Running head: Google Sites for Education 1
Google Sites for Education
Scott A. McKee
EDU623 Designing Learning Environments
Linda Kaiser
Post University
Google Sites for Education 2
Introduction
As a 21st century educator finding ways to integrate technology into daily teaching
strategies is becoming more and more important. For this to happen effectively, a great place to
start is by building a teacher website to use as a platform for daily instruction, classroom
management, communication, and collaboration with students, parents, administrators, and the
communities inside and outside of the classroom. By making a classroom available to the
outside world through a website, an educator can tap into and make readily available a wealth of
resources and tools while sharing and storing learning activities, information, and ideas while
creating a showcase for daily and projected classroom activities for all stakeholders to view. The
Google Sites for Education course is designed to provide an easy and effective way for
concerned educators to begin to move into the 21st century of teaching and learning.
Sponsored by Merced County Office of Education’s Career and Alternative Education
Department, this course will be offered in the spring or summer of 2013 as a workshop for
teachers, support staff, and administrators to learn how to build a basic website for the needs of
virtually any educational or instructional need. Participants will learn the basic skills and
knowledge of how to build and maintain a customized website, using Google Sites, through an
extensive series of hands-on activities supported by presentations, guidance, discussion, and
modeling.
This course will be implemented in a one day workshop, which will consist of five hours
of instruction and activities to build a basic customized website and two hours of end-of-course
presentations from each participant to share their website with the rest of the class to provide
opportunity for discussion and feedback. To allow for adequate time for instruction, discussion,
creativity, and presentations the anticipated class size will be 15 or fewer for each session.
Google Sites for Education 3
Handouts, a PowerPoint presentation, and video media will be provided for each
facilitator. A train-the trainer session will be required for each trainer and assistant trainer before
he or she will be allowed to implement the course. The target population for this course will be
teachers, support staff, and administrators who have an interest in using a customized Google site
for daily educational needs.
Analysis
The Current Situation and Why Training is Needed
The current situation at Valley Community School located in Merced Ca, is an
educational environment for at-risk students who have been expelled from local comprehensive
schools. Over the past few years the school sites have acquired some technologies that if used
effectively will enhance daily instruction, such as; student computers, teacher laptops with
internet access, and Smartboards or other projection devices.
Now that these technologies are in place it is necessary to begin various forms of training
to provide teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff the knowledge and skills
needed to fully utilize the technology to enhance daily lessons and create a more engaging
educational environment for the students using websites as a platform for various educational
needs. The educational teams at the sites have the basic knowledge and skills to use these
technologies but most do not have a platform, such as a website, to operate, store, and present
information. Training is needed to help these educators create, design, and maintain an internet
based location that can be used as a platform for their daily educational needs.
What type of training is required? The most common and readily available internet
location used as a platform is a website. There are several sources for creating, designing, and
maintaining a website. Of those sources, Google Sites provides a simple and easy tool to build a
Google Sites for Education 4
website that can be used by educators to build a personalized website for educational purposes.
Educators who elect to take the Google Sites for Education course will be trained to use Google
Sites for these purposes.
How will this training close the instructional gap? With limited options for
instruction, using textbooks and worksheets along with direct instruction is no longer effective
with today’s 21st century learners. According to the U.S. Department of Education (n.d.),
technology ushers in fundamental structural changes that can be integral to achieving significant
improvements in productivity. Used to support both teaching and learning, technology infuses
classrooms with digital learning tools, such as computers and hand held devices; expands course
offerings, experiences, and learning materials; supports learning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
builds 21st century skills; increases student engagement and motivation; and accelerates
learning. By integrating technology into daily practices and creating a more student-centered
approach to instructional methods the level of student interest and engagement should increase.
Building and Using a website as a platform provides a foundation for almost all other
technology integrations in daily educational practices by providing a starting point with a wealth
of resources located in one place that can become an efficient way educators, students, and
communities to interact.
Audience and Population Analysis
The audience of this training session will consist of Valley Community School
educators who elect to take the course. The participant’s will have a variety of educational
needs; teachers will build classroom websites, administrators, counselors, and support staff will
build websites to enhance daily educational practices. The prior knowledge related to building
websites is minimal and the participants should be considered beginners.
Google Sites for Education 5
Learning Environment Analysis
The learning environment will be in a fully equipped computer lab intended for
training purposes at the district office complex located off-site from the school. Each participant
will have a computer with full internet access and all software necessary to complete the training.
The trainer will utilize a Smartboard to deliver a full visual demonstration of the process using a
PowerPoint presentation which will include instructional media to illustrate each step in building
a Google Site.
Task Analysis and Content Mastery
Review of the steps and skills needed. Participants will need to be able to
complete the following tasks in order to achieve mastery of the content delivered through the
training;
1. Using the districts Google Domain, mercedlearn.org, participants will need to
have an assigned username and password to log on to Google Sites.
2. Using Google Sites and following the instruction provided participants will need
to build a website using templates, page edit, and actions menu to create a personalized
functional website for daily use.
3. Once the website is initially set-up, the participants will need to learn to utilize
various actions to customize, update, manage, and maintain the website efficiently with minimal
amount of time on a regular basis .
How will content mastery be determined? At the end of the training session
participants should be able to demonstrate content mastery by achieving all enabling objectives
and the terminal objective by presenting the website to the group in a guided tour and provide
reasons for the layout and design and be able to demonstrate how to manage, add, and delete
Google Sites for Education 6
content.
Situational Analysis
In order to deliver the training effectively, participants will need to have the time allowed
for the training to take place at an off-site location and be relieved from teaching responsibilities
for one school day. The district computer lab will need to be reserved in advance and substitutes
will need to be scheduled for all teachers the day of training. All participants will need to be
prepared after registration via informational email in advance as to the need and purpose of the
training in order to anticipate and understand the expectations of learning goals and objectives.
It will be essential for the course to demonstrate the ease of use and effectiveness of using a
website as a platform for educational purposes.
Media / Technology Analysis
The district training and computer lab is a state of the art learning environment
which is equipped with thirty individual computers for the participants and the trainer will have
access to a computer for presentation purposes and is attached to a Smartboard for delivery of
content. The lab has full internet access and is supported by a district Wi-Fi network with all
software needed to effectively implement the training.
Design
Schedule for Full Development and Delivery
The full development of the Google Sites for Education course’s analysis, design, and
development elements and formative evaluation will be conducted in conjunction with EDU623
Designing Learning Environments, January 10 – March 2, 2013. The implementation of the
course will be delivered in the spring or summer of 2013 on date still to be determined with
summative evaluation to follow immediately afterward .
Google Sites for Education 7
Course Outcomes and Objectives
Terminal Objective (TO): Given a computer with internet access and instruction using a
presentation and modeling, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be
able to build and maintain a basic Google site using a customized template designed to suit the
needs of their educational purposes. At the end of the course the participant should be able to
present their Google site and describe the process they went through to set up their site and
describe possible ways they can use it for their educational needs.
Enabling Objective 1 (EO1): Given a computer with internet access, domain log-in
information, and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be
able to log-in to their @mercedlearn account and go to Google sites. The participant will
demonstrate this with a successful log-in using their user name and password.
Enabling Objective 2 (EO2): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,
and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to select,
create, format, and customize a site template for their website. The participant will demonstrate
this by showing the trainer the customized template they have created and state the basis for their
selection.
Enabling Objective 3 (EO3): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,
and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to create
and edit page templates. The participant will demonstrate this by creating three different page
types and home page.
Enabling Objective 4 (EO4): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,
and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to
manage the pages they have created on their site. The participant will demonstrate this by
Google Sites for Education 8
editing each of the four page types with specific changes for their educational needs.
Enabling Objective 5 (EO5): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,
and group exploration the participant in the Google Sites for Education course will be exposed to
a variety of other more advanced options to enhance their site as they become more familiar with
the use and management of their site, these options include; embedded gadgets, media types, and
other app tools. The participant will be exposed to and discuss various options regarding
gadgets, media, and apps and be encouraged to explore usage of options.
Enabling Objective 6 (EO6): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,
and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to share,
publish and protect their site. The participant will demonstrate this by sharing their site address
with other participants and observing each other’s sites.
Enabling Objective 7 (EO7): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,
discussion, and trainer led modeling the participant in the Google Sites for Education course will
be exposed to a variety of options to use their site to manage their Google site. The participant
will be exposed to and discuss various ideas of how to use the custom site to manage daily
educational needs.
Learning Theory
The learning theory that will initially support the Google Sites for Education
course is constructivism. Each participant’s knowledge will be constructed by experiences
during the instruction and creative phase in a step-by-step process during the course and then
reinforced at the end of the course in the form of a mini-presentation. Each participant will
develop their own interpretation of the skills and meaning through the experiences of building a
customized website. By discussing, sharing, and collaborating throughout the course each
Google Sites for Education 9
participant with have an opportunity to develop a schema conducive to building a custom
website. The learning will take place utilizing the same technology that will be needed to
continue developing and maintaining the website after completion of the course. Each
participant will be given the opportunity to reinforce what was learned by sharing and discussing
the customized website with the entire class in a mini-presentation at the end of the course. With
time and repetition through use and maintenance of the site the participants knowledge should
eventually become more embedded and develop into a more cognitive learning mode.
Lesson Structure
According to Robert Gagne (1985), there are nine events that are needed for effective
learning, thus they include a sequence of events similar to the following (with corresponding
cognitive process):
1. Gaining attention (reception) – EO1
2. Informing learners of the objective (expectancy) - EO1
3. Stimulating recall of prior learning (retrieval) – EO1
4. Presenting the stimulus (selective perception) – EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6, and
EO7
5. Providing learning guidance (semantic encoding) - EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6,
and EO7
6. Eliciting performance (responding) - EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6, and EO7
7. Providing feedback (reinforcement) - EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6, and EO7
8. Assessing performance (retrieval) – Formative = EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6,
EO7, and Summative = Mini-Presentations to test TO
9. Enhancing retention and transfer (generalization) – Continued regular use after
Google Sites for Education 10
end-of-course.
The content of the Google Sites for Education course is arranged in a specific set of steps
that creates a logical flow from one topic to the next, whereas, each step builds off the one before
it and allows the participant to build and customize an effective basic website that can
immediately be used for the participants needs. The participant will also learn the basic skills
needed to continue to add, edit, and modify content on a regular basis to maintain the Google site
to meet the evolving needs of the educator. The sequence of course content phases is:
1. EO1 – Introduction to Google Sites
2. EO2 – Create, Format, and Customize a Site
3. EO3 – Choose Page Types
4. EO4 – Manage Pages
5. EO5 – Gadgets, Media, and App Tools
6. EO6 – Share, Publish, and Protect
7. EO7 – Use Site to Manage Educational Needs
In the process of learning each phase of the course content, the participant will be
actively involved through extensive hands-on activities supported by presentation, instruction,
demonstration, guidance, and handouts.
Assessment
Formative assessment will occur as an on-going process as each participant successfully
accomplishes each enabling objective through observation by the trainer as they provide
guidance and assistance. Summative assessment of the terminal objective will occur during the
end-of-course mini-presentations given by each participant. After the course is completed the
trainer observation feedback and participant survey data will be used to evaluate the
Google Sites for Education 11
effectiveness of the course by the instructional designer. If necessary, the instructional designer
will revise the course design as needed for future sessions.
Media Specifications
The Google Sites for Education course will take place in a fully equipped computer
laboratory at the Merced County Office of Education district office. Each participant will be
using a network computer with full internet access and all software necessary to successfully
complete the course. The facilitator will employ the use of a network computer that has full
internet access, all necessary software, and SmartBoard to deliver the presentation through
PowerPoint, with video and audio, and demonstration by modeling how to build a functional
Google site through each phase of the course content.
The content of the course will be delivered using a variety of methods. Through a mix of
PowerPoint enhanced lecture presentation with group discussion and hands-on activities that will
be reinforced by peer and trainer feedback, each participant will be exposed to a variety of
instructional methods that address all learning modalities. According to Breaux and Magee,
(2010), students learn differently. Some are more visual than auditory; most are kinesthetic in
that they learn by doing (as we do in life in general); some need extended time to grasp concepts
fully; some prefer a quiet, still atmosphere, while others are more open-minded when in motion
(p. 4). The effective use of PowerPoint lecture/presentation supports Mayer’s Cognitive Theory
of Multimedia Learn. 1. There are two separate channels (auditory and visual) for processing
information (sometimes referred to as Dual-Coding theory), 2. Each channel has a limited (finite)
capacity (similar to Sweller’s notion of Cognitive Load) and, 3. Learning is an active process of
filtering, selecting, organizing, and integrating information based upon prior knowledge.
PowerPoint lecture/presentation when combined with group discussion, facilitator guidance, and
Google Sites for Education 12
modeling should create a well-balanced form of differentiated instruction that addresses all
participants learning needs.
Development
The development phase for Google Sites for Education is presented in the form of
PowerPoint storyboards on a separate attachment using the provided outline of requirements and
the supplemental documentation write up that follows.
Supplemental Documentation
Each participant will be given a course agenda, course flow chart with objectives, and
web address for Google Training Module 5: Sites, to be used as a user’s guide during and after
the course as a resource and step-by-step guidelines. This course’s PowerPoint presentation and
instructional videos will also be made available on the mercedlearn.org domain for future
reference. The participants will also be informed that the will have ongoing support, as needed
by the CAE Technology coaches and will be provided all necessary contact information.
Course Agenda
The course agenda will have a detailed timeline of events and course of study. The
participants will meet at 8:00am till 8:30am for coffee, juice, and bagels for a meet and greet.
The morning session will go from 8:30am till 12:00pm, and will cover enabling objectives 1-4.
MCOE/CAE will provide lunch on site for facilitators and participants to collaborate from
12:00pm till 12:45. After lunch enabling objectives 5-7 will be covered and participants will
have over an hour before end-of-course presentations start at 2:00pm till 3:00. Facilitators and
participants will have between 3:00pm and 3:30pm for any last minutes needs or questions.
Course Flowchart
The course flowchart will illustrate the course of study, course enabling and terminal
Google Sites for Education 13
objectives, and activities for each phase of the course.
Google Training Module 5: Sites
Google Apps certified training program has a website with a variety of module to help
potential applicants to prepare to become a certified trainer for Google Apps. These modules are
a great resource for learning the various Google Apps that can be used for education as well as
other needs. Each participant will be provided the web address and shown how to use this
website as a resource for the course and afterward for the participant to use to update and
maintain the Google site.
Course PowerPoint with Embedded Instructional Videos
The PowerPoint presentation used in this course will be made available on the
mercedlearn.org domain for participants and others to view and use as a resource as needed for
refreshers or reminders. Each participant will be given the web address.
CAE Technology Coaches
MCOE’s Career and Alternative Education (CAE) Department has a trained group of
experienced educators who are made available via in person, telephone, text, chat, or email to
help educators in the department. Participants will be given the contact information for the CAE
Technology Coaches’ Website to get help as needed.
Implementation
The Google Sites for Education course will be offered as a one day workshop by
MCOE’s CAE Technology Coaches in the spring or summer of 2013. The workshop will take in
one of MCOE’s fully equipped computer lab facilities. The training will be delivered by two of
the CAE Technology Coaches and will be able to accommodate up to 15 participants per session.
The CAE Technology Coaches who are chosen to be trainers will participate in a train-the-trainer
Google Sites for Education 14
session to be given by the instructional designer, Scott A. McKee. This session will be
conducted at a date to be determined before the implementation of the course in the spring or
summer of 2013. During the course each participant will be provided supplemental documents
and resources, computer, full internet access, and all software necessary to successfully complete
the course. This course will be a face-to-face training and will also have an eLearning
component that will be made accessible after the initial session on the CAE Technology Coaches
Website.
Evaluation
Level 1: Reaction
I would use a level 1 evaluation at the end-of-course before each participant leaves the
training session. This form of evaluation is often called a “smile sheet”. The immediate feedback
from each participant may be of value if it is honest. In my experience as a participant I realize
that by the end of training often participants are ready to go and just want to go through the
motions if time has ran out. If this evaluation is going to have a chance at being of any value it
has to be done at least 10 minutes before the time is up and should be brief and to the point. I
would also prefer it to be anonymous or name optional so the participants feel they can express
themselves without any repercussions. This information would be reviewed as part of the
summative evaluation with all other evaluation data.
Level 2: Learning
Level 2 evaluation of learning would require a thorough review of each participant and
the success achieved for each enabling objective and most importantly the terminal objective of
the training. Through the course of Google Sites for Education training each participant will be
observed and monitored each phase of training to insure they are able to achieve each enabling
Google Sites for Education 15
objective. If needed the assistant facilitator will spend extra time with participants who need
assistance to experience success. At the end-of-course mini-presentations, each participant will
be expected to present their Google site to the class and engage in discussion as to their
experience, the development, maintenance, and potential uses for their Google site with regards
to their needs as an educator.
After the training is complete the facilitator will have some observed and collected data
regarding the initial impact and effectiveness of the course to report back to the instructional
designer. The instructional designer will use this feedback along with Kirkpatrick’s Level 3
(behavior) and Level 4 (results) evaluations, if applicable, to determine if any revisions or
redesigns are necessary for future implementations of Google Sites for Education.
Conclusion
The Google Sites for Education course is intended to assist educators to begin using
technology for educational and instruction purposes. By building a basic Google site, educators
will have a platform to move into the 21st century of teaching and learning and create an on-line
showcase to share, store, communicate, and collaborate with students, parents, administrators,
and the world beyond the school.
EDU623 Final Project Showcase
• EduDigitalTeacher.com:
http://edudigitalteacher.com/welcome/edu623-final-project-google-sites-for-
education
Google Sites for Education 16
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