How to Use Google+ as Your New Social Network

Readers,

This summer, I began to use Google+ to communicate with some of my Facebook friends. One of my dear librarian friends added me on this new social networking website and it has been very interesting!

My favorite personal organization website, Lifehacker, posted an article titled, "How Do I Make the Most of Google+?" Here's the link to the article - http://lifehacker.com/5822167/how-do-i-make-the-most-of-google%252B.

 In the article, the author focused on several topics related to Google Plus:

- Tweak the Google+ Layout

- Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Get Around

- Update Google+ From Anywhere

- Update Facebook and Google+ at Once

- Share with Facebook and Twitter, Too

- Move Your Photos to Picasa

- Beef Up the Google Status Bar

- Give Your Google+ Profile Profile a Vanity Url (http://gplus.to/)

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

New Apps to Adopt for the Fall 2011 Semester - 8 Tech Tools for College Students (USA Today)

Readers,

I know that many of you are preparing for the fall semester and you are looking for some new productivity apps to add to your mobile device. 

Yesterday, USA Today published an article titled, "8 Tech Tools for College Students". These FREE tech tools are:


1 - Skype (Android, BlackBerry, iOS)



2 - Evernote Peek (Apple iPad)

3 - Grades 2 (iOS)



4 - Snoozerr Recordings (iOS)



5 - Wunderlist (Android and iOS)



6 - TED (iOS)



7 - Instagram (iOS)



8 - Aroundme (Android and iOS)

Enjoy!


J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

My 5 Favorite Educational iPad/iPod Apps

Readers,

As many of you know, I LOVE my iPad2! In this point, I will share my favorite professional (educational) iPad apps with you. In fact, if this post is successful as the last apps, I plan to post an App of the Week post and review. We shall see! :) Let me know if you like the educational and personal app suggestions!

1 - Adobe Connect (free - great for webinars on the go)



2 - Evernote (free)

 

3 - Ebscohost (free)



4 - Merriam Webster (free)



5 - Twitter (free)



Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

My 5 Favorite Personal iPad/iPod Apps

Readers,


As many of you know, I LOVE my iPad2! In this point, I will share my favorite personal iPad apps with you. In fact, if this post is successful, I plan to post an App of the Week post and review. We shall see! :) Let me know if you like the post!


My Top Five Personal Apps
1 - Google Voice (I use this app to send text messages and listen to voice messages from family and my students).



2 - Jumbo Calculator (free)



3 - Overdrive (free download and use with your public library subscription)



4 - Groupon (free)



5 - PBS (free and features WONDERFUL full-length videos)



What is your favorite iPad/iPod app?


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Adopt This Technology: The NEW Google Calendar

Readers,

I admit, I am a Google Calendar addict. My life operates from two Google Calendars, my personal calendar and my husband's work/school calendar. Through Google Calendar, I am able to view any gaps or overlaps on the calendar well in advance of the event.

Yes, I also admit that I plan my life at least six to eight months in advance. When someone asks me if I can meet on a certain day, I can tell them with a high level of certainty whether I will or will not be able to meet on a particular day.

Here are some ways that I use Google Calendar:

- Publication Deadlines: I add the publication deadline to the calendar and then I use the reminders feature to send an e-mail to myself when the deadline is three and two weeks away.

- Collaboration Opportunities and Meetings: When I need to work with others on a project and/or publication, I add all of their e-mail addresses to the calendar event and we are able to keep ourselves accountable during this time period.

- Task List: I use the task feature to organize my tasks by the day the tasks are due. For example, if I need to open a Blackboard test for a student tomorrow, I add this "task" on my list on tomorrow's date. Not only does this task appear on my calendar, but it also appears on my Gmail account task list. I can print this task list OR I can glance at this task list on my iPad between classes.


- Embedding the Calendar on a Website: This year, we embedded the Google Calendar on our Environmental Communication Week website. This was very neat for the Google users, because they could just add the events to their personal calendars.


Here's a recent post from Prof Hacker about the new features on Google Calendar - LINK.

Here are some of the new Google Calendar features - LINK.

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Teaching Tip - Using Wikis (and Google Docs) in Online and Face-to-Face Classrooms

The Pre-Wiki Time Period...

Readers,


I hope all of you are having a wonderful morning! Over the summer, I have been reading different blogs and tweets related to technology and teaching undergraduate students. I have been writing several of these ideas for the fall semester in my Levenger notebook (a really neat organizational tool).


Here's a wiki focused on wikis in higher education! - https://sites.google.com/site/wikisinhighered/


Recently, I discovered an older blog post related to wikis and their use in the educational setting (K-12 and higher education). This post from 2008 is still relevant in 2011 and it has some great ideas for education professionals! 


My favorite tips from the list:


1. Student Portfolios


2. Fan Clubs


3. Literature Circles


4. Classroom FAQ


5. Make Website Creation Easier for Stuents


Here's the link to the list - 50 Ways to Use Wikis for a More Collaborative and Interactive Classroom


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Adopt This Technology - Youtube.edu (Videos for Your Classroom)

Readers,


One of my great academic friends, Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason, recently wrote about Youtube.edu on her blog, "Communication and Higher Education: Life on the Tenure Track at a Teaching Institution".


Youtube.edu features videos and channels from the following categories:
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Fine Arts and Design
- Health and Medicine
- History
- Humanities
- Journalism and Media
- Law
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science

Youtube.edu also featuers shows, movies, trailers, contests and personal recommendations! I will definitely use Youtube.edu in my online course this summer!


Enjoy! Thanks Communication and Higher Education blog!


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a FAN of Millennial Professor on Facebook! - LINK

Sometimes I Forget the Obvious - Online Teaching Tips (Embedding a Facebook or Twitter Widget on Blackboard)

Readers,


Usually, my blog entries focus on teaching and research. I attempt to think of items that would be of interest to the blog readers, but sometimes I forget the obvious (i.e. - reminders to students, my virtual office hours and Twitter widgets on Blackboard, embedding Google Docs on Blackboard, posting tinyurls in the titles of external links, etc.). These are teaching strategies that I use on a daily basis without thinking about the fact that this simple strategy might be a great blog post! :)


One of my new "academic blogger" friends, Professor Josh also uses embedded widgets on his blackboard course homepage. In one of his recent blog post, he talks about "Adding a Facebook Widget to a Blackboard" course. Although I do not use Facebook with my students, I use Twitter and I embed a Twitter widget on my course home page. 


Here's an example of the interaction that I have with students through Twitter:



I love Twitter because it does not reveal as much personal information as Facebook (i.e. - students viewing a spam message from one of my friends on Facebook or students viewing my pictures from college, etc.). If you use Twitter and desire to embed a widget on your department webpage, personal webpage, or course site - CLICK HERE - http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets.


Do you use Facebook to communicate with your students? WHY or WHY NOT?  Do you think interaction through this particular social networking website increases social presence in your professional relationship with students ?


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Adopt This Technology - AnswerGarden!

Readers,

Answergarden.com is an amazing brainstorming tool that can be used in training and development sessions, face-to-face and hybrid classrooms, in learning management systems, and in department meetings! It informally gathers your participants' opinions and perceptions about your chosen subject.

Let's try it out! Here's my Answer Garden - http://answergarden.ch/view/13130:

Teaching college students is....... at AnswerGarden.ch.

You can make the AnswerGarden larger or smaller to fit your needs! :) Could you please contribute additional ways to use this technology?

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Adopt This Technology - Corkboard.Me

Readers,

Recently, I started using corkboard.me for personal brainstorming purposes. I have also been searching for ways to use corkboard.me in face-to-face or online classroom environments.

Here's my current Corkboard - http://corkboard.me/fV3QTNo82u. Could you please contribute ways to use this technology in the higher education setting? Currently, I am thinking of in-class brainstorming sessions and organizing group workloads.

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

My Online Academic Portfolio (ePortfolio) via Google Sites! - Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

Readers,


Over the weekend, I decided to create an electronic academic portfolio using Google Sites. I chose Google Sites because I plan to use the free, online software in the fall for the Professional Communication upper-level communication studies classes). 


Here's the link - http://www.tinyurl.com/drjennifertedwards


Should I include anything else? Is anything missing?


I think that all students should have a competitive chance to obtain a job after graduating from college and it seems that electronic portfolios will help them during their journey.


I have to learn how to use the technology and then actively use the technology for at least two weeks before teaching others how to use the technology! :) Hopefully, by the fall semester, I can help my students develop their own online portfolios! :)


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Readers,


I cannot wait to purchase this new device! It is a wireless drive made for iPads, iPhones, and iPod touch devices. This device can store up to 300 movies and I plan to load the device with many of my wonderful photos that are filling my iPad and iPod touch. I wonder will this device store anything besides photos, videos, music, and videos.


We shall see! I think the device will have great educational uses for professors on the go! Access the article here - http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/05/look-ma-no-wires--seagates-new-hard-drive-for-ipad-iphone-and-ipod-touch/1?csp=Tech.


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Adopt This Technology! - SIEMENS STEM Academy

Readers,


During Environmental Communication Week 2011, formed co-sponsorships with the Dick Smith Library, the University's Staff Council, and various local businesses in the Stephenville area. However, when we released the first "call for papers", we did not receive any proposals for workshops or paper submissions. This was not a positive start to a week-long program! As a result, we began looking for free webinars online. 


Since we were focusing on environmental communication and my husband is a science teacher who is very interested in STEM education, we started looking for STEM resources. We found the Siemens STEM Academy's website - http://siemensstemacademy.com. Since we were hosting a week-long event, we found a webinar focused on environmental education that occurred during ECW 2011, Earth Day: The Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill One Year Later with Jeff Corwin". 


At first, I was reluctant to choose a webinar from this website because its primary audience was junior high and high school students. However, the information was VERY informative and our audience (myself included) throughly enjoyed the presentation! I would definitely recommendation this wonderful resource for other college classes who are interested in environmental education/environmental communication.


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Adopt This Technology - JoliPrint for Instant PDF Documents!

Readers,


JoliPrint (http://www.joliprint.com/) enables users to print webpages (documents, articles, etc.) without the color ads. This website would be helpful for instructors who teach online or hybrid courses, because they could post a link to the shared PDF document on blackboard (without uploading the entire PDF to their university's learning management system.


In addition, I plan to post job announcements on our Communication Studies Facebook and Twitter accounts via JoliPrint instead of saving the content to a Google Document and posting the link. Take a look at our current job postings! Become a fan of the Communication Studies Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/TarletonCOMSDept


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Goo.gl - A New Url Shortening Website (Thanks LifeHacker)

Readers,


I read the LifeHacker website on a weekly basis and recently the website focused on Goo.gl (http://lifehacker.com/5791974/googl-url-shortener-adds-easier-copying-better-dashboard-controls), a new url shortener website on Google. This seems like a great opportunity for those of us who regularly use bit.ly or tinyurl.com for links in our online and/or face-to-face classrooms.

http://www.thewwwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/goo-gl-shortener-extension.png

I always place a tinyurl link (after testing the link) beside each of the external links on Blackboard. Since every browser and every computer is different, this enables the students to access the links when clicking the link will not work for the student.


For example:


Action Item - Read COMS 101 Notes - http://www.tinyurl.com/COMS101CH1


Since I am a big fan of Google AND Tinyurl, I think this new Google Service might work for some instructors who wish to use a certain link, but the link title is already taken by another user. For example, if I needed http://www.tinyurl.com/COMS101SpeechNotes and the link was always taken on Tinyurl, I can use the COMS101SpeechNotes link on Goo.gl.


I hope this helps someone! Read the LifeHacker blog for more information...
http://lifehacker.com/5791974/googl-url-shortener-adds-easier-copying-better-dashboard-controls


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Adopt This Technology - Prezi (A Great Review from Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason)

Readers,

Have you heard of a great online software called Prezi? Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason, a good friend and fellow blogger, recently posted a great blog entry on Prezi! 

Here is a small exert from her blog post!

Prezi, found at www.prezi.com, creates a zooming flow or conceptual map of your presentation that is not limited to the confines of a slide. When you are ready for a certain topic, the screen zooms toward that topic, it becomes the center of the screen and sized to be viewed as the focal point. When you transition, the screen shifts to your next topic and again situates that as the new focal point. Though PowerPoint can be incredibly useful and professional, students often type every word of their presentation on each slide and then read from it. Prezi allows a less-rigid display of knowledge which seems to enhance the students' abilities to speak extemporaneously.

Prezi sounds like a GREAT instructional tool and it seems relatively easy to learn! After reading Dr. Lora's recommendation, I will definitely take a few days to learn how to use Prezi in my classroom! Great job, Dr. Lora!

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Spring Break is Here! - Incorporating Spring Break Pictures in Class Lectures

Readers,

We are preparing for spring break and I am very excited about traveling for non-conference purposes! Here's the interesting part of non-conference travel...I am always THINKING of examples for my courses: interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and intercultural communication. As I travel, I take pictures of artifacts (both cultural and organizational) to incorporate on my presentation slides.

Here are some pictures from my past travel adventures:

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Freebie Friday - Adobe Connect (Webinar Software)

Readers,


In this week's posts, I wrote about undergraduate research and ways to help undergraduate students disperse their research. Recently I discovered Adobe Connect on my iPad. This is a wonderful software system that enables presenters to upload their power point slides into Adobe Connect to provide viewers with an interactive presentation. 


Here's the free aspect. Adobe Connect is offering a free 30 day trial! - http://connect.webinar.us.sem.adobe.com/content/try?sdid=IEBDP&skwcid=TC|22191|webinar||S|p|5894734222






I plan to activate their FREE 30 day trial next month to provide my undergraduate students with an interactive forum to disperse their research. Now, I have to worry about the technological capabilities at my university and what our current classroom will enable us to do. I might have to switch classrooms for our presentation day! :)


Have a great week! Enjoy the free product for 30 days!

Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Tweeting During an Academic Conference...

Readers,


I attend a few conferences every year and I enjoy opening my iPad and tweeting throughout the span of the conference. As a result, I am always on the lookout for great ways to promote my tweets and my website.


I enjoy meeting different people through Twitter and participating in actual Tweet-ups at conferences. Here is a great article for educational bloggers who post during conferences. 


Mark Stelzner's article, "How to Live Tweet a Conference", focuses on the following aspects of posting tweets during conferences:


Pre-Event
- Get a Press Pass
- Verify WiFi/Cell Coverage
- Confirm the Hashtag
- Configure Your Applications
- Bring Your Charger


"Live At The..."
- Be Wallflower
- Set the Stage
- Use Attribution
- Follow Others
- Perpetuate the Conversation


The Post-Event Wrap Up
- Measure Your Success
- Blog Content
- Thank Your Hosts
- Thank Your Followers


His article is available at this link - http://inflexionadvisors.com/blog/2010/05/13/how-to-live-tweet-a-conference/ 
Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Prezi - A Free, Online Presentation Tool!

Readers,


Earlier this semester, I was asked to serve on a search committee for one of the new english professors. During her presentation, the candidate opened my world to Prezi! This is an awesome online website for presentations! This website saves all of your presentations and introduces them to your audience members using an innovative format.


As a communication studies professor, I cannot wait use this website in my personal presentations and to introduce my students to the website!


Such a wonderful, free online teaching tool!


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.