Teachers have recently started to ask me what kind of assignments they can do to keep students interested. The newness of doing work on a Chromebook wore off quite some time ago, and most teachers use the same types of assignments over and over again making the situation even worse. While there are thousands of different types of assignments students can do, learning how to create them and then teaching students how to complete the assignments can be a real problem. With that in mind, I suggest adding one resource that will excite students and give you as the teacher many options for assignments.
Google Sites is an easy to learn application that allows students to create websites. If you and your students are familiar with Google Workspace (formally G-Suites), you should quickly be able to learn and use Sites. Once you start using Sites you will be able to give your students new kinds of assignments or add some engagement to assignments students are already familiar with. Knowing that other people can see their work is also a great motivator for your students to do their best work.
Ideas for using Sites with Students
Blogs
One of the simplest ways to use Sites, is to have students create a blog. You can have them write a summary of each lesson or give them a daily writing prompt.
Portfolios
Sites allows students to embed other Google files such as Docs and Slides into their web page. Have students post major assignments along with a reflection of what they learned and have them share it with the world.
Reviews
At the end of each chapter or unit have the students create a new web page with all the important information they need to know. Creating the page is a good review in itself, but at the end of the course they have everything they need to study for the final exam.
Extension Activities
There are always a few students that finish work before everyone else. Have those students create a page about the content you are covering with additional videos, games, and other resources and then share it with the class.
