Last week, Google announced the beta version of its new social networking site, Google Plus. For those who may not be familiar with Google Plus, this new social media site allows users to share information within their social circles rather than the entire group of contacts. This limited sharing feature as some professors excited about the possibilities Google Plus has for education. According to an article in The Chronicle for Higher Education, professors see Google Plus as a potential new tool for connecting with their students in the classroom.

According to this article, professors have been weary of using social media sites like Facebook to connect with their students outside of class. Google Plus would allow professors to set up a social circle for each class, collaborate with other researchers, and even hold virtual office hours. What makes Google Plus so appealing is any information shared can be restricted to only certain users. It is important to remember that this social media is still in its beta version; however, professors are hopefully optimistic that this platform will be useful in its final version in their classrooms.

You can read more at The Chronicle for Higher Education.