Google+ Goes to School

Using Google+ in a University Environment

CC BY Beth Kanter

What is Google+?

• Google says it's their social network
• The best of existing tools like Twitter and Facebook increasingly joined to all of Google's pre-existing tools like mail, calendar, apps, etc.

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• Other people say it's an identity service
• You have to use your name
• Google makes no effort to distinguish between a person and her multiple accounts
• It links your use of Google Products to you
• It also happens to do some other things like let you post text and other things plus interact with others.

What is Google+ Like?

• Like Twitter
• You can follow interesting people and vice versa
• Like Facebook
• You have more than 140 characters in which to post your own content
• You can post photos and videos
• You can (kinda) Like things
• Like Skype
• you can videoconference, videochat, just plain chat
• A Super Contact list
• Circles appear in Gmail and Google Forms
• An Enhanced Google Search
• Relevant content from your Circles will show in your searches

Why Use Google+?

• A hub for informal, but professional writing
• Easy sharing of professional reading/resources
• Share instructional videos and annotated screenshots
• Videoconferencing with colleagues
• +1 professionally relevant resources
• To benefit from greater personalization of Google Search results

Google Domain v Regular Google

• Use Google+ only with work account
• can keep personal side personal
• Can confuse others
• because Google will find all of you
• May be limited by institution-specific contract
• you may not get all features

• Must make sure to manage circles properly
• make sure to keep the personal as private as possible
• Other people may see activity of yours you don't anticipate
• Governed by Google Privacy Policy
• or, more accurately, Google Sharing Policy

This Session Will Cover

• Setting up your profile
• Creating a circle
• Making a post
• Sharing a video
• Small Group Discussion of Pros and Cons
• Questions and Answers (if we know 'em)

Your Profile

• Many optional fields except for
• Your Name
• Your Gender

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• Full visibility control for each field except for
• Your Name

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If you will mix personal and professional use, consider which fields you want to share and with whom

My work Profile in my view

My work Profile in public view

My work Profile in Megan's view

Exercise 1: Set Up Your Profile

• How many people are using Google+ for the first time today?
• Go to http://plus.google.com
• Sign in
• Fill out About section
• Name
• Introduction
• Occupation and/or Employment
• Gender
• Change the default setting on Gender to Only You

When You Get Home

• Add a representative photo
• Consider filling out more fields
• Think about visibility of each
• Set visibility for Photos, Videos & +1s

Circles

• Organize the people and organizations you follow.

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• Determine who sees what in your profile and posts.

• Google starts you out with a few pre-named circles
• You can create as many circles as you like
• Other people do not see the names of your circles
• Circles are not a 2-way relationship

Drag and drop to add friends to circles

But wait ... first you need some friends!

There are 3 ways to find contacts:

1. Search!

2. Get Suggestions From Google.

Use the "Suggestions Sidebar" or look for suggestions in your "Circles" screen

3. Steal Your Friends' Friends.

Exercise 2: Creating a Circle

• Click the Circles icon on the Google+ home page, and then click Create Circle.
• Name your circle.
• Add a new contact and put them in one of your circles.

When You Get Home

• Create more circles
• consider adding an empty circle to save items for yourself.
• Find your friends and colleagues and populate your circles

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CC BY Jer Thorp

Sharing a Post

• Share with everyone, a set of circles, or an individual.
• Also share with non G+ users via email.
• Share updates, photos, videos, and/or locations.
• use the video icon to search YouTube from within G+
• Location only works if you turn on tracking.

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Exercise 3: Share a Video

• Click on the video icon in the share what's new box.
• Select YouTube.
• Search for a video to post and then click Add video.
• Add a caption (above the video) and then choose who to share it with (below the video)
• Click +Add more people to select circles or individuals.
• Share with an empty circle if you want it just for you.

Demo: Share From Reader

Demo: Creating an Embeddable Photo Album

Demo: Enhanced Search

What is a ?

• A public stamp of approval
• +1s appear on
• the +1 tab (unless you say otherwise)
• in your Google searches
• in other people's searches if it's public
• +1 is public if
• you use a browser extension to +1 a website
• you specifically designate it as public
• +1 is not public if
• it was attached to a post not originally public itself

Why would I use the ?

• Thumbs up for posts you like
• Indicate professional resources you think are valuable
• Possibly as a bookmarking tool

Tools to Extend Plus Experience

• Chrome Extensions
• Firefox Extensions
• Stream Noise Control

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Institutional Google+

Institutional Google+

• You can create a Google+ page for your library if you have a public personal account.
• Institutional accounts can have multiple managers, but only 1 owner (ownership is transferable. )

• Share items and create circles.
• Think about how you will use it and who your audience is.
• Google+ users are still mostly younger and tech-savvy.

Why Use Google+?

• A hub for informal, but professional writing
• Easy sharing of professional reading/resources
• Share instructional videos and annotated screenshots
• Videoconferencing with colleagues
• +1 professionally relevant resources
• To benefit from greater personalization of Google Search results

Small Group Discussion

• In groups of up to 5
• take 15 minutes
• How will or do you use Google+?
• What institutional uses will you make?
• Considering:
• Integrated Online Identity
• Managing real life circles of friends and colleagues
• Sharing professional resources
• Control over what Google and others can learn about you

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Contact Us!

Megan Kocher

mkocher@umn.edu

@mmkocher

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Amy West

westx045@umn.edu

@umdatalib