Google Sites
Google Sites is a structured wiki offered by Google. It was launched on February 28, 2008. Google Sites started out as JotSpot, a software company that offered enterprise social software. The product was targeted mainly at small-sized and medium-sized businesses. In February 2006, JotSpot was named part of Business 2.0, "Next Net 25" and in May 2006, it was honored as one of InfoWorld's "15 Start-ups to Watch". In October 2006, Google acquired JotSpot and by February 2008, Google Sites was unveiled using the JotSpot technology. The service was free, but users needed a domain name, which Google offered for $10. However, as of May 21, 2008, Google Sites became available for free separately from Google Apps, and without the need for a domain. However, Mobile SMS verification is required for fraud prevention.
Google Sites offers the following features: Ability to create full copies of sites, including copying from Google Apps to Sites (and vice versa); Ability to insert Videos from Google Video YouTube, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Maps, AdWords and AdSense (none by default). There are no ads displayed by default. 100 MB of storage (for free account) and 10 GB of storage for Google Apps users non-collaborators cannot add anonymous comments (only invited people can "write" to site.) No RSS feeds are necessary for site updates. Only provided site themes and structure (limited customization is available, colors, font-type, font-size, no CSS, no JavaScript, etc.) can be utilized. A web address of http://sites.google.com/site/sitename/ must be used. A site can also be displayed on a custom domain (e.g. www.example.com, www.wiki.example.com, www.support.example.com), but you must own the domain and have access to change the CNAME records. Google site permits the creation of a secure group website.
The Castilleja School 8th grade class in Palo Alto, California, used a Google site as a collaborative travel journal to document and share their class trip to Washington DC. They posted photos using Picasa, archived their nightly live "Down Low from DC" broadcasts using Google Video, and posted updates using the announcements feature in Google Sites. Castilleja used the list page template to link to their Twitter stream of student and teacher updates. The Google Site helped the 8th grade class present and share in a very nice way their journey through the historical Washington DC area with our school community back in Palo Alto, California. The students Washington DC activity project were a demonstration of the constructivist school of learning. The instructor was an advisor and facilitator role and the student learner were the center of the learning.
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