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Getting Started | New Google Sites as ePortfolio | Tips for the New Google Sites
Speed your creativity with tips for the new Google Sites. Maximize your work on the new Google Sites with these valuable and time-saving tips and tricks. They’ll make you look like a pro!
Speed your creativity with tips for the new Google Sites. Maximize your work on the new Google Sites with these valuable and time-saving tips and tricks. They’ll make you look like a pro!
Ready to learn some new Google Sites tips?
Ready to learn some new Google Sites tips?
Need to Review Some Basics first?
Need to Review Some Basics first?
Before we jump into tips for the "new" Google Sites, let's take a moment to review a few of the basics. These may be helpful to you prior to exploring the tips.
Before we jump into tips for the "new" Google Sites, let's take a moment to review a few of the basics. These may be helpful to you prior to exploring the tips.
Tip #1 - Site Organization
Tip #1 - Site Organization
Nested Levels of Content
Nested Levels of Content
The new Google Sites enjoys multiple levels of nesting. Create your overall hierarchy of pages, making those the top levels under which other pages will be placed.
The new Google Sites enjoys multiple levels of nesting. Create your overall hierarchy of pages, making those the top levels under which other pages will be placed.
Think of it as an outline you would use for an essay or paper.
Think of it as an outline you would use for an essay or paper.
I. Mini-Lessons
Accessible Learning
Engaged Learning....
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Let’s call each top level page with a page or more beneath it a “section.” Each section page title becomes a part of the website address. Long, cumbersome names with dashes and ampersands may present readability problems.
Let’s call each top level page with a page or more beneath it a “section.” Each section page title becomes a part of the website address. Long, cumbersome names with dashes and ampersands may present readability problems.
When naming your sections, keep the title to one word or compound word. In this way, you can keep your nested page addresses simple.
When naming your sections, keep the title to one word or compound word. In this way, you can keep your nested page addresses simple.
In this screenshot, you can see that “Mini-Lessons” is the section name or top level page. Beneath it are sub-pages.
When organizing a Google Sites page with many nested pages in sections, you have the option of keeping sections in alphabetical order. This makes sense. It facilitates your navigation through the ever-scrolling Pages list in new Google Sites.
However, don’t look for an “Alphabetize” button. You will have to maintain the alphabetical order of pages yourself. You can also, as shown in the image above, organize them for convenience sake.
Note that some section pages appear as pages with a corner turned down (viewable), while others are hidden from navigation (crossed out link). Let’s take a closer look at “Hide from Navigation.”
Tip #2 - Hide from Navigation
Tip #2 - Hide from Navigation
When working with lots of content, you need not show ALL the pages you have in a Google Sites. Instead of revealing every page, which results in long, unmanageable menu lists, only add the top level page of each section to your navigation bar.
When working with lots of content, you need not show ALL the pages you have in a Google Sites. Instead of revealing every page, which results in long, unmanageable menu lists, only add the top level page of each section to your navigation bar.
You can do this by selecting “Hide from Navigation” to all pages that are not section pages (top level).
You can do this by selecting “Hide from Navigation” to all pages that are not section pages (top level).
When you select the 3 dots that appear to the right of a page, you see the screen above. There are some useful options here that you can take advantage of.
When you select the 3 dots that appear to the right of a page, you see the screen above. There are some useful options here that you can take advantage of.
Notice the 3 dots below. They offer several additional options worth exploring. Let's review them:
Notice the 3 dots below. They offer several additional options worth exploring. Let's review them:
Make Home Page
Make Home Page
Need to change your home page to reflect a conference or special event? You can use this option to set a particular page as your new temporary home page or “landing page.” This can be great when you want to encourage people to quickly find their way to your website. For example, if you go to http://tceamg.org, you will see my current home page. During a conference, I can set the home page to a tailored site (e.g. TCEA 2018 Convention). Visitors would see that page in lieu of my traditional page with my photo on it.
Make a Copy
Make a Copy
Have you set up your Sites page the way you want it to look and now wish you could make it the “template” for your sub pages? You have two choices. If you have content on the page, duplicate page to mirror the content on your source page, then make small changes to customize the new page.
Properties
Properties
This will allow you to change/rename the name of a page, as well as set "Advanced" options. This Advanced option allows you to set a permanent name that designates the location (a.k.a. "custom path") of the page. Since naming is so important (the longer the page name, the longer the website address), you will want to rename a page once you duplicate it.
Add Subpage
Add Subpage
The add sub page makes a copy of the section page (a.k.a top level page) and applies the banner image or color to the new sub page. This can be a time-saver, especially when you have an image banner for the title.
Show in Navigation
Show in Navigation
This option allows you to show or hide the visibility of the page in the Google Sites' navigation menu.
Delete
Delete
Remove the page from the Google Sites.
Tip #3 - Add New Content in Sections
Tip #3 - Add New Content in Sections
As with any web page, remember to keep your images small in size. You can usually resize a picture, then take a screenshot to make it smaller. On Windows, I like to use PixResizer program to get images down to quick loading size.
Ready to add content to your new Google Sites page? The symbol with the page and plus sign make adding content easy. While I would rather duplicate a page or create a sub page since it places the page in your hierarchy of pages, you can use the add page symbol.
Ready to add content to your new Google Sites page? The symbol with the page and plus sign make adding content easy. While I would rather duplicate a page or create a sub page since it places the page in your hierarchy of pages, you can use the add page symbol.
The add page symbol will place your new page at the bottom; then you will need to drag it up to place it in the right section. To save time, add content in the appropriate section.
The add page symbol will place your new page at the bottom; then you will need to drag it up to place it in the right section. To save time, add content in the appropriate section.
Avoid scrolling to find pages to link to. Minimize scrolling when trying to link to a page at the bottom of your list of pages. Temporarily move the page/section to the top of the pack, below the Home page. This eliminates scrolling through all the other content in your Sites website without changing the website address for that section or nested pages. When done, move the section/page back.
More Suggestions
More Suggestions
Create a standard banner for your sections. This assists visitors to a site to recognize their location in a section. For example, I have a standard image that I use for all my Mini-Lesson pages. These pages provide step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish a task.
Embed content from other sites. Have a video? Put it on YouTube or Google Drive, then paste the link while viewing the page. This will make adding video content easy. Use Padlet? Take a snapshot of your Padlet and then link the image, as well as referring text, to the Padlet.
Copy-and-paste content across Sites. You can copy-and-paste content from one new Sites to another in sections. The trick to this is ensuring the site has been shared with you. If not, you will encounter permission errors with images (image will fail to upload).
Copy Your Google Sites One Section at a Time
Copy Your Google Sites One Section at a Time
This makes copying entire sections (which appear highlighted in blue when selected, as shown above) of a Google Sites (Google Suites for Education) to a personal Google Sites (or vice versa) an easy process.
This makes copying entire sections (which appear highlighted in blue when selected, as shown above) of a Google Sites (Google Suites for Education) to a personal Google Sites (or vice versa) an easy process.
Tip #4 - Embedding HTML Content
Tip #4 - Embedding HTML Content
Embedding content into a page on the New Google Sites was a bit of a challenge. Now, you can paste embedded code into a Google Sites page. You can drop YouTube videos, Vimeo videos, and other content that features embedded codes. For example, let’s say you have a Microsoft Sway creation you want to embed on a Google Sites page.
Embedding content into a page on the New Google Sites was a bit of a challenge. Now, you can paste embedded code into a Google Sites page. You can drop YouTube videos, Vimeo videos, and other content that features embedded codes. For example, let’s say you have a Microsoft Sway creation you want to embed on a Google Sites page.
Steps to Follow
Steps to Follow
Locate the embed code on the source site (e.g. Padlet, YouTube, Sway, Vimeo).
Copy the embed code.
Open the Google Sites page.
Click on the Insert when in Page Edit mode.
Click on the Embed option, which now features a place to paste the website address (URL) or embed code.
Paste the embed code from the source site.
Tip #5 - Adding Images
Tip #5 - Adding Images
Adding pictures and images to a Google Sites page remains easy. You need only take advantage of the options shown right:
Adding pictures and images to a Google Sites page remains easy. You need only take advantage of the options shown right:
You can Copy-n-paste content into your new Google Sites page. When working with Chrome or Firefox browsers, you can right-click and then copy-and-paste an image from anywhere on a web page (for example, from this list of twenty-five copyright-free image sites).
You can Copy-n-paste content into your new Google Sites page. When working with Chrome or Firefox browsers, you can right-click and then copy-and-paste an image from anywhere on a web page (for example, from this list of twenty-five copyright-free image sites).
Screen Capture Tools
Screen Capture Tools
Have you tried the Fireshot Chrome browser extension? It's my current favorite tool for use across platforms. You can easily select an entire region on a web page (even scrolling). GetFireshot.com.
Have you tried the Fireshot Chrome browser extension? It's my current favorite tool for use across platforms. You can easily select an entire region on a web page (even scrolling). GetFireshot.com.
Or you can rely on a screen capture tool such as Greenshot, NGWIN’s PicPick (my favorite on Windows), or OneNote app’s screen clipper. I often use PicPick (which allows for editing, adding text, and many other features) when saving an image to my computer, while using OneNote to capture part of the screen to my computer’s clipboard.
Or you can rely on a screen capture tool such as Greenshot, NGWIN’s PicPick (my favorite on Windows), or OneNote app’s screen clipper. I often use PicPick (which allows for editing, adding text, and many other features) when saving an image to my computer, while using OneNote to capture part of the screen to my computer’s clipboard.
The former approach involves the Upload option, while the latter relies on the Ctrl-V (Paste) command.
The former approach involves the Upload option, while the latter relies on the Ctrl-V (Paste) command.
All images are stored in your Google Drive and associated with your Sites website. Of course, you can always just place images in your Google Drive or search Google:
All images are stored in your Google Drive and associated with your Sites website. Of course, you can always just place images in your Google Drive or search Google:
Tip #6 - Migrating from Classic to New Sites
Tip #6 - Migrating from Classic to New Sites
As of 04/2018, Google had not yet announced an easy way to migrate your G Suite for Education “classic” Google Sites to the new Google Sites. Even for personal/consumer "classic" Google Sites, migration can be hampered by special features (e.g. Announcements).
As of 04/2018, Google had not yet announced an easy way to migrate your G Suite for Education “classic” Google Sites to the new Google Sites. Even for personal/consumer "classic" Google Sites, migration can be hampered by special features (e.g. Announcements).
Watch Steegle's Animated GIF (right) or click the image to view a video with audio walkthrough
Tip #7 - Time-Saving Tips
Tip #7 - Time-Saving Tips
Interested in learning more about the new Google Sites?
Interested in learning more about the new Google Sites?
Here are four more time-saving features that have popped up:
Here are four more time-saving features that have popped up:
1. Click the button to get a link to the published page. This is a time-saver, saving you from having to select “Publish” and then going back to “View Published Site.” Now, you just click on the button () at the top right-hand side of the page. This will give you the link to the published page.
1. Click the button to get a link to the published page. This is a time-saver, saving you from having to select “Publish” and then going back to “View Published Site.” Now, you just click on the button () at the top right-hand side of the page. This will give you the link to the published page.
2. Click and copy entire blocks. With one click, you can select a block of content, copy and then paste it to another page in the Sites website or another Sites altogether.
2. Click and copy entire blocks. With one click, you can select a block of content, copy and then paste it to another page in the Sites website or another Sites altogether.
3. Rather than use the Embed option, simply press Ctrl-V on Windows (or Command-V on a Mac) to paste a website address. This works quite well with the embedding of Google Docs, Slides, and YouTube videos.
3. Rather than use the Embed option, simply press Ctrl-V on Windows (or Command-V on a Mac) to paste a website address. This works quite well with the embedding of Google Docs, Slides, and YouTube videos.
4. Speaking of YouTube videos, you can right-click on a YouTube video at a certain time, then copy-and-paste that video with the designated start time into your Sites page. Viewers will see the video start when you want rather than at the beginning, a feature often missed when embedding videos in Google Slides.
4. Speaking of YouTube videos, you can right-click on a YouTube video at a certain time, then copy-and-paste that video with the designated start time into your Sites page. Viewers will see the video start when you want rather than at the beginning, a feature often missed when embedding videos in Google Slides.
Google Sites
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