Thing+10

= Thing 10 and 11: Google +, Communities and Hangouts =

Google+ is another social networking platform. Google+ is relatively new to the K12 community, but has been open to the public since June of 2011. The big difference between Google+ and other big social networks, for example Facebook, is that Google+ can leverage the power of other google services- drive, youtube, hangouts... Another quality of Google+ that makes it a fantastic tool for learning, collaborating and communicating is that you have granular control of your sharing. By creating circles, you ca n place your friends, acquaintances or anyone else in the world into a customized group to be shared with later.

**Google +**
This video provides a feature by feature overview of the new Google+ media type="custom" key="28610871"

This linked video really demonstrates the flexibility with naming your circles

Google Hangouts
media type="custom" key="22457800"


 * Chat face-to-face
 * Host virtual meetings
 * Broadcast to the world

Communities
media type="custom" key="22457958"

Google in Education Chromebook EDU Google Apps for EDU EdTech School Technology Leadership [|Apple Mac OS and iOS] [|iPad Ed]


 * Task **
 * Part 1: Join Google+ **
 * IMPORTANT NOTE: **

Your PLN should be associated with the gmail address you will be using most and is easiest to access from multiple devices. This doesn't have to be your school account. Creating a generic gmail account to manage all social media is not a bad idea.


 * 1) Sign into your Google+ account
 * 2) Set up your profile
 * 3) Create a circle of your 36 Things... D36 Learning 2.0 Colleagues.
 * 4) Create additional circles, your choice. (ex. Friends, Colleagues, etc.)
 * 5) Search communities, find **at least 3** that matches your interests and join them. For now, be sure to turn on notifications. You can always turn these off later. Be sure to j oin [|GEG Chicagoloand]. Be sure to check in on your communites each week.
 * 6) Post something (with a link or a picture) to your google+ account, be sure to include your 36 Things Circle

> (here's the link to my first, and only, live Google Hangout
 * PART 2: Hangout **
 * 1) [|Google Fundamentals Training- Hangouts]
 * 2) Watch part or all of an archived hangout presented by Google for Education
 * 1) Check out the [|Mystery Hangout Google Community], if someone is looking for a willing participant, volunteer.
 * 2) Start a live hangout (this can be alone, with a friend or with a circle of friends)*
 * 3) Set up and [|record a hangout on air] of you explaining how to do something with tech- doesn't have to be long, but at least 1 minute

* ** Live hangouts* must take place before the end of the course, does not have to be this week **


 * ‡ HELP Video: **Google+ Tutorial (sorry there are commercials, click "skip ad" when it appears)
 * ‡ HELP Pages: ** Complete Google + Help Guide

**Blog** Thing 10- Write a blog post reflecting on your exploration of Google+, and Communities. Be sure to include some names you chose for your circles, communities you joined and your hangout experiences. Be sure to include Thing 10 in your title or tag.

Thing 11- Write a blog post reflecting on how you can use Google Hangouts, Mystery Hangouts, and/or Hangouts on Air in your teaching practice. Be sure to include Thing 11 in your title or tag.

Stretch Task
Create a Google+ Community for your school with a purpose- sharing best practices, garage sale items, water cooler talk, bucket fillers...