Using Google Sites for authentic assessment and portfolios

Google Sites is a website builder that allows students, staff, and faculty to present and share information in a structured, visual format. Using a simple drag-and-drop interface, users can create web pages by arranging blocks of text, images, and other media within pre-designed templates—no coding required.

Because it is part of the Google Workspace suite, Sites provides a secure way for students to curate and present work using files already stored in their PSU Google Drive. For this reason, it can be an effective option for sharing work in the following types of activities:

• Portfolios: Students can document their academic progress over time, highlight key work, reflect on their growth, and present their skills to instructors or external audiences.
• Collaborative Research Projects: Like other Google tools, Sites support multi-user editing, making it an effective space for group capstone projects or lab reports.
• Digital Storytelling: Students can combine multimedia elements such as video, audio, and interactive maps to share information around a specific topic.
• Learning Documentation: Students working in community-engaged learning settings or participating in practica can use Sites to share images of their work and maintain a blog-style record of their experiences.

There are a few ways to support students in getting started with Google Sites, depending on how your assignment is structured.

If your assignment has a defined structure, consider creating a fully developed template site that includes pages, section headings, and embedded prompts, then have students make their own copy to use as a starting point.

This allows students to focus on developing content rather than designing from scratch. It also helps standardize organization across submissions, reduces cognitive load, and can make grading more efficient. Be sure to share the Google Sites help guide so students can easily duplicate and use the template.

If your assignment is more open-ended, or if design decisions are part of the assessment, you may prefer that students build their site from scratch. In this case, providing an example site can still be helpful. Whether you create your own example or share a former student’s work (with permission), examples help clarify your expectations for students.

Some programs maintain Google Sites templates with pre-built pages and prompts for students to complete. These are often used for common assignments across multiple courses or sections.

To check whether your program has a template, go to sites.google.com and select the Template Gallery link in the top right corner of the page. If your program could benefit from a template for a common assignment, reach out to OAI to discuss development.

There are a few key steps students will need to know before they begin. Being familiar with these yourself will help you guide them through the assignment.

• Make sure you are signed into your PDX account. Remind students that personal Gmail accounts do not have access to internal sharing features or PSU-specific templates.
• Adjust sharing permissions to allow access. Select the Share with others icon (the person with a plus sign) to manage who can see the site. Students must ensure the Published site setting is set to Portland State University or Public so that instructors can view the final product.
• Don’t forget to publish the final site! Select the blue Publish button in the top right corner to make the site live. Changes made in the editor are not visible until the student publishes and confirms the web address.
• Know where to look for help. While instructors should have a general understanding of the process, students may need more technical assistance. Share the OIT Google Sites Guide, which includes documentation and in-person and virtual support options.