Evaluation of Communication Tool:  Google+

CRITERION	SCORE (1-3)	NOTES
Learning Effectiveness	2	- Provides real world experiences - When combined with teaching, the application extends the student’s learning
Reliability & Support	3	- Student is able to access the program with minimal support - Efficiency in speed and design - Easy to correct human errors
Ease of Use	3	- Program automatically saves work - Students at all levels are able to learn the tool easily or with minimal assistance - Student can use several applications within one tool (video, communication, presentation, audio)
Safety	3	- Ad free - Academic links easy to embed - Individual login - Secure environment - Ability to select whom to share work & interact with
Technology Requirements	3	- Unlimited free student & staff accounts - Simultaneous collaboration on projects, documents - Web-based - Use on multiple platforms: laptops iPads, iPods
Curriculum	1	Non-applicable

Teachers are able to set up academic circles or groups for their students to follow.  Google+ provides a community for students to respond to the teacher and each other.  It’s a great forum for discussions on learning, research or any posted topic.  The circles can be set up for the various subject areas and/or topics.

One of the best parts to Google+, in my opinion, is the safety aspect.  Sharing is controlled; therefore, safety isn’t as big of a concern as it would be in other social-type networks.  In the article Google Plus:  Is This the Social Tool Schools Have Been Waiting For, an educational consultant calls Google+ sharing aspect targeted sharing.  Google+ has both public and private settings for education safety concerns. 

I think students would like the +1 button, which is similar to the like button on Facebook.  Some students would be very happy to simply like a posting versus having to always directly respond.  The ease of my students being able to access Google+ is definitely a benefit.  Once they sign on to their Google school email accounts, getting to Google+ will be simple for them.