Getting started on Google+Step by Step instructions by David Theriault

aka @davidtEDU on Twitter

Google Plus is Facebook for people who want to get things DONE.

You can join THOUSANDS of learning communities with other educational professionals.

You can participate in group video chats that are like Skype but WAY more powerful as a collaboration tool.

You can share and interact with others.

LET’S DO THISStep 1: Click on your +name on the top right of your browser while you are in your Gmail account.

Step 2: You can find other people you already know on the internet, or you can SKIP IT.

Step 3: SKIP THIS and hit Continue.

Step 4: Click “Continue.”

Step 5: DON’T SKIP THIS: Fill in your job, your workplace, and a photo so

people won’t think you are a robot or spy

Step 6: Click “upload an image” or “Snap a photo”

Step 7: Find a photo you like and crop it around your head

Step 8: Fill this information in. You’ll notice it doesn’t ask for a TON of info like Facebook. Great. Letting people know what you do makes it easier for us to see if we should interact online.

The BIGGEST mistake I see people making when they set up Google+ is thinking this is their Google+ url to share with others. This will take people

NO WHERE. Don’t do that please.

Here is your actual url where people can find you on Google+ BUT we aren’t done yet. Keeping your Google+ without any posts or

a background image is like not painting your house or letting your lawn die.

Step 9: Click “Change cover”

Step 10: Find a picture you like and crop it then click “Select cover photo”

Step 11: You need to have at LEAST one post. I’d LOVE it if you had at least three.

Having at least one post tells other people that you are willing to USE Google+ to

interact with others.

Step 12: Find a video, a photo, or a link to a website that you love and share it. I picked www.alicekeeler.

com

You can actually use these arrows to find the best picture from the

site to share.

This looks SO much better than when we first started. Now people know you are a real person, and might want to learn with you.

You can also follow people and organizations so that their posts

will show up in your “Home Stream.”

You can create new “circles” to organize

who you follow.

And that’s just the beginning of what you can do

on Google+. It’s my favorite tool to get

projects DONE and it makes a wonderful community for professional learners. I’ve even used it as an online

community for my classroom.

If you have any questions just shoot me a “share” message on Google+ at: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DavidTheriault/posts/p/pub

or find me on Twitter: @davidtEDU Jump in the Google+ pool. It’s fun. Trust me.