Google Plus

Facilitator: Matthew Gee

Attendees: Byron Rumph, Carol Kassel, Paul Aaron Angeles, Gary Kaltenmeier, Norma Kenigsberg, Brian Schiesser, David Ackerman (briefly)

G+ at Stern

Stern has already rolled out G+ but rest of the University not ready to come on board. Stern was early pilot user of Google Apps; now using many apps extensively and piloting G+.
Started in October 2012 with Stern IT. Thinking about training, what needs to be offered.
Coordinating with central IT.
People love it.
But rollout moving target due to security concerns, privacy. (G+ not part of Apps for Education.)
Today, 88 people (all volunteers) were activated for pilot. One faculty member has signed up entire class, will use G+ as part of the class.
IT uses it almost every day for meetings (Google Hangouts).
Use home pages, circles.
Stern community has own logins; most people forward NYU email to Stern.
Possible to jettison special videoconferencing systems in favor of Hangouts.

Classroom use

Some classes, students videotaped every session – could record from Hangouts, post to YouTube (not currently being done)
Even features such as Circles could be used to form study groups or project teams

Barriers to adoption

Cultural issues: e.g., Abu Dhabi, social media not part of culture. Students might put inappropriate content out there. E.g., Shanghai, subject to Chinese rules about use of technology.
Need to figure out rules – how to use it, when NOT to use it, what relationship faculty and students will have.
Not so much question of whether, but when.
Need to consider interaction within domain and outside – restrict it?
Privacy a big concern (due to separation of G+ from Apps for Education). Need to educate and inform users.
FERPA-related concerns (e.g., student participation in a class) could be a factor.
Question of policing content (remove objectionable materials?). Stern: if it is brought to their attention, they will remove if possible.

G+ vs Social Media