Google Sites

Google Sites is an open source freeware application that will allow you to create, share and edit
your portfolio online. Google Sites is intended to allow users to create a website that they can
have complete control over content and access.

Log In

Log in by going to (or just do a Google search for Google Sites, it would be the first option)
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com
%2F&service=jotspot&passive=true&ul=1

When the screen refreshes you are asked to sign in using your Google account. If you have an
existing Gmail account, you would enter that information. If you do not have a Gmail account
you need to create one.
Use the link provided below and click on Sign Up for Gmail in the bottom right corner (or just
search Gmail, it will be the first option). https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?
service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail
%2F%3Fui%3Dhtml%26zy%3Dl&bsv=zpwhtygjntrz&scc=1&ltmpl=default&ltmplcache=2

Once you create a Gmail account you can use that user name and password to access the entire
Google suite of tools, or you can create an account that you never have to access again and only
use it for this course. Google does not send spam or bombard you with unwanted e-mails.

Note: It is your responsibility to store your username and password in a secure place for
easy retrieval.

After you have created your Gmail account go back to Google Sites and enter your Gmail
information into the Sign in to Google with your Google Account box.
Create New Site

Once you enter your information and the screen refreshes you will click on Create new site.

Note: If you have created a site previously the name of your site will appear under My
Sites. After you create your site for this course you will just click on the site name for it to open.

After you click on Create new site the page will refresh providing you with options that will
begin to design your site.
A. Provide the name for the site. This needs to reflect that it is for the portfolio and student’s
name.
(i.e. clintmplaportfolio)

B. Once you enter your site’s name it will appear here as part of the URL (Uniform
Resource Locator)

C. The site’s description is optional.

D. You can leave this box unchecked.

E. Click on Only people I Specify can view this site.

F. Choose your site’s theme. There more options under More themes…

G. You will need to type what ever code is visible into the horizontal box to the right. The
make sure you click on Create site
 When the screen refreshes after you have clicked on Create site you will be in your new
site. The site will appear as you have set it up. What you see below are settings I have
created and images that I have added, they will not appear in your site automatically.

Google Site’s Function

Top Control Bar

In the top control bar you can create new pages, edit pages, choose more actions and alter the site
settings.
Your site will be constructed through the creating new pages. In contrast, creating a new page is
similar to adding pages or section into a physical binder. Each page is named, stores content and
is given an appropriate location within the site.

Click on Create new page. When the screen refreshes choose the following:

A. Choose Web page

B. Title the page. This will be the naming convention that is used to track the pages.
C. Choose Put page under home.

Note: Underneath this choice is an illustration of how the pages will connect and the
sequence they will follow.

Make sure you then click on Create page.

When creating pages they need to follow the sequence. To control the page sequences always
begin a new page from the previous pages, which will ensure the proper sequence is followed.
Below is an example of what is will look like when you crate new pages beginning on the
previous page created.
When you are on any page you, click on Edit page to add text and upload documents.

After you click on Edit page the screen will refresh and a tool bar will appear. Also, you will
have the sections of the page that can be edited outlined in a dotted line.

Note: The Edit page section of these notes is predicated on choosing Web page during the
setting process. If you have not done that, please go back and do that.

In the top tool bar you can adjust your font size and type.

Note: Once you have made any edits to the page you need to click on Save; if you do not
click on save any changes will not be kept. If you do not want to save the changes then click
on Cancel.
Below the top tool bar are the sections of the page that can be edited.

In bold type is the name of the page, which can be edited.

Below the page title is a content box where text can be added.

Below the content box is the name of the next page in the sequence. By clicking on the page
name you will jump to that page.

Below the page sequence is where attachments are uploaded and a section for comments. Click
on Attachments and a browse box will appear.
Click Browse and search your computer for the document you wish to upload.

Once you locate the document you wish to upload click on it and make sure the name appears in
the File name box below.
Then click on Open.

The name of the file should appear in the horizontal box next to the Browse button. It will
automatically be uploaded to your site and appear with the file name, date and time it was
uploaded. Behind the name who added the document is the option of removing it.

Once you are finished click on Save in the upper left corner and the page will refresh back to the
image without the editing options.
More actions

Click on More Actions and a drop down menu appears.

1. Subscribe to page changes will send an e-mail ever time an edit is made to that specific
page you are on at that time.
2. Print allows you to print the page you are currently on.

3. Move allows you to relocate pages.

4. Delete will allow you to choose which page you want to delete.

5. Preview page as viewer will show you the viewer setting for the page.
6. Subscribe to site changes will e-mail you every time any adjustments are
made to any section of the site.
7. Site map provides an outline view of all the pages created on the site.

Site settings

If you click on Site settings a drop down menu appears with three options.
 1. Share this site will allow you to invite individuals to your site and provide them with
user access. There are three levels of access:

a. As owners allows full editing access to the site.

i. Note: This is what you will have to grant your instructor.

b. As collaborators allows comments to be posted.

c. As viewers only allows the user to view the page and click on links.

To invite someone you enter their e-mail address into the box provided and click on Invite these
people.
Once you have invited someone an e-mail is sent to them with the site’s URL.
2. Change appearance will allow you to alter the look of the site; parts of these are the
same settings you set when you created the site initially.

a. If you click on Color and Fonts at the top you can alter the page site’s color.

b. If you click on Themes you can site’s themes.

c. You will want to leave the site layout as web page, so do not alter that.

d. Also, you do not need to alter the Sidebar in any way. It needs to be viewable.
3. Other stuff will allow you to chance the initial information you put in when you created
the site.
Note: If for any reason under this option you delete your site it can not be
retrieved and you will have to begin again.
Navigation/Recent Site Activity

Under the Navigation box should be two options, Home and Sitemap.

Clicking on Home will always bring you back to the initial home page that you first drop into.

Clicking on Sitemap will display a layout of all the pages created within the site. Click on a
page’s name to jump directly to it.
Under Recent site activity information on who edited, what page was edited, and what was
edited will appear. This provides all users with an overview of recent site activity.
Google Site Videos

Access this link below to view a You Tube video on the Google channel about Google Sites. The
video does not exhaust all of the capabilities, but does offer insight into process needed to
manage your site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD-4FRTzxkI