There’s a new page type available in Google Site–full page embed.

This means you can embed an entire webpage inside your Google Site.

This feature is great for embedding other tools for your classroom like Padlet, Wakelet, Popplet…ANYTHING!

Watch the short video below to learn how this works.

Embed a Full Page Website in Google Sites

*Related: New Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs

*Related: Emojis in Google Docs 

Access ALL the Google Quick Tips Here!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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Need to create pages with a similar layout in Google Sites?

Save time and duplicate a page in Google Sites!

There are many times that I need to duplicate a page.

When you or your students are creating a Google Site, you may wish to create pages with similar layouts and design.

You can save time by duplicating pages and making tweaks instead of starting over from scratch.

How to Duplicate a Page in Google Sites

Related: How to Use Canva Templates in Google Slides

Access ALL the Google Quick Tips Here!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post How to Duplicate a Page in Google Sites appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Ready for “Back to School”?

I have put together a guide of Google tips, instructional strategies, templates, and lesson ideas to help you prepare for Back to School with Google Tools!

Don’t miss this episode and blog post!

There are so many ways that Google tools can help support teaching and learning this school year.

Are you ready?

There’s A LOT of information, resources, videos, podcasts, and more in this EPIC GUIDE!

Listen to this article.

Back to School with Google Tools: A Teacher’s Guide

Google is constantly changing–a good thing and a bad thing! Let’s take a dive into what you can expect from Google this year and how to set up your classroom for success.

Catch Up on Google Updates

• Google Classroom Updates Page
• Google Workspace Updates Page

Organize Google Drive

Out with the old and in with the new. If you haven’t already done some clean-up and organization in Google Drive, now is the time.

Read the full blog post here.

Set up Google Classroom for Success

Google Classroom also needs some clean-up and organization before you begin the new school year.

Clean-Up the Old Google Classroom Stuff

I have some step-by-step directions for the clean-up process on this page. Be sure to look at the files connected in Google Drive and what you want to keep from the previous school year.

Setup Your New Google Classroom Classes

Google Classroom gives teachers a lot of flexibility in setting up and organizing their classes.

Think carefully about how you want to organize your assignments. This will save you time and frustration in the long run.

How to Organize Google Classroom Assignments.

I have a ton of Google Classroom tips and step-by-step directions on this page.

And don’t forget about the FREE Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students!

You may also want to consider setting up a class template and making copies to save time.

We also have a ton of Google Classroom tutorials on our YouTube channel!

Related: 85+ Apps That Integrate with Google Classroom.

Master the Chrome Learning Environment

Google Chrome should be your chosen browser if you use Google tools in your classroom.

Consider Chrome the learning environment for all things Google!

Have you mastered Chrome? Check out these MUST-HAVE Google Chrome skills.

Learn How to Switch Google Accounts in Chrome

Do you have more than one Google account? Then be sure you learn to set up profiles in Google Chrome and learn how to switch back and forth!

Customize Google Chrome with Extensions and Apps

Chrome extensions help you customize the browser for you and your students.

Apps and extensions are found and installed from the Chrome Web Store.

Are you using Google Classroom? Check out 5 Chrome Extensions that Make Google Classroom Even More Awesome!

Mote is one of my favorite extensions!

Are you using Chromebooks with Students? Be sure to learn about Chrome Apps that can save you time and frustration, especially with littles.

Chrome Apps (Chromebook only) are shortcuts to websites and your favorite web tools.

Explore apps and extensions in the Chrome Web Store to find what fits the needs of you and your students.

Embrace Collaboration with Jamboard

What is Google Jamboard?

Here are a couple of Jamboard tips from our YouTube Channel:

Give Students Voice and Choice with Interactive Choice Boards

Are you tired of the same old “All About Me” and “What I Did This Summer” projects? Back to School is the perfect time to try choice boards!

Check out episode 121: Back to School with Choice Boards to dig deeper and access FREE templates.

Don’t miss The Teacher’s Guide to Digital Choice Boards and get the FREE ebook download if you want to take your choice board skills to the next level!

Set Up Student Portfolios with Google Sites

Have you tried student portfolios? Google Sites is the perfect tool for showcasing student work and showing growth over time.

In episode 91, Mike Mohammed shares his best ideas and tips for student portfolios with Google Sites.

Mike also shared some step-by-step setup tutorials in this guest post: Powerful Student e-Portfolios with Google Sites.

Set Goals with Your Students

Goal-setting is a powerful, research-based strategy for teachers and students.

Try setting goals with your students and track your progress in Google Sheets or Google Keep.

Or, get a little more creative and visual and try Vision Boards

Vision boards are collages of images that represent your goals. Vision boards can be done on paper, poster board, or digital, but Google Slides is my top choice.

Use Templates to Save Time

Teachers love templates, and with good reason! They are huge time-savers.

Google tools make it easy to find, save, and assign templates.

Did you know Google has free templates? Watch the video below to learn how!

Shake Up Learning Team Member Sarah Kiefer shares her templates on templatesforteachers.com.

She also shares some great tips and ideas in episode 119: FREE Templates for Teachers – where to find them and how to create them.

How to Assign Templates in Google Classroom

Check out all of these posts for even more FREE Google templates from Shake Up Learning.

Build Relationships 

Building relationships with students is critical to learning and student success.

We must begin this process on day one of school!

Google tools help us facilitate discussion, interact, and gather essential information.

Take a Student Inventory with Google Forms

Consider using Google forms to give your students a safe space to share more information about themselves, home situations, and who they are as learners.

Fine Tune Your Feedback Strategy

Feedback is also a critical part of the learning process. Before you begin the school year, consider where and how you will give feedback.

Google Classroom offers several ways to support feedback, but all of the options can be confusing.

Check out these posts for clarification:

• Google Classroom Comments–All You Need to Know!
• 4 Ways to Give Meaningful Feedback with Google Classroom

How to Leave Video Feedback in Google Classroom

Plan meaningful, DYNAMIC, learning experiences using the DL Framework.

• Explore the Dynamic Learning Framework
• Read a book on DL
  • Shake Up Learning
  • Blended Learning with Google
• Take a Workshop
  • The Dynamic Learning Workshop
  • The Blended Learning with Google Workshop

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Back to School with Google Tools: A Teacher’s Guide – SULS0122 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Do you ever get frustrated trying to find the exact color for your fonts, background, or other objects in your Google projects?

Try the eyedropper Chrome extension to grab the exact color code and use it in your Google projects in Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings, and more!

Match the exact color of anything on the web!

I use the Eyedropper Chrome extension to copy the color code from images on the web.

**UPDATE: The eyedropper tool is now built into most Google tools.

Matching colors exactly will give your presentations, docs, and other Google projects a more professional look!

Use Custom Colors in Google Projects!

Access ALL the Google Quick Tips Here!

Check out all our Remote Learning Resources!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Use Custom Colors in Google Projects! (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawings) appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this episode, I share The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit, a free download to help teachers create dynamic, blended learning experiences for students with Google tools.

I will walk you through each step, share proven strategies, and recommend the right Google tool for the job.

Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

(Scroll down and fill out the form on this page.)

Listen to this article.

Shoutout

Thank you to Becky Young for this tweet:

Almost done catching up #TCEA before the recordings disappear tomorrow! Watching @ShakeUpLearning #BlendedLearnimgWithGoogle session.

My son sees my screen and says

“Kasey Bell! Yay!”

So, @ShakeUpLearning you’re a big hit with the 3rd graders

— TechyBeckyYoung (@TechyBeckyYoung) March 4, 2021

Quick Tip of the Week (Autofit Text in Slides)

Google Slides has a new feature that will now autofit your text in a text box, resizing the font size to fit.

Watch this quick video to learn how!

Quick Tip Video Library

Subscribe to Shake Up Learning on YouTube

   OR, watch it on TikTok!

Blended Learning with Google Toolkit for Teachers

Ready to take digital learning to the next level?

The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit © will help you choose the best Google tools to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

Today, I am walking you through each step, sharing proven strategies to increase learning and engagement.

I am also going to tell you which Google tools are the best tool for the job!

Consider this your cheat sheet to the strategies and ideas shared in my new book, Blended Learning with Google: Your Guide to Dynamic Teaching and Learning.

I believe in the principles and ideas in this book so much, I’m sharing this toolkit for FREE!

Get access to this FREE 15-page PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

Get Your FREE Toolkit by filling out the form below.

What is Dynamic Blended Learning?

“Dynamic blended learning is characterized by constant change and activity, growing and evolving over time. This learning can take place anywhere, anytime, and it is personalized and differentiated. It is learner-centered, giving students choice and embedding communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills where they align with the learning goals. Dynamic blended learning also extends beyond the traditional bounds of the school day, schedule, and physical walls, and beyond the physical notion of hard and fast due dates. Digital tools are used for more than substitution, to do and create previously unconceived things. Dynamic learn- ing is boundless, with limitless opportunities.” (page. 4 of Blended Learning with Google.)

Think of Dynamic Learning as Blended Learning on steroids! Dynamic Learning is something I introduced in my first book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic. Blended Learning with Google is a follow-up to the first book with a Google twist.

Below is a whiteboard explainer video to help you better understand the definition:

What is Static Learning?

“Static learning is learning that lacks movement, action, or change. With this unengaging model of education, learning happens in short bursts and is often demonstrated through one-and-done activities, short-term assignments, or worksheets (even digital worksheets), which are confined within the traditional bounds of the school system, school day, and school walls.” (page. 5 of Blended Learning with Google.)

What does this have to do with Google?

Dynamic Learning is NOT about Google! It is about learning! We don’t want to get distracted by shiny, techy tools. The purpose of using technology in any classroom is to support Dynamic Blended Learning. Digital tools like Google for Education present us with a unique opportunity to do things differently, to engage students in new ways, and to inspire them to explore and create.

Related: Blended Learning with Google (3-Part Podcast Series)

Does this definition only apply to Google? NO!

You will notice the word Google is not mentioned in the definitions or framework. In fact, the word technology doesn’t even appear. That’s because our focus is always on the end goal–LEARNING!

You can apply this framework using any digital tools that help you meet your learning goals, including Microsoft tools.

What is the Dynamic Learning Framework?

Below is the Dynamic Learning Framework. The Dynamic Learning Model is at the center of the framework, which focuses on five Dynamic Learning Characteristics (5 B’s). These characteristics make it possible to go beyond static, one-and-done activities.

Related: Blended Learning with Google for School Leaders (FREE Webinar)

Beyond the Bell

Learning doesn’t have to end when the bell rings. With digital tools and devices that are available 24/7, students can continue to learn, collaborate, grow, and dig deeper into their learning on their own terms. This doesn’t mean homework. This is a mindset for students that means learning can take place anytime, anywhere, and students can own it.

Related: How to Create Dynamic Learning Experiences for Students (FREE Webinar)

Beyond the Grade Level & Subject Area

Let’s take kids off the conveyor belt of education and give them opportunities to explore the world and move beyond the subject areas we teach. Learning doesn’t have to fit inside a box. Help students discover their interests and passions by going beyond the curriculum.

Related: The Teacher’s Guide to Digital Choice Boards

Beyond the Walls

Bring the world to your students, and bring your students to the world. Every student in every grade level should have opportunities to connect and learn globally, as well as publish their work for a global and intentional audience.

Related: Go Global: Online Publishing for All Students

Beyond the Tool(s)

Think beyond using digital tools to do traditional things like typing a paper. Use digital tools to do NEW things! Just going paperless or digital isn’t enough; use tools to go further, go deeper and extend the learning, and consider using tools in alternative ways—beyond their original purpose.

Related: Collaborative Notes with Google Docs

Beyond the Due Date

Consider allowing students to continue the work that interests them beyond the assessment of the final assignment or task. Thinking, learning, and exploring shouldn’t be stifled simply because it was time to turn it in. Let the learning live, grow, and evolve over time.

Related: How to Plan a Dynamic Learning Experience (FREE Template)

Dynamic Blended Learning Strategies

Ready to dig into the strategies that will help you accomplish everything above? Well, we can’t fit it all in the post! Listen to the podcast episode, player embedded above, and download the toolkit!

The toolkit includes this AMAZING table that aligns each of the characteristics above with classroom strategies and the best Google tools to use!

In the toolkit, you will find ideas for storytelling, graphic organizers, discussion, image creation, student portfolios, blogging, research, choice boards, project based learning, collaborative notes, and much more!

What do you think? Will you try Dynamic Blended Learning?

Join the FREE Blended Learning with Google Book Study! (3 Hours of Credit)

YOU are invited to join the Blended Learning with Google Book Study!

Blended Learning with Google was designed for book studies! I couldn’t just write a paper book. I had to make it an interactive experience and give you extra resources to go deeper and make reading the book a dynamic learning experience.

And yes, you can get 3 hours of professional learning credit for completing the book study.

Access the dates, reading schedule, calendar, and everything you need to know here.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Blended Learning with Google Toolkit for Teachers – SULS0101 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

What is Google Workspace for Education?

Whether you are brand new to Google or a seasoned user, there are probably a few things you don’t know about Google Workspace for Education.

If you want to become a Google Certified Educator or Trainer, you need to learn the basics of Google Workspace for Education. (It will be on the Level 1 exam.) What is it? What does it include? How does it help teachers and students?

Below is an explanation of the Google Workspace for Education program for teachers.

What is Google Workspace for Education?

Get This Information in a FREE Google Doc

I’ve created a Google Doc with the entirety of this blog post. Feel free to share with your colleagues.

CLICK HERE to make a copy of: What is Google Workspace for Education?

What is Google Workspace for Education?

Google Workspace for Education is available in many different editions, including free and paid options.

• Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals: a suite of tools that can help you increase opportunities for critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity, all while supporting the learning objectives that you have for your students. These tools are free, ad-free, reliable, and secure. They are already used by millions of students in schools around the world. Of course, free is great, but the best thing is that these tools are relevant to students, easy to use, and open doors to many new ways to learn.
• Google Workspace for Education Standard: a paid upgrade that includes everything in Education Fundamentals plus advanced security and analytics.
• Teaching and Learning Upgrade: a paid upgrade that includes everything in Education Fundamentals plus advanced video communication, enriched class experiences, and tools to drive academy integrity.
• Google Workspace for Education Plus (formerly G Suite for Education Enterprise): a paid upgrade that includes everything in Education Fundamentals plus advanced security and analytics, enhanced teaching tools, and more.

Learn more about what’s included in each edition here.

To qualify for Google Workspace for Education

K–12 schools, higher-education institutions globally, and homeschool co-ops in the U.S. are eligible for Google Workspace for Education if they meet certain criteria.

K–12 and higher institutions must be a government-recognized, formally-accredited educational institution delivering nationally or internationally-approved certifications at primary, secondary, or third level. The institution applying for Google Workspace for Education must submit the application.

Google Workspace for Education offers:

• ad-free,
• reliable,
• and secure.
• 24/7 Access
• One Login for EVERYTHING!
• Collaborative
• Use on Any Device/Cross-Platform

What Applications are Included? 

Every edition of Google Workspace for Education includes Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Classroom, Assignments, Sites, Groups, Drive, and the Administrator Dashboard.

Google Classroom is a collaboration tool for teachers and students that helps organize and streamline the classroom experience. With just a few clicks, you can create a class, add your students, and create assignments or announcements. You’ll be able to see who’s completed an assignment, who’s still working on it, and assign grades when it’s finished. You can also instantly offer feedback to students, and see their questions or comments on their assignments.

Google Drive is like an online hard drive where you can store all your files – stories, designs, drawings, recordings, videos – anything! You can access your files from any device, and, best of all, you never have to save: Drive automatically saves every time you make an edit!

Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals also includes a number of Google products that promote collaboration among students and with their teachers. Students can work together, in class or at home, to complete assignments and group projects. All of their work is auto-saved, and they can even edit without WiFi.

• Google Docs: documents come to life with smart editing and styling tools to help you easily format text and paragraphs. Choose from thousands of fonts, add links, images, drawings, and tables
• Google Sheets: spreadsheets for analyzing, visualizing, and charting data
• Google Forms: quick & easy surveys to gather information
• Google Slides: a presentation tool that makes it easy to tell stories
• Google Drawings: Graphics and flowchart creation with shapes, text, and images

Additionally, Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals includes tools that can be used to save you time and increase student engagement. These include:

• Gmail: Email, contacts, tasks, and communications
• Google Calendar: Scheduling, calendars, and appointments
• Google Meet: Live video conferencing and messaging
• Google Sites: Webpage creation and publishing
• Google Groups: Group communication and web forums

Finally, Google has other tools outside of Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals that can be used in the classroom, which you may be able to access with your same username and password.  These are consumer products and are not covered by the Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals Terms of Service. They include:

• Chrome: Internet browsing
• YouTube: Online video hosting and sharing
• Google Maps/Earth: Interactive maps and satellite imagery
• Blogger:  Publishing blogs

Access to other advanced features and additional tools will depend on which edition of Google Workspace you are using. Here is a comparison chart.

Google Workspace for Education Support

• Google for Education Support Center: support.google.com/edu 
• Product Forum: productforums.google.com
• 24/7 Email and Phone Support: gsuite.google.com/support

Google A to Z: The Google Glossary for Teachers

Want to Learn More About Using Google Tools in the Classroom?

Learn more about all the Google tools available for teachers and students in Google from A to Z: The Google Glossary for Teachers!

Technology doesn’t have to be complicated, especially with the Google from A to Z 40-page handy reference guide in your back pocket.

If your school has “Gone Google,” then chances are you are aware of some of the most popular productivity tools, such as Docs, Slides, and Gmail. But Google offers so much more!

There are so many fun and engaging tools that you may not know about, and no matter what digital devices you use to support teaching and learning, you will find valuable tools to add to your teacher toolbox in this handy supplement.

Think of this as your Google dictionary–a glossary of Google tools and programs just for teachers and students!

• Subscribe to Shake Up Learning to get tips delivered to your inbox.
• Join one of the Shake Up Learning online courses.
• Need a speaker or trainer? Bring Kasey Bell to your school or event.
• Get Google training for your whole school: GoogleTrainingforSchools.com
• Visit ShakeUpLearning.com for the latest resources and tips!

FREE Webinar: How to Get Google Certified

Do you want to learn more about the certifications and what it takes to achieve each one?

Getting Google Certified can be daunting and confusing, so I put together this free webinar on How to Get Google Certified!

In this webinar, I will give you an overview of Google Certification, Google Certified Educator Level 1, Google Certified Educator Level 2, and Google Certified Trainer.

REGISTER for the Webinar

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post What is Google Workspace for Education? | What You Need to Know! (FREE Download) appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Student portfolios with Google Sites is a no-brainer!

Student Portfolios are the epitome of Dynamic Blended Learning and going beyond the due date because they are never “done.”

As students learn and grow throughout the year, new work is added to their portfolio to showcase their best work or to show growth over time.

Student portfolios are great for ANY classroom!

In this interview with teacher Mike Mohammad, we take a deep dive into the power of student portfolios. Mike shares what he has learned after seven years of implementing portfolios–how to organize, how to make them student-centered, and the ease of Google Sites!

Shoutout

Thank you to the Blended Learning with Google contributors for sharing your expertise! Special thanks to Lisa Johnson, Mike Mohammad, Pam Hubler, Vicki Heupel, Tony Vincent, Christine Pinto, Jessica Twomey, Jessica Brogley, Sylvia Duckworth, Laura Steinbrink, and Tommy Spall.

Quick Tip of the Week (Change link color in Slides)

Don’t you hate it when Google Slides automatically changes the color of your link to a color you don’t want?! Well, you can customize that color to be whatever you want in the Master Slide. Hint: you don’t have to manually change the color of every link in your deck.

Watch this video to learn how!

Subscribe to Shake Up Learning on YouTube

This episode is sponsored by WriQ.

Texthelp is challenging you and your students to write a little more each day! With the WriQ Word Challenge, classes around the world are working together to smash the record for the most words written in the school year. You can join them too. Download WriQ to measure your students’ writing and watch them soar to the top of the global leaderboard! There are lots of hints, tips, and writing prompts available too.

Visit: text.help/shakeupwriq

Listen to this article.

Student Portfolios with Google Sites

Mike Mohammad is my go-to resource for student portfolios with Google Sites. He has more than seven years of experience with this strategy!

Mike also contributed a lesson plan to my new book, Blended Learning with Google, on how to implement student portfolios with Google Sites.


Notice: We are dropping the “e” in portfolios. It’s just not necessary. Everything we do is digital now.

Related: How to Create Powerful Student ePortfolios with Google Sites

Mike teaches high school physics, but don’t let that deter you from exploring this idea. This strategy can be implemented in just about any classroom.

In this unique school year, Mike has continued to implement portfolios with both his in-person students and his online students. Mike said there was zero difference in the quality of what in-person vs. online students produced.

As we all struggle to create meaningful learning experiences for our online students, Mike relied on PhET and Vernier to supplement his science labs.

Why Google Sites?

Google Sites is a cloud-based website creation tool that allows users to build, create, share, and publish for individuals, groups, schools, or the public.

It integrates with other Google apps, so you can easily embed other Google Drive files such as presentations. Google Sites are great for teacher websites, student projects, and e-portfolios. All files are stored in Google Drive.

Learn more about Google tools in Google from A to Z: The Google Glossary for Teachers. 

Google Sites has also made it very easy to create a professional-looking website with gorgeous themes, layouts, and more. In fact, Mike and I agree that it’s hard to make Google Sites look bad!

Google Sites has many different publishing options to share these portfolios within our schools or with the outside world.

Types of Portfolios

Start with the why! Don’t forget to define your purpose before you implement portfolios with your students.

Student Showcase Portfolio

Showcase portfolios are a great starting place! A showcase portfolio is a place for students to present artifacts that show mastery of standards or skills. Showcase portfolios work especially well as summative assessments at the end of a grading cycle or semester. Because these are cumulative, they don’t require as much updating throughout the year like some of the other types.

Student Learning Portfolio (Growth over Time)

Another type of portfolio is a learning portfolio in which students track and reflect on the learning process. This type of portfolio requires maintenance and regular updates by the student or teacher. Be sure you plan time each week for students to add new artifacts and reflection.

Learner Profile Portfolio

If a portfolio is going to be more than a file cabinet for student work, it must not only reflect the work students do but also encompass aspects of them as individuals. As outlined by the Institute for Personalized Learning, a learner profile contains demographic and academic information. It also houses information on a student’s skill sets and drivers for learning. (This is Mike’s preferred portfolio.)

Through this type of portfolio, students learn their strengths and weaknesses as learners and reflect on their learning throughout the year.

Related: Read-Along Storybooks Using Audio in Google Slides

About Me Page

Mike has students create their site and “About Me” page during the first week of school.

On day one, students are learning to communicate and picking up web design skills. Plus, this helps the teacher get to know the students.

Getting to know your students through portfolios also helps you tap into students who are less likely to speak up in front of the class.

Google Sites gives them the platform to express themselves visually.

Organize Portfolios by Units

Mike has his students organize their portfolios by unit. Within each unit, students connect back to the overarching standards for the course. Students must submit evidence of reaching the goals of each standard.

Other Tools to Integrate into the Portfolio

Mike recommends Flipgrid for students to record introduction videos, reflection, and more.

He also loves to use Pear Deck for synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

Get Mike’s Pear Deck How-To Handbook.

Mike’s Student Portfolio Examples

• Student Example 1
• Student Example 2
• Student Example 3
• Student Example 4
• Student Example 5

Podcast Question of the Week

• How can you use student portfolios to demonstrate student learning and growth over time?
• Post your answers in the Shake Up Learning community or on your favorite social platform.
• Join our FREE Shake Up Learning Facebook group.

About Mike Mohammad

Mike Mohammad has been a secondary science teacher for 20 years, 15 of those at Brookfield Central High School. At Central, Mike has taught General Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. In his classroom, Mike has worked to increase access, engagement, and expression for all learners by removing the barriers of legacy instructional practices. Mike is a Google Certified Teacher and Apple Educator and has been recognized by the Institute for Personalized Learning with their Trailblazer Award. He lives in Brown Deer, WI, with his wife Kelly and dog Sasha. When not deep into his work, Mike is an avid movie buff and cook.

Connect with Mike:

• Twitter: @mo_physics
• Website: https://mophysicsmoproblems.blogspot.com/

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Student Portfolios with Google Sites – SULS091 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Part 4 is finally here! Even when we love technology and Google tools, we have to remember that it’s NOT about Google.

Our bottom line as educators is always about the learning and doing what’s best for students.

In this 4-part podcast series on Dynamic Learning with Google, Kasey shares all her favorite lesson ideas!

In part four, Kasey explains how we can go BEYOND the walls of our classrooms, and how to go BEYOND the due date and encourage students to continue learning about the things that interest them.

BONUS: Get the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit to help you find the best tool to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

Did you miss parts 1, 2, or 3?

Listen to part 1 (e44), part 2 (e45), and part 3 (e46) so you don’t miss a thing! The entire series is also available here.

Listen to this article:

...

Shoutout

Shoutout to Elizabeth Ledkins from our Facebook community for sharing her 60-second PD idea, a one-minute screencast tutorial. She records with Screencastify and uploads it to YouTube. Then she embeds the video in an email to teachers. 

Do you have a question or idea to share on the podcast? Leave me a message here.

Quick Tip of the Week

In Google Chrome, use Incognito mode to check that your public links are accessible and shared correctly. Incognito is a unique browser window that will not automatically log you into any accounts.

In Chrome, click on the 3 dots > select New Incognito Window. (Also works on mobile.)

Or use the keyboard shortcut:

• Control + Shift + N (PC and Chromebook)
• Command + Shift + N (Mac)

I use this trick to check my links to Google files, Google Sites, and other links I share with the outside world. Check all the links you post for parents, or share outside of your classroom. (Here are 8 Awesome Reasons to Go Incognito.)

Please note: If you don’t have access, your Google admin can disable this feature in your school account.

Dynamic Learning with Google (Part 3)

In part four, we are moving on to our last two characteristics in the Dynamic Learning Framework, Beyond the Walls, and Beyond the Due Date. Dynamic Learning is at the heart of my book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic.

Google is NOT a magic solution, but it allows us to create Dynamic Learning experiences for our students.

If you missed parts 1-3, be sure to go back to episode 44 so you will get the big picture of how this all fits together!

We are going to talk about classroom strategies to help you give students a global audience for their work, meaningful connections with outside classrooms and experts, and how student portfolios can support student learning even after it has been assessed.

Get the FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit

(Formerly called the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit)

This FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit © will help you choose the best Google tools to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit will help teachers learn more about blended learning strategies with recommended Google tools for each strategy!

Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

Beyond the Walls

I want you to think about both sides of the walls of your classroom. Bring the world to your students, and bring your students to the world! Every student in every grade should have opportunities to connect and learn globally as well as publish their work for a global and intentional audience.

Beyond the Walls with Publishing Student Work for an Expanded Audience

Do you give your students an audience for their work?

I had an eye-opening experience with my own students many years ago. Something magical happened when I had them publish their writing online where others could read and comment. Suddenly, my students wanted to revise and improve their work. Their words will continue to echo in my head, “Can I revise mine? I didn’t know anyone would read it besides you.”

Arrow to my heart! Yes, we love to believe that as teachers, we are our students’ favorite audience, but that gets old and tired, and frankly is about as inauthentic as it gets. Students can and should get feedback from others that are outside of their immediate classroom.

Before you freak out about privacy and safety, let me say that these strategies can be accomplished without any risks to privacy or safety. We do not need to share student names or faces to give them an audience for their work.

We can also take this in baby steps. Consider sharing student work in small steps and working up to a global audience. I like to refer to this as an expanded audience.

1. Share with a classroom on the same campus
2. Share with a classroom on another campus in your district or region
3. Share with a classroom in another state
4. Share with a classroom in another country
5. Share globally and publicly

It doesn’t have to be a perfect audience to see the impact this will have on the quality of work you receive from your students.

So how can Google tools support online publishing?

Most Google applications allow us to share with specific individuals or with a special link. Keep in mind, just because you have made a Google Doc public doesn’t mean anyone will find it. It’s more important that we think purposely about how to share and who to share it with.

My favorite method for sharing student work is on a Google Site or a Blogger blog.

Google Sites makes it easy to embed just about any of our student’s Google-created projects. However, it doesn’t have a native commenting feature that can really take things to the next level.

That’s where I give Blogger the edge. Blogger is a traditional blogging platform that allows for comment. With a blog post, we can share student work and collect feedback from other students, parents, or experts in the field of study. Comments will take things to the next level, a superpower in publishing!

For students under 13, this should be managed by the teacher on a teacher blog. Over 13 students should be given their own space (monitored and assessed) to share their work, their reflections on learning, and respond to feedback.

Remember, the focus of this post is about using Google tools, but there are hundreds of other tools from which to choose.

Again, we don’t have to share names or faces to give students a new audience for their work. In fact, using pen names can be a fun twist, especially for younger students.

But our older, secondary students need to be able to share and take claim to their accomplishments. They will be Googled before they are interviewed for their first job or when they apply to college. I want these searches to reflect what students have learned and created, not their latest Tik Tok video.

YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world and can be a great place to showcase student work and get feedback. But one big drawback is the junk that exists on YouTube, and the trolls who leave irrelevant comments.

However, I have seen many schools create a campus or classroom YouTube channel sharing student work with great success. Don’t count it out just yet. Just be purposeful, mindful, and teach your students how to manage this world. They will need those digital citizenship skills!

(See also Every Student Should Publish for the World.)

Beyond the Walls with Global Connections

Let’s explore ways to bring the world into our classrooms!

Google tools naturally fit into this equation. When it comes to bringing in outside authors, experts, virtual tours, or even connecting to other classrooms, Google Hangouts Meet makes this a breeze. These experiences should be teacher-led to ensure the activity is safe and purposeful.

No matter what you are studying in your classroom, there is probably an outside connection that you can make to enrich this experience. And guess what? The experts and authors that we often think are unreachable are actually reachable! In this connected world, most people have an online presence or social account. All you have to do is ask!

These connections do not require any funding, permission forms, yellow busses, or any fancy equipment. All you need is an internet connection and a device with a camera.

Mystery Hangouts are particularly great for elementary grade levels. In a Mystery Hangout, your classroom will video chat with another classroom located in another region, state, or country. Using questioning skills and context clues, students must figure out where the other class is located. These are super fun!

Beyond the Due Date

I know this sounds scary, but I promise it isn’t! Consider allowing students to continue the work that interests them beyond the final assessment of the assignment or task. Thinking, learning, and exploring shouldn’t be stifled simply because it was time to turn it in.

When we see students showing sparks of interest in a project–when they don’t want to stop learning–we must capitalize on these moments! Often, the act of turning in an assignment can stifle their passion, learning, and creativity.

Think about those sparks in your classroom, ask them about it, encourage them, coach them.

Let me be clear. This strategy is not about giving students extra time to finish assignments. That’s a discussion for another day. This is about seizing opportunities! Don’t you wish every student was excited to learn?

The other thing to know about this Dynamic Learning characteristic is it is rarely something that is the complete focus of your lesson, but it can easily be embedded in PBL, especially Genius Hour. It is more about capitalizing on the learning sparks we find in our students.

Beyond the Due Date with Student Portfolios

Portfolios are great for showcasing student work and growth over time, but they can also be a fantastic way for students to document and reflect on their interests and passions.

Google Sites is the perfect tool for student portfolios. As I mentioned earlier, Google Sites makes it super easy to embed work created in other Google applications, like Docs, Slides, Sheets, and more.

Check out this post on How to Create Powerful Student ePortfolios with Google Sites, by Mike Mohammed.

Blogger is also a great choice for teachers to manage portfolios or from students 13 and older to manage their own.

Another favorite tool is Google Slides! Slides is probably the most flexible tool in G Suite. But it doesn’t allow embedding like Sites and Blogger.

A student interest portfolio should definitely go beyond one and done, and be a long term project. It’s the perfect project for students who finish early, have extra time, or need enrichment. But it’s even better for students that need time and encouragement to find what they love.

Beyond the Due Date with Mentorship and Coaching

Once we have identified those sparks in our students, we can take on the role of a coach or mentor.

One of the best ways to cultivate passions within our students is through coaching and mentoring. This may come directly from the teacher where appropriate.

When we find out what interests our students, we can talk about it. This might be a few seconds in the hallway to check-in, build that relations, and fan the flame of that learning spark.

For instance, I may ask a student if they read the book I recommended, visited a website I shared or connected with a student with the same interest. We can continue to share resources to help the student take their learning further.

Just encouraging students and helping them find their passions can be a game-changer for many kiddos.

Building these relationships with your students will help them find things that interest them, not just what adults tell them they should be interested in.

How Will You Shake Up Learning?

We have covered A LOT of ground in this 4-part series on Dynamic Learning with Google. I have shared a ton of practical ways to use Google tools to support the Dynamic Learning Framework.

Don’t forget to grab a copy of the FREE Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit (form above).

How will you Shake Up Learning this year? How will you use the Dynamic Learning Framework in your classroom? I know you have some amazing ideas! Please share those with me in the comments below, or leave me a voice message here.

If you missed the first three parts, they are available here:

Part 1: BEYOND the Bell

Part 2: BEYOND the Tool(s)

Part 3: BEYOND the Grade Level and Subject

Podcast Question of the Week

What is one way you can globally connect your students to other classrooms, authors, or experts?

Post your answer to your favorite social media platform using the hashtag #ShakeUpLearning, or share it in the Shake Up Learning Community on Facebook!

The Shake Up Learning Book Study

Don’t miss our next book study! It’s completely FREE, and it’s all available online!

Get the details here.

You can also enter to win an autographed copy of Shake Up Learning!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post It’s Not About Google (Part 4: BEYOND the Walls and Due Date) – SULS047 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

I love Google tools, but it’s NOT about Google! It’s about how we can use these tools to create dynamic learning experiences for our students.

In this 4-part podcast series on Dynamic Learning with Google, Kasey shares all her favorite lesson ideas!

In part three, Kasey explains how we can go BEYOND our curriculum and help students discover their passions, and how we can use Google tools to support this strategy!

BONUS: Get the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit to help you find the best tool to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

It’s NOT really about Google; it’s about the opportunity we have to use these tools to support Dynamic Learning experiences with our students.

Did you miss part 1 and 2 of this series?

Listen to part 1 (e44) and part 2 (e45) so you don’t miss a thing! The entire series is also available here.

Listen to this article:

...

Shoutout

Shoutout to all of the amazing educators that I met last week at FETC!

Click here to learn how you can bring Kasey to your next event.

Do you have a question or idea to share on the podcast? Leave me a message here.

Quick Tip of the Week

One-Tab Chrome Extension: Whenever you find yourself with too many tabs (like I do), click the OneTab icon to close all of your open tabs and save in a list. When you need to access the tabs again, you can either restore them individually or all at once.

Dynamic Learning with Google (Part 3)

In part three, we are moving on to our next characteristic in the Dynamic Learning Framework, Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area. Dynamic Learning is at the heart of my book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic.

We are going to talk about three classroom strategies to help you go Beyond the Tool, student choice, choice boards, and Project Based Learning. Then we will look at which Google tools can help support these strategies in the classroom.

Get the FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit

(Formerly called the Dynamic Learning with Google Toolkit)

This FREE Blended Learning with Google Toolkit © will help you choose the best Google tools to support Dynamic Learning in your classroom.

The Blended Learning with Google Toolkit will help teachers learn more about blended learning strategies with recommended Google tools for each strategy!

Get access to this FREE PDF download that aligns technology integration strategies with Google tools!

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area

Let’s take kids off the conveyor belt of education and give them opportunities to learn about the things that interest them beyond the subject areas we teach and even beyond what it says they should learn in each grade level. Learning doesn’t have to fit inside a box.

I know this can sound impossible but stay with me here. Students need opportunities to explore their own passions and interests that go beyond what exists inside a prescribed curriculum. This doesn’t mean you have to teach more concepts; this means that we find ways to give students opportunities to make decisions and choose topics and projects that interest them.

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area with Student Choice

I’ll let you in on a secret! Student choice is the key to unlocking purpose and passion.

Student choice is the number one way we can help students find and explore their own interests. Whether that means giving them a choice of reading, choice of project or research topic, or a choice in how they demonstrate their learning–all paths will help build decision-makers and problem solvers!

To be clear, this doesn’t mean free reign. Most students cannot handle a fully open choice, but if we begin by giving them two or three options, we can baby step it to bigger decisions and choices.

It truly saddens me to see students who graduate high school without one clue about their own genuine interests. And I see this happen year after year.

Ways to Give Student’s Choice:

• Choice of reading
• Choice of project topic
• Choice of research topic
• Choice of device
• Choice of tool(s)

If you are not already giving students choice in your classroom, begin to look for those opportunities in your lessons.

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area with Choice Boards

Choice boards have been a long-time favorite of mine. They completely transformed my classroom and helped me to stop being such a control freak.

You can call these learning menus or choice boards, these words are interchangeable, offer a simple set of activities from which students can choose. These can be a simple list, or they can take more creative forms like a tic-tac-toe or the style of a restaurant menu.

One of the most popular posts on this blog is all about using G Suite to create interactive choice boards. In this post, you will find free templates and ideas for your classroom.

I have also created a special choice board for integrating the 4 C’s. Grab a copy here.

For a more in-depth look at choice boards, check out The Teacher’s Guide to Choice Boards.

Beyond the Grade Level and Subject Area with PBL

Project Based Learning, or PBL, opens up a world of possibilities for our students. Whether you are doing authentic PBL or jumping into something like Genius Hour, Google tools can help your students reach their goals.

What exactly is PBL?

“Students work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a semester – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by creating a public product or presentation for a real audience.

As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers.” – PBL Works

PBL is all about moving beyond the inauthentic, one-and-done daily lessons and activities that never connect.

Google tools can help support PBL throughout the entire process:

• Planning and research with Google Search
• Recording information and writing with Google Docs
• Collecting data with Google Forms
• Analyzing data with Google Sheets
• Managing time with Google Keep and Google Calendar
• Documenting experiments and processes with Google Photos and Video
• Presenting final projects with Google Slides or Google Sites

Ready for Part 4?

CLICK here to listen/read Part 4 in this series.

Podcast Question of the Week

How do you give students opportunities to explore their own interests in your classroom?

Post your answer to your favorite social media platform using the hashtag #ShakeUpLearning, or share it in the Shake Up Learning Community on Facebook!

The Shake Up Learning Book Study

Don’t miss our next book study! It’s completely FREE, and it’s all available online!

Get the details here.

You can also enter to win an autographed copy of Shake Up Learning!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post It’s NOT About Google (Part 3: BEYOND the Grade and Subject) – SULS046 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Let’s Talk About How to Create Powerful Student ePortfolios with Google Sites!

Online student portfolios are a great way to showcase student work and show growth over time. Google Sites is the perfect tools for you and your students to create ePortfolios.

Yes, folks, we are officially dropping the “e” from ePortfolios. Since digital is part of everything we do, there is no need to differentiate. In this post, we are using the more appropriate term, “Portfolios.”

Google Sites talks to all of your favorite G Suite tools, is easy to use, embed student work, and make the learning more DYNAMIC. Learn more about Dynamic Learning here, and in my book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning From Static to Dynamic.

Google Sites is a natural go-to for publishing student work for a global audience, something I think is a critical experience of preparing students for the future. Learn more ways to give students an audience for their work in this post: Every Student Should Publish for the World.

Portfolios are a great way for students to not only demonstrate learning to the teacher and others but also to learn and reflect on their own growth and progress over time.

[Tweet “How to Create Powerful Student Portfolios with Google Sites by @Mo_Physics #gsuiteedu”]

What is a Portfolio?
(aka ePortfolio, Electronic Portfolio, Digital Portfolio, or Learning Portfolio)

A portfolio is a collection of artifacts that demonstrate learning and growth over time. There are many different types of portfolios, and many different ways to use this strategy in the K-12 classroom and beyond.

Portfolios are nothing new. They have been around for decades and harkened back to paper files and notebooks, but today’s digital versions are much easier to manage and share.

Can you implement in the primary grades?

Implementation in the primary grades may look different from the examples in this post, but don’t assume that this is just for secondary students. My friend Christine Pinto, a Kindergarten teacher and co-author of Google Apps for Littles, shares how she uses portfolios with her little ones in this post.

Below is a guest post by Mike Mohammad, a science teacher in Wisconsin, and author of the Mo Physics Mo Problems blog. Mike shares how he and his students use Google Sites for their online portfolios, and he shares examples of student work.

How to Create Powerful Student ePortfolios with Google Sites
by Mike Mohammad

I’ve using portfolios in the classroom for the last five years. The portfolio process in my classroom has evolved, and I’d like to share some of my process and student creations. Whether you’re looking to dip your toe in, dive head first, or already swimming in the deep end, advances in Google Sites has made the process of creating a professional-looking portfolio possible for any learner.

Student Showcase Portfolio

If you are looking to get started with portfolios, one way to start is with a showcase portfolio. A showcase portfolio is a place for students to present artifacts that show mastery of standards or skills. Showcase portfolios work especially well at the end of a term or as their final exam. It’s a good place to start with portfolios as it doesn’t require the regular updating a learning portfolio would.

Selecting which standards you’d like to have students provide evidence of is an essential first step as it will guide the focus of the portfolio. These standards could be content standards such as Common Core or NGSS. They could also be aligned with standards that extend beyond content such as ISTE standards.

In my first iteration of the portfolio, my students presented artifacts that demonstrated 21st Century Outcomes as outlined by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning.

Since our district adopted Next Generation Science Standards, students were asked to present evidence for each of the eight science and engineering practices in their portfolio.

The following are some examples that highlight presenting evidence for standards:

• Hannah’s Physics Portfolio
• Mary Ellen’s Physics Portfolio

The process of creating a portfolio is not merely putting in a title on a page and inserting an artifact. The goal is for students to be able to explain the standard they are addressing. Then, students present their piece of evidence with context and explain how it meets the standard.

For any skill or standard students are being asked to address, teachers should ensure that learners have a variety of potential artifacts from which to choose. This forces students to think about what work they did that best demonstrates that skill or standard.

Student Learning Portfolio (Growth Over Time)

Another type of a portfolio is a learning portfolio in which students track and reflect on the learning process.

The very first year I started working with student portfolios, I attempted to implement this model but had many issues with it.

The main issue was that it required the portfolio to be a place students visit multiple times per week. In the old version of Sites (Classic Sites), accessing and editing was quite cumbersome and not intuitive.

Here are examples from my 1st year of student portfolios in the OLD Google Sites:

• Alice’s Physics Portfolio
• Sarah’s Physics Portfolio
• Gweneth’s Physics Portfolio

The new version of Google Sites stores the site within Google Drive. That means it can be accessed easily like any other GSuite file. And inserting new text or files is a simple process.

In the learning portfolio, we arrange each unit as an individual page. Students place work from the unit and introduce the piece.

Also, it is a place for students to reflect on formative assessments such as quizzes. By scrolling down the page, one can track student progress through the unit assessment including final reflections on the unit.

The following portfolios are for my current students. So beyond the pages highlighted here, they are in progress.

• Natalie’s Learning Portfolio
• Ethan’s Learning Portfolio

One of the most challenging parts for students using this type of portfolio is the deep reflection that is required and seeing the benefits of reflecting on their performance. Part of a powerful reflection is not just looking at past performance, but using that as a platform to plan future action. I’ve been trying to tailor my student reflections to end with how past performance will affect future practice.

Learner Profile Portfolio

If a portfolio is going to be more than a file cabinet for student work, it has to not only reflect the work students do but also encompass aspects of the person that may not be evident is a classroom artifact.

As outlined by the Institute for Personalized Learning, a learner profile contains demographic and academic information. But, it also houses information on skill sets and drivers for learning. That is why I like to have students include information about their interests and aspirations on a Passion Page by incorporating YouTube videos.

See examples of student passion pages:

• McKenna’s Passion Page
• Brooke’s Passion Page

On the, “Me as a Learner,” page, I like students to communicate their strengths as a learner and present evidential artifacts.

• Sophie’s “Me as a Learner,” Page

A digital portfolio is also a place where students can house their passions project artifacts.

• Gene’s Passion Project Page
• Billy’s Passion Project Page

I encourage my students to continue sharing their work and passions even after they leave my classroom. When students are ready to share their portfolio, they have several options. They can share the site much like they would a GSuite file giving view rights to specific individuals. If students want to publish their work, they can publish to a specific domain or the world.

Once you have decided on the style of portfolio you plan to implement with your students, and the pages they will need to create, you can walk students through the steps.

As students are learning the skills of creating a portfolio, they are learning the skills of web design. That’s the power of using Google Sites for portfolios.

The creation process is something that I walk students through once, and they pick it up pretty quickly. Below are the how-to steps for using Google Sites to create student portfolios.

How to Create a Google Site

How to Create a New Google Site:

1. To create a Google Site using the New Google Sites platform, go to sites.google.com/new.
2. Click on the red “+” in the bottom right of the page to create a new site

For additional support, please refer to the Google Support Center for Google Sites.

How to Add Pages in Google Sites

Once the site is created, students can add new pages to their portfolio.

To add a new page,

1. Go to the right sidebar menu and click on the PAGES tab
2. Click on the “+” at the bottom of the menu to create a new page
3. Name the page and click “done.”

Select a Page Layout

Layouts are a very powerful tool that I have students insert as they have space to insert an artifact with text a heading and descriptive text.

To select a layout,

1. Go to the right sidebar menu and click on the INSERT tab
2. Click and drag the layout onto the page

Insert Learning Artifacts

Once a Page has been created, students will use the INSERT tab to insert artifacts from a variety of sources and add text to explain the artifact.

One big thing that is easily overlooked when publishing to an audience outside of your classroom is that any artifact in their portfolio should be set so that anyone with the link can view.

The INSERT tab gives you several options. You can insert:

• a text box
• Embed code (This is the code you copy from another site that allows you to embed it in your Google Site. For instance, you can embed a Padlet wall.)
• Images
• From Drive (This is where the magic comes in! You can insert just about anything from your Google Drive with ease. Just remember to make sure these files have been shared as “anyone with the link can view,” if you plan on sharing your portfolios publically.)

To insert text or objects in a page,

1. Go to the right sidebar menu and click on the INSERT tab
2. Select the content you wish to add to the page

Or you can double-click on the page to open a quick insert menu.

Publish Your Google Site

Once you are ready, click the “Publish” button on the top menu to publish your site. Give your site a name and URL, and click Publish.

Giving students an audience for their work that is outside of their teachers, parents, and classmates is a valuable experience and should not be overlooked. (See Shake Up Learning’s previous post: Every Student Should Publish for the World.)

To ensure that your outside audience can view:

1. Click on the share icon next to the publish button.
2. If your site is NOT shared so that “Anyone with the link can view,” click on “Change.”
3. Select “Anyone can find and view.”
4. Click “Save”

Are You Ready to Get Started?

There are many ways you can implement portfolios with your students. Which strategy will you try?

Looking for more ideas?

Check out this episode from The Google Teacher Tribe Podcast on Google Sites for ePortfolios.

About Mike Mohammad

Mike Mohammad has been teaching high school science for 17 years. He has been teaching at Brookfield High School for the last 14 of those. Mike attended UW Madison where he received his degree in Secondary Education in Broadfield Science and Biology with additional certifications in chemistry and physics. In his time at Brookfield Central, Mike has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and General Science. He is currently teaching Physics and AP Physics. His interests in education focus on putting students at the center of their own learning experience. He lives in Brown Deer, WI with his wife.

Connect with Mike:

• Twitter: @mo_physics
• Website: https://mophysicsmoproblems.blogspot.com/

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post How to Create Powerful Student ePortfolios with Google Sites appeared first on Shake Up Learning.