Boarman_GoogleSites

Welcome to Anthony Boarman's Technology Presentation =About Me= My name is Anthony Boarman - I am a social studies teacher at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron. I have been teaching since 2009 and have taught subjects such as: US History, Economics & Personal Finance, Current & Future Issues, and just recently I started a Local/Akron History class this Fall. When I started at STVM in 2009, each room had a Smartboard and we had two computer labs consisting of 30 computers/lab. Around 2012, we incorporated two iPad carts that consisted of 30 iPads per cart. Since then, we have become a 1:1 school after rolling out a Google Chromebook program in 2015. The use of Chromebooks in the classroom has completely changed the way in which I plan my lessons. I used to only be able to incorporate technology into my lessons about once a week at most, but now it is something that I can do on a daily basis. Through Google Apps for Education, including Google Classroom, we are much more efficient in everything that we do. It helps me to better communicate with my students and it helps our students to be accountable for what they are supposed to do.

=Presentation Topic: Google Sites= As I mentioned before, I started a Local History class this Fall semester due to my passion for the city of Akron and its history. I wanted this class to be more than just your usual lecture-based history class. I wanted this to provide our students with the knowledge and skills that will make them better citizens of our city. On top of historical knowledge, I wanted to provide them the opportunity to build a portfolio of the work that they will be doing throughout the semester. I explored a number of web design websites like Webs.com, Weebly, WordPress, and Wix, but they all were too complicated to incorporate into a school's network. My web administrator recommended Google Sites to me due to the fact that we are a Google Education school. However, if you have ever used the old Google Sites, you know how frustrating that software could be. Lucky for me, they updated to a brand new layout in August and updated the whole format to make the experience much more user friendly.

I am not a Google Sites expert, but I have used it enough to feel confident in presenting it to all of you. I highly recommend that you incorporate it into your classroom if you want to create an easy to use, accessible, and good looking site/portfolio. This is a great tool for any subject area, especially due to the fact that you can easy embed Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Charts.

Feel free to check out my STVM Local History site that houses information about the class, resources, and speakers.

=Google Sites Tutorial= media type="youtube" key="oVeWoWL6Els" width="560" height="315"

=Student Samples= Here are a few samples of student Sites from my Local History class (some might only allow stvm.com users to see their site): > In case you cannot view their actual sites, here are a few screen shots of their home pages.
 * Kennedy
 * Mikaela
 * Jack



=Content uses of this technology= Google Sites can be implemented into any content area: social studies, math, science, english, etc. It is a great way to create an online portfolio to showcase the work of a student throughout a semester or year-long course. Students can also use Sites as a way to build an online resume with samples of their work. With the simple incorporation of most of the Google apps, students will easily be able to show the quality of their work in a way that is easy for a viewer to navigate.

=ISTE Standards for Students=
 * 1) Students articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.
 * 2) Students build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.
 * 3) Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
 * 4) Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfertheir knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
 * 5) Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.

=ISTE Standards for Teachers=
 * 1) Pursue professional interests by creating and actively participating in local and global learning networks.
 * 2) Advocate for equitable access to educational technology, digital content and learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of all students.
 * 3) Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.
 * 4) Design authentic learning activities that align with content area standards and use digital tools and resources to maximize active, deep learning.
 * 5) Explore and apply instructional design principles to create innovative digital learning environments that engage and support learning.
 * 6) Foster a culture where students take ownership of their learning goals and outcomes in both independent and group settings.

=Resources= [|Google Sites] (Chrome or Firefox only) Google Sites vs. Google Classroom