Google Classroom...
- for graded assignments
- for materials/resources for older students
- for any subscription-based links that would violate acceptable use by putting content out freely on the internet (ie articles from our databases, content from Discovery Education, etc.)
Google Teacher Tribe Podcast
If time for filling your professional gas tank is at a premium and you make a bit of a commute, the Google Teacher Tribe podcast by Kasey Bell of Shake Up Learning and Matt Miller of Ditch That Textbook is 30+ minutes chock full of inspiring ways to harness the power of G-Suite in your classroom. Last week's podcast discussed using Google Sites for showcase portfolios and growth portfolios. The show notes include links to physics portfolios so you can see some examples. This week's podcast offers suggestions for using Google Photos in the classroom. The show notes include Kasey's recommendation of 16 podcasts for teachers. The Google Teacher Tribe launches a new podcast each Monday during the school year.
Google Forms on Google Sites: Make life easier!
I've become a huge fan of embedding Google Forms on my new Google Sites website. It's as easy as 1-2-3.- Create a Google Form
- Open your new Google site.
- On the INSERT tab of the site, click FORMS, select your form, and click insert.
Done!
Consider embedding a Google Form on your website for sign-ups, voting, or even a quick exit ticket for a flipped lesson.
