Google+ Learning

Google is an amazing platform for social interaction.  Since its origination in 1997, Google has grown into a company that incorporates a search engine, email, finding flights, payment options, Google for Education and everything in between.  A company that started in someone’s garage has grown to a company that employs over 40,000 people (Google Company, 2016).  Not only has Google made everyday life easier, they have also made professional learning for educators easier.

Google Plus (also known as Google+) is a social networking service from Google (Karch, 2016).  Google+ is a service linked with your Google for Education account.  This service allows you the opportunity to find groups or communities you find interesting or areas of expertise where you might want to grow.  Communities range from education to technology to math and reading.  This provides individuals the opportunity to learn more about a topic at their convenience.  Educators can create a Google+ community and invite students to join.  In their community, one can post videos, links, questions, comments, etc.  The possibility of discussion after class are endless.      

This past summer I was asked to become a certified eMINTS trainer.  This is  a professional development program for educators from the University of Missouri.  During the initial training, we were asked to join the AL FY 17 eMINTS Affiliate Trainer Google+ Community.  Throughout our training we have asked fellow trainers questions, worked on a book study, posted documents we have created and participated in discussion groups within our Google+ Community.  This type of interaction is relatively new for me.  It has been a fun and eye-opening experience.

According to Hicks,  “Being intentional with the writing, we need to ask: What is the purpose of the message (p. 146)?”  One of the main features of the eMINTS Google+ classroom allows the users to chose a discussion field to help keep comments organized.  This has proven beneficial when I am needing to go back and look up information or find answers to specific questions.  The layout is user friendly and easy to manipulate.

Another key feature I have enjoyed using is the video discussion post.  Our trainers will record a training session in Missouri and post it to our Google+ community.  Along with the video, we are able to ask questions to clarify or post comments about the video.  This is extremely helpful when our schedule does not allow us to view the video at the time of recording.

Google+ is just one option in using social media for education.  Hicks quotes Steve Johnson (2010) in our text saying “ it is our duty as educators in the twenty-first century to guide our students toward responsible use of social media (p. 138)”.  This is the future of our education and we need to be familiar with as many aspects as possible.  The following video is a simple introduction in starting to use your Google+ community.  

    

References:

Hicks, Troy (2013). Crafting digital writing: Composing texts across media and genres. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Karch, M. (2016, October 7). What Is Google Plus (Google+)? Retrieved November 15, 2016, from https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-google-definition-1616721

The people behind Google - Company - Google. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from https://www.google.com/about/company/facts/

Redo anyone?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a redo in life sometimes?  I know there are times throughout my life I would like to go back and try to do better.  Unfortunately, it is not possible to travel back in time like Marty McFly and get another chance on life.  However, when it comes to technology, we do have the opportunity to redo somethings.  

When I began this journey from books to technology, I thought “how hard could this be?”  I completed high school and two college degrees already, going back to school won’t be that bad.  Then I realized, things have changed.  Technology has changed.  My first assignment was to create a video introduction of myself.  I went to a completely separate part of the house and begged my kids to be silent until I was done videoing myself so the background noise would be at a minimum.  I was quite proud of my little video and submitted it on time.  Over the past couple of months, I learned how to make that video better.  I now get a redo!  

When considering what needed to be done to make the original video better, I decided to look at what story I wanted to tell. Using the ideas from Troy Hicks book Crafting Digital Writing (p. 115, 2013) I created a storyboard of pictures I felt represented the story I wanted to tell.  This process was a difficult one.  I love my family and choosing a few to represent my life was not an easy task.  Once the pictures were chosen, deciding the layout and how I wanted to enhance the video provided endless possibilities.  Oh the choices…  Finally, the pictures and visualization of the pictures was complete and the entertainment part was next.  The program WeDo offers templates already set with background settings, fading of images and music.  I chose a template based on the music.  I wanted something upbeat to keep the viewer’s attention.  

The final component of my video redo included the narration.  Using the assessment considerations suggested by Hicks (p. 121, 2013), I considered the key elements needed to make my story entertaining, the speed of the transitions, and music as I narrated the video.  This was not as easy of a task as I though it should be.  After several attempts, I finally had a complete redo of my original introduction video.  Watch the video and see what you think. I know the final is not as professional as I would like it to be.  I am hoping as I continue on this journey from books to technology, I will fine tune my video and digital editing abilities.  However, I hope you would agree, this redo video is more entertaining and provides an entertaining introduction to who I am.  

Hicks, T. (2013). Crafting digital writing: Composing texts across media and genres. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.