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Introduction
A user-friendly tool for creating basic websites without the need for advanced technical skills. Google sites can be used to create ePortfolios, class projects, event announcements, websites and more.
For ePortfolio assignments, use this guide: Google Sites: ePortfolio Assignments
Sign in to Google Sites
- Open your web browser and navigate to Google Sites.
- Sign in with your Google account credentials. If you don't have a Google account, you'll need to create one.
- Create your site by choosing one of the templates listed on Sites homepage. A blank template will allow you to design your layout.
Design Options
Once you have chosen your template you can start designing your website. The topics listed below will guide you through the steps.
Once your site is created, Google Sites gives you a number of options for adding and customizing content.
Select a layout: this helps you structure your images and text.
Select the background image, header type and change theme options
- Change the background image:
- Point to the background image and click Change Image.
- Choose an option:
- To upload an image from your computer, click Upload.
- To choose an image from the gallery or another location, click Select Image.
- (Optional) To go back to the original background image, click Reset.
- Change the header type:
Point to the background image and click Header Type.
Choose an option:- Cover
- Large banner
- Banner
- Title only
- Change the theme and font style:
- In the top-right corner, click Themes.
- Select a theme option and choose a colour.
- Click Font Style and select a style.
Add pages to organize your content. You can keep related information together by nesting pages (subtopics).
To add pages:
In the top-right corner, click Pages and then click on the plus button (on the bottom right).
Choose an option:
- To add a new page, click Add Page. Name the page and click Done.
- To add a URL, click Add Link.
To change the site navigation:
Visitors to your site use the navigation menu to move to different pages. By default, the navigation menu is at the top of your site. In the top-right corner, click your homepage to see the menu.
Choose the gear icon to see the settings for your site. Under Navigation, you have the option of Top or Side navigation and colour options (black, white or transparent).
With Google sites, adding content is easy with lots of choices for the types of content you can add.
On the right, select the page that you want to edit and choose one of these options:
- Double-click the page where you want to add content, or
- Click Insert and choose the content you want to add.
Your choices include text, images, web content, buttons, calendars, maps and more!
ePortfolio
Use the Google Sites Portfolio template to create a professional ePortfolio quickly and easily.
Sample Student ILO portfolio: Nora Wilde ePortfolio
You can easily add documents and images from your Google Drive account to your ePortfolio. It is recommended that you have some items prepared in your Google Drive account such as:
- Resume
- Certificates
- Achievements
- Samples of work
An ePortfolio should include examples of your work including projects or assignments, certificates (saved as an image file), images, videos or podcasts. These files need to be added to a publicly accessible folder in Google Drive.
- Open your web browser and navigate to Google Drive.
- Create a new folder called ePortfolio.
- Change the folder sharing permissions to public by following these steps:
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Select the Folder: Click on the folder to select it (now highlighted),
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Open Sharing Settings: Right-click on the folder or click on the "Share" button at the top of the page.
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Change Sharing Settings: In the sharing settings dialog box, you will see the sharing options. Click on the "Change" link next to "Anyone with the link" under "Link sharing".
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Set Permissions: Select "Viewer" to allow users to view the content but not edit it.
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- Upload documents to this folder including a headshot for your profile (if required).
Your ePortfolio home page will include:
- About you - describe yourself
- Achievement(s) - highlight your greatest achievement
- Stregths - outline your strengths
- Goals - what does your future hold?
The navigation page allows you to:
- Site navigation
- Add a reflection of your learning
- what did you learn
- would you do anything different
- how will this assignment meet your future goals
- did you work as a group? how did the group interact
- Insert pages, sections, change a page or section style
- Pages (image below) - navigate between pages
- Choose a theme
- Add a page, insert links, embed media
Add images or media to enhance your ePortfolio. Diplomas, certificates or examples of your work will enhance your ePortfolio.
Once uploaded click on the image to:
- crop or enlarge the image
- make your image a link
- delete your image
- replace an image
- add a descriptive alt tag
Collaboration
For group assignments, you can add editors to your project.
Using the navigation menu, choose the Sharing icon
- Enter the email address of your collaborator(s)
- Keep notify people checked
- Adding a message is optional
- Click send
Publish Your Site
When you publish your site for the first time, add a site name to complete the site URL. You can only use letters, numbers, and dashes in the site name. You can continue to edit your site after you publish it. However, you need to republish the site to see any new changes.
Copyright Symbol
To add a copyright symbol in the footer:
- Windows (use numpad) Alt+0169©
- Mac ALT+G ©
Publish your site:
Click Publish.
Add a name to the end of the URL. Certain terms, such as support and admin, can’t be used. You’ll see a checkmark at the end of the URL if it’s available.
Under Who Can View My Site, click Manage.
In the Share with others window, choose an option:
- Draft—To allow people in your domain or specific people to edit the draft version of your site, click Change.
- Published—To allow people in your domain or specific people to view your published site, click Change.
Click Done.
Click Publish.
Open your site in a private browsing tab, to confirm that it is published correctly.
FAQs
Below are some commonly asked questions about using Google Sites:
- Invite others to edit your site
- Add Google files
- Make your site accessible
- Add a Copyright Symbol: Keyboards shortcuts - Windows (use numpad ALT+0169©) Mac (option+G ©)