The new Google Sites

Are you someone who made a Google Site a few years ago and didn't like the interface and/or thought the site looked boring?
You might want to go back and take a look at the new Google Sites.  The user interface is vastly improved.  The overall look is a lot cleaner.  Creating and editing pages is more intuitive, as well.

I just quickly made this site to give you an idea of how it looks.

Give it a shot and let me know what you think!

More on embed code

In my last post, I mentioned using the word "embed" to show a Google Map with less clutter.  This is a workaround for a specific issue, what does embed actually mean?
It's easiest to explain by example.  See the YouTube video playing here?

While you're watching the video inside this blog post, it's actually playing from YouTube.  The video is embedded in the post.



 Here's an embedded map, as another example.  You can manipulate it just as if you were on the Google Maps site.  Once again, the functionality of the map comes from Google Maps.  This blog post just has a container (or "window") holding the content.


So how is it done?

First, check to see see if the content you want to put on your website, blog, etc, provides embed code.  In addition to YouTube and Google Maps, you can find embed code from Prezi, LucidPress, SoundCloud, and many other presentation sites, Vimeo and other video sites, Twitter feeds, news sites and more.
 Typical icons for embed code are < > or </> or < > HTML.
 For example, here's how I found embed code for a video from the New York Times:

Copy the embed code provided.  It will typically start with <iframe>, something like this:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hnG5YPMFbBs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Now, on the website or blog (for example, Weebly, Moodle, Google Sites, Blogger, etc.) where you want the content to play, click the icon to insert HTML or embed code.  This is important, because you are inserting code, not  "normal" text."

Paste in the embed code.  You can adjust width and height and other settings by examining the code, if needed.  Return to the normal editor, if necessary.

Please let me know if I can help.

LED Web site created by CVU student

CVU senior Julien Vandal has created an excellent web site (using Weebly) to promote LED usage in Shelburne.  He states, "I'm doing this project for a class Money, Energy, and Power, but I hope to continue my impact on the community after the class ends this semester. I'm really passionate about LEDs, and I have already installed some in my room and around the house."  Thanks to Glenn Fay for sharing.
Check it out:

 http://ledshelburne.weebly.com/index.html