Monday, January 30, 2017

30 in 30: Day 30 - Google Plus....not just another social media site

The final day in the 30 in 30 series is going to hopefully provide some clarity and information on what Google Plus is and what it can be used for.  Google Plus was released on June 28, 2011 as Google's answer to the social media giant Facebook.  It saw the potential social media had how users were connecting and interacting.  And although it had some potential with it's use of "circles" it just couldn't lure people away from where they were and it never really got the momentum that it needed to get the average user to sign up.  But with the evolution of Google Apps for Education (GAFE) and now to G Suite for Education, Google Plus has become a social media for schools and educators.  And although people in the technology world have migrated to using it, the average educator has not.  There are quite a few Communities and Collections already available for technology users, but might take a little bit more work to find a specific subject area.....or it might take you creating one.  I think that we have teachers that are ready to lead the way with a Community or Collection.  So the next time you are looking for that resource, rather than asking Google, may I suggest first searching Google Plus.  Connect with a few Communities and explore a few collections.  You might be surprised how helpful this social media tool can be.  I have found a ton of useful tools, tricks and tips of my own by asking questions to Communities.  People in education love to share their knowledge and resources, even to strangers.  That's just who we are.

Looking for a video tour of Google Plus?  Take a look here.  Google also has a great Help Center.  You can find it here.

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