Web 2.0 Tools for Reflection, Feedback and Networking

1. Name of the Tool
Google groups


2. URL of the Tool

http://groups.google.com/


3. Please select the one, primary category for this tool:

Social-Networking


4. Please describe this tool.

Google Groups creates a site for a group of users to communicate and collaborate online. Several different functions are available in Google groups. The site supports discussion threads, documents can be uploaded to the site, and web pages can be created and archived at the site. A group can be public, a group that anyone can view or join, or private, limited to the members invited by the administrator(s).


Several features are available to allow users to follow discussion threads more easily. New posts can be fed directly to the members’ mailboxes and read there so the users do not have to check the group site to keep up to date on what is going on in the group website. Users may “star” individual discussion threads (up to 200!) and track the “starred” threads in a central location. Public groups and discussion threads are incorporated in the Google Search engine which allows users to find groups that are discussing their interests. Users can post ratings for individual posts. Finally, Google Groups includes an archive of Usenet newsgroup postings that goes back to 1981.


Web pages for the groups can be edited by multiple group members increasing the collaborative nature of the tool. Users can share documents by uploading them to the group site.


Basically, group members can have permissions that allow sharing of many Goggle apps, emails, documents, web pages through a central location.


Google Groups has a short introductory tour at http://groups.google.com/intl/en/googlegroups/tour3/index.html#?lnk=hptt.

But you can find a more imaginative overview of Google Groups capabilities on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29n6xm1dLiI

There are 4 Google Groups at UT Medical School, and 4 at Baylor College of Medicine

5. What do you need to know before using this tool?

General computer and internet skills.


6. What do you need to have before using this tool?

Computer with internet connection.

7. How do you use this tool?
and
8. Please create an example with this tool and either embed in your blog or submit the URL.
Please click on the link below for an instructional screencast covering how to set up a Google Groups account, how to set up your own group, and an example of a Google Group.

http://screencast.com/t/YjgyNzhl

9. Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment .

• Class Website - Google Groups would make a great class website for schools who do not have a dedicated BlackBoard/Moodle type of software/server space. Google Groups fulfills many of the same functions. Documents such as syllabi, readings, resources, etc. could be available in the “Documents” section. Discussion threads could be used as student forums. The “Pages” function could be a place where students could work individually or collaboratively on assignments. Essentially this would function as a simple Moodle website with the added convenience of class web pages for students to work on collaborative projects.
• Student Communication - Another great use of this website is discussed in this interview with today’s guest speaker, Phillip Gray.

http://voicethread.com/share/1267228/ Try this link if the VoiceThread doesn't work

• Sharing ideas with other instructors - There are a number of Google Groups for Educators to share ideas and problems. Here is a well established Group with lots of educational discussion.

 Google for Educators discussion group

13/14. Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Google Groups have been discussed above. Briefly, the groups provide a great discussion forum, a place for students and teachers to exchange information and post information and class resources. Google groups can provide students and teachers with information shared by other groups. The site can be restricted (not public), and can provide a place for students to work collaboratively.


On the disadvantage side, I found that using the search engine to Google Groups for groups and information was very inefficient. For example a search for teacher forum and distance education” brought up more than 11 pages of sites and discussion threads, many of which were advertisements. Using education as a search term brought up more than 17,000 hits, many of which were “inappropriate”.