Google+ can be used for instruction in several ways: (1) for face-to-face classroom announcements and instructions, (2) to create circles or groups of users for specific classes, and (3) to allow live conversations between students during lectures. Google+ encourages community and facilitates group learning. It also allows students to easily create links and media connections to benefit online learning. However, photo metadata and personal information requested by Google+ profiles raise privacy concerns that have not been fully addressed. Comparisons show Google+ has advantages over Facebook and Twitter by being part of Google search and allowing video chat groups. As a global, advertising-free platform, Google+ has potential for civic engagement and media literacy education through discussion groups.

1. USING GOOGLE + FOR
INSTRUCTION
Kevin YEE, Ph.D.
Assistant Director,
Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
Jace HARGIS, Ph.D.
College Director,
Higher Colleges of Technology United Arab Emirates (UAE)

2. Using google+ for instruction
Uses for google+ would include face to face classroom
announcements to instructions. It could be used to make
a particular “circle” or group of users.
The service could also be used by students to provide a
platform for live conversations between
students during actual class lectures.
Google+ encourages and establishes a feeling of community
and facilitates group learning
Google+ allows for students to easily create links and media
connections to benefit online learning.

3. Preliminary Analysis of
Google+’s Privacy
Shah Mahmood
Department of Computer Science,
University College London,
United Kingdom
shah.mahmood@cs.ucl.ac.uk
Yvo Desmedt
Department of Computer Science,
University College London,
United Kingdom
y.desmedt@cs.ucl.ac.uk

4. Google+’s photo metadata
Photographs uploaded to google+ are identified automatically by written
data below each photo indicating the type of camera that took the
picture, and the date and time the photo was transferred to the google+
website.
This data often is seen as interfering with the privacy of individuals. At this
point in time the information , since it is automatically recorded, cannot be
changed by the google+ users.

5. Cities lived in and other names
on profile
People that wish to register as a google+ user
Are requested to list their current addresses and also personal private
information such as
the previous cities where they lived in the past, and other personal
Names often used by them. This is another infringement of privacy that
has not yet been corrected by the google+ developers.

6. Google+ circles vs Facebook lists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h
C_M6PzXS9g

7. Google+ vs Facebook: other
comparisons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5
un76jFYc8Y&feature=related

8. The Potential of Google+ as a
Media Literacy Tool
James N. Cohen
Jourmalism, Media Studies and Public
Relations
Department, HofstrUniversity, Hempste
ad, NY, USA

9. The Potential of Google+ as a Media Literacy Tool
Google+ has a basic advantage over Facebook and Twitter, in
that it is part of
a social network that in turn is part of the largest search system
in the world.
Google+ has the ability to create a “circle” of users and can
create for this circle a lasting social media connection .
Google+ also now features the “hangout”, which provides
video chat with up to ten people .
Hangouts offer users the ability to discuss content in a small
group setting.
Google+ is a global platform that is advertising free, and
encourages worldwide civic engagement.

10. Yee, K.,& Hargus,J. (2011).Using Google+ For Instruction.Turkish Online Journal of
Distance Education,12,9-11.
Mahmood, S., & Desmedt, Y. (2011) . Preliminary Analysis of Google+'s
Retrieved Privacy, from
arXiv:1111.3530v1
Cohen, J.N. (2012), The Potential of Google+ as a Media Literacy Tool .
Journal of Media Literacy Education 4:1 (2012) 93-96