Google+Sites

Image from http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.html

Everyone knows Google because of their search engine. What isn't known is the plethora of applications that Google has been producing like [|Google Docs], [|Google Earth] the newest of these applications is [|Google Sites].

Google Sites allows users to create web pages for free**.** It combines the ability to edit the site like a wiki and allows people to access the site via the internet. It allows users to create websites without knowledge of how to set up a website. Users type their name on the Google Sites website, choose the level of editing to the site, choose who you would like to view the site, users can choose the theme and click, create site. That's it and users have a website. Users can edit the site just like a document. Users can edit the text, add attachments like movies and pictures, add links, embed documents and you can even let other users make comments on the page like a wiki. Once the users have the introductory page they can add other pages to supplement your Google Site. Within Google Sites users can add different functions to supplement your website like: dashboard, announcements, list and file cabinet. In addition to the different functions, Google Sites makes it easy to manage the website as well. In the more actions button users can print, delete and subscribe to site changes. Google Sites sharing allows users control who can view, edit and manage your site by adding their email addresses. The complete list of features are: 1) Ability to create full copies of sites, including copying from Google Apps to Sites 2) Subscribe by email to changes for individual pages for the entire site 3) Native RSS feeds for: a. announcement pages b. comments c. recent site activity 4) Default page template: a. web page b. announcements c. list d. File Cabinet 5) Custom Templates: a. individual page types and styles b. entire sites 6) Revision history for most pages 7) Multiple page layout options 8) File storage, including version history 9) Access to a full library of custom gadgets which can be used to greatly extend the functionality of Google 10) Integrated with other Google apps: a. Google AdSense b. Google Webmaster Tools c. YouTube and Google Video d. Google Docs e. Google Calendar f. Google Maps g. Picasa h. Google Apps Script
 * Description**

Google Sites was initially a product of JotSpot. JotSpot was founded by Joe Kraus and Graham Spencer who are co-founders of Excite. JotSpot was a software company that offered social software. In October 2006, JotSpot was acquired by Google. The first transition from JotSpot to Google took the form of Google Page Creator in 2007. The second transition was in February 28,2008 and the present name Google Sites was implemented using JotSpot technology with a charge of $10 for a domain name. The completely free version of Google Sites started in May 21, 2008**.**
 * History**

Google Sites can impact teaching and learning because historically teachers needed to depend upon their schools to set up websites for their classes. With Google Sites a teacher can use Google Sites for students to get access to homework, content and calendar**.** With Google Sites teachers can also give an alternative presentation and collaboration tool to their students. Instead of students presenting information on a poster board or Powerpoint, teachers can now assign a Google Sites presentation where students can change and work collaboratively over the internet to do their presentation. So with Google Sites opens up the possibility of how presentations are done with working collaboratively being the most beneficial.
 * Impact on Teaching and Learning**

One of the most practical application is it makes having a website accessible to all. You can change your Google Site to be about a Club, a Family oriented website, a hobby or anything that suits your interest.
 * Practical Applications**

Image from http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.html
 * Examples or Demonstrations**

Click to play a video about Google Sites. Image from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD-4FRTzxkI Click to play a video about the other Google applications that work with Google Sites. Image from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRYRbPCHTck&feature=channel

[|www.google.com] [] [] [] []
 * References**

[|www.google.com]
 * External Links**

Eric Hermosura is a graduate student in University of Hawai'is Educational Technology department. This wiki page was done in conjunction in an ETEC 603 class assignment. Eric Hermosura has been a teacher for the last ten years at international schools, the Department of Education and he is currently teaching at a private Catholic school in Hawai'i.
 * About the Author**