Google Plus 101 for Student Centers

And The Student UnionACUI Technology Flash WebinarFriday, September 9, 2011 | 2pmPresented by: Ed Cabellon, Director – Rondileau Campus CenterBridgewater State University (MA)

Overview• What is Google Plus? • Structure / Lexicon Explained• How it can be used in your Student Union work.

• Social Network that launched on June 28, 2011 by invitation only.• Integration of other Google products, including Buzz and Profiles.• The focus of Google Plus is the “Targeted Sharing” concept using the “Circles” feature.• Still currently in “trial” mode

Step 1: You need a Google account…

Go to https://www.google.com/accounts/Login

Note: You can use any email address

Step 3: Sign in!

Step 4: It’ll prompt you to create a Google Profile

Enter the details of the person you chose here.

You will be directed to the Welcome page. To complete your profile..

Click here & then click

on the ‘Edit Profile’ button.

OR here.

These sections indicated appear in your search results so take advantage

of this!

So optimize your profile!!

1. Title = Google Plus Profile name.2. Description = Introduction field on your

profile page.3. Unfortunately you can’t change your URL

just yet

2.

1.3.

Make sure you select “Anyone on the web” in the ‘Introduction’ section..

And the ‘Links’ section..

1. Now click on your name.2. Then ‘Privacy’ and you will see..

2.

1.

This is what it will look like in the search results

And while you can’t change your

permanent Google + URL, you can shorten it so it is easier to use to promote your

Google + account by..

going to http://gplus.to/ to shorten your URL and entering the relevant information.

http://gplus.to/EdCabellon

Circles & Streams

Circles help you organize people in

groups so you can share content relevant to that particular circle only.

Streams show the content shared by people in different

Circles.

When adding people you’ll be able to specify a existing circle to put them or

create a new circle.

You can separate people into existing

and new contacts and how you know them. You can put people in

multiple circles.

Now, you can connect with your students, colleagues, etc. who are on Google Plus.

Now you can see what

people in that circle share

when you click on that

particular circle.

Tip: You can send direct messages to multiple people by using the @ or +

symbol followed by their name (only they

can see your message). Then just type your message.

But Circles aren’t just for sorting contacts, you can use them as a bookmarking device!

For example, I created a ‘Ed Tech’ circle. When someone from my normal circle posts a related

message or link to an article I want to save for later, I click ‘share’ and share it to my ‘Ed Tech’ circle.

By default it will share to the ‘Public’ and all your circles, just click on the ‘x’ icon. Then click ‘+Add more people’ and select a specific circle.

Now I can view these status updates and articles

easily any time, just by clicking on the ‘Ed Tech’ stream. This is great for saving ideas, tips, and news you want to view

later.

Hangouts

Start a Hangout

Click ‘Start a Hangout’, then a window will pop

up. Just click ‘Install Plugin’.

Now just ‘Add circles or people’ you want to hangout with.

Google Hangouts for the Student Union:

• Information Center | Main Office “phone”• Meetings with Student Employees or Student Organizations• Trainings / Workshops• Lunch Conversations• Group Interviews• Performances• Promotions / Contests

Sparks

Receive content from around the internet on any topic so you can easily share this with the circles

you choose.

Just click on ‘Sparks’ then enter the topic you’re interested in.

Then just click “share” on content you find interesting.

Final Thoughts on Google Plus for the Student Union

• Once you’ve gotten the hang of G+, create your Student Union profile. Just do it.• Invite your students to Google+. Use it as a catalyst to Digital Identity development conversation.• Take a Facebook or Twitter break and use Google+ instead.• Comment often on posts!• Still so new, experiment and see what works for your campus!

And The Student UnionACUI Technology Flash WebinarFriday, September 9, 2011 | 2pmPresented by: Ed Cabellon, Director – Rondileau Campus CenterBridgewater State University (MA)