Google+ and GoogleApps for Student Engagement and Learning

Primary Presenter: Diane Sieber

Co-Presenters: Mark Werner and Caroline Sinkinson

Organization: University of Colorado Boulder, College of Engineering

Role: Associate Dean for Education

Track: Research Presentation

Level: Cutting Edge  

Abstract: We present findings from a campus pilot of GoogleApps for Education and preliminary experimentation with Google+ as a course tool. While both social network tools support student interaction with instructor, peers and course content, they differ in terms of the types of communication they engender, the level and register of discourse, and student perceptions of formality/informality of communication. Recommendations for best practices and examples of successful use of both tools are discussed.

Bio: Currently the Associate Dean for Education in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder, Dr. Sieber's primary research focus is IT and Education. Her particular interests are in social networks for improved learning and community-building, game theory and education, and mobile apps for education. She is a President's Teaching Scholar and winner of multiple teaching awards.

Description: In the process of conducting IRB-approved research on GoogleApps for Education at CU-Boulder, our research team became aware of parallel use of GoogleApps tools, such as Google Groups communications, and of Google +, a social network. Interviews, surveys and virtual ethnography have uncovered significant differences in the usecases for these tools. Our objective is to clearly demarcate the affordances of two seemingly equivalent tools, and to point to best practices for both so that faculty can make informed choices about the type and nature of online interactions they wish to support. Both tools support socially-networked course interactions beyond the space of the classroom. GoogleApps for Education communications turn out to be more formal and e-mail-like, lead to less frequent engagement and exchange of ideas, produce longer and more thoughtful entries, and are less likely to be produced on a mobile device such as a phone or tablet. Google + communications are perceived as less formal, more frequent, shorter micro-communications to which students respond with greater frequency through commenting, liking and mutual-posting behaviors. Google+ communications are perceived as lower-risk and more serendipitous; following a Google+ post stream is perceived as leading to more discovery, to a broadening effect in terms of the type and range of information explored, and is more likely to encourage just-in-time mobile postings. This sessions presents specific use cases, makes recommendations for effective application of one tool or the other, and suggests integration of both tools for a richer, more multi-level set of course communication channels. Both tools support development of strong course communities, however they support different types of course communities. We will actively engage participants through a Google Site (GoogleApps for Education with relevant documents and readings posted prior to the conference) as well as through live use of a Google+circle related to our topic.