Google Plus announced today that their “On-Air” for Hangouts feature will be going live in a few weeks. is now LIVE.  I’m VERY EXCITED about this as it will change the way administrators and faculty in Higher Education will be able to deliver content.  The “On-Air” feature allows you to broadcast you and up to 9 others for anyone to watch in real time.  If you can’t make the broadcast live, no problem!  You can also record and repost it on YouTube for those to watch on-demand, on their schedule.  Since Google Plus Hangouts come embedded with many apps, including SlideShare, Docs, YouTube, etc., the amount of online “group work” productivity you can accomplish with others, has grown exponentially!

Imagine doing the following over Google Plus Hangouts:

• Any type of trainings for student volunteers, employees, and/or staff
• Pre-Orientation and/or Academic Advising Sessions
• Conference Education Sessions and Keynotes
• Focus and study groups
• Planning meetings for any event, cause, or purpose.
• Broadcasting events to the greater campus community, including your Alumni and Parents.
• And many… many more!

Now the classroom, meeting room, laboratory, has NO walls.  If you were wondering why Google Plus mattered, you now have a strong reason in Hangouts.  While Facebook = Social; Twitter = Information; LinkedIn = Professional; and Pinterest = Visual… now Google Plus = Group Productivity.

I am looking forward to seeing how everyone uses it

What could you use Google Plus Hangout’s “On Air” feature for in your area(s)?  What are your thoughts on all the new features?

One of the reasons I have always been drawn to technology is its ability to increase work efficiency when leveraged properly.  While traveling in March to Austin, Boston, and Louisville, a common conversation I had was how I used cloud technology in my daily work to keep up with everything I was expected to do.  Here are some quick ideas that you can implement today, with some others you may deem as summer projects

1.  Storage
It’s time to shift your computer “storage” paradigm into one that includes saving files to the cloud (unless it contains personal information, of course!) Set your PC or MAC to save to a cloud service such as DropBox, which allows you to access files from multiple devices, including your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop computer.  Telling folks, “Oh, that file is on my home computer, can I send it to you later?” is not really viable anymore… and with the dawn of Google Drive upon us, DropBox has upped its free account to 5GB (Beta) to stay competitive.

General DropBox Tips:
1.  Keep only the files you access regularly on the cloud instead of your computer’s Desktop. If you haven’t used certain files in three months, move it alternative storage like a internal or external hard drive, thumb drive,  or simply delete it.  If you want to make your “My Documents” folder point to DropBox, simply right-click on your My Documents folder then select the Location tab, click on ‘move’ & select your Dropbox folder. When you hit ok it will ask if you want to move all your files and folders to the new location also.  Click yes and you are done!
2.   Leave any “Shared Folders” once you have completed the tasks at hand.  Joining a shared folder contributes to your overall space usage, so make sure you leave as soon as you are able to!
3.  Disable the “Camera Upload” feature from your mobile phone:  Unless you are paying for more storage, this can eat into your space quickly.  While its a great feature to back up your mobile images, you may need to sacrifice this feature to keep the maximum amount of space you can.
4.  Save all your “meeting related” email attachments to DropBox to access them during a meeting.  Encourage meeting organizers to send agendas, articles, etc. ahead of time and to save unnecessary printing.

Favorite DropBox Uses:
1.   Sharing Files/Folders: As of this week, you can now share any file or folder upload to DropBox by right-clicking the file or folder and selecting the “Copy Link” action.    Now you can share that file via email and NOT clog the recipients Inbox with large attachments. Advanced Tip: If you want to know how many people clicked on your DropBox link, shorten it in bit.ly first, customize it if you wish (e.g. bit.ly/hereticposter), and then send it out.  Later on, check on your statistics by typing the bit.ly link with a + at the end of it (e.g.  bit.ly/hereticposter+)
2.   Leadership Transition Files: Do you have a group in transition that needs last year’s documents all in one easy place? Open up a new shared file in DropBox, have your officers, staff, leadership, etc. upload them all to one place, then share that folder with the new leadership. Can we move beyond the “passing of the binder” please?
3. Multiple DropBox Instances on Mac OSX: If you have more than one Dropbox account (e.g. one for work & one for personal), you may want to keep these files separate. Dropbox currently doesn’t allow you to run both instances on one user account. However, It’s possible to get a Mac to run multiple Dropbox instances.   There’s a useful app called DropboxEncore that allows you to have two separate instances running. Very handy!

2.  Google Docs and Microsoft Office
Another Cloud feature to consider is Google Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office, which allows users to upload Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly to Google Docs. While it is not available for Mac users, PC users will find it quite useful!  Whatever you are working on, you can easily upload to Google Docs by a click of button once you install this plugin on your computer.  Then, share the file easily to whomever is working with you on the file!

The difference between Google Docs and DropBox is simple: Upload a file to Google Docs for multiple people to edit and collaborate on.  Upload a file to DropBox to store and/or share with others.  For example, instead of emailing five different people a Word Document to edit (and not knowing which version is the current one), you send those five people to Google Docs to edit the document, always knowing what you are looking at is the most recent.

3.  Cloud Calendars
While I use Microsoft Outlook on campus to schedule and manage my BSU related appointments, there are instances where folks outside of BSU need to meet with me.  In these instances, I utilize Tungle to sync my calendar online so folks can see when I am available and suggest possible meeting times. Once the initial sync is complete, you could add a line to your email signature such as, “Need to schedule an appointment with me? Click here to suggest common times.” While I think its important to utilize Microsoft Outlook’s “Meeting Request” feature on campus (versus ‘emailing’ someone a meeting request), Tungle really does a nice job to make one’s calendar availability easy to access.

4.  Note Taking
When I first got my iPad, one of the things I was most excited about was the ability to take notes sans a pen and paper.  As I use my mobile devices more and more, I have found using Evernote essential.  Whether it be on my computer, iPad2 or Android RAZR, all of my ideas are centralized in one place.  You can create separate “notebooks” and create tags for advanced organization and easily share with others.

General Evernote Tips:
1.  Creating note tags that start with the * sign put it at the top of the “Tag List” (e.g. *Unfiled). Also, create note tags that include (year, month, specific people, ‘to_read’, ‘to_buy’, etc.)
2.  If you use Safari on the Mac, Shift+clicking the elephant icon will create a PDF from the current page and add it to your default notebook.
3.  Go beyond text to take “notes.” Consider drawing out your thoughts using Skitch, recording audio, or taking a photo.

Favorite Evernote Uses:
1.  Create notebooks for different projects, people, and work environments.
2.  Taking a picture of receipts and filing it in my “Receipts Notebooks”
3.  Created a shared “Groceries” note that you and your partner can use to make this task easier each week.
4.  Keep Software License numbers, Rewards Numbers for Airlines, Hotels, etc.
5.  Take pictures of your kids drawings and save them for sharing or reminiscing later.

While these are some of my everyday uses, here is a great list of 100+ more uses for Evernote!

5.  Music
While I am an avid iTunes user, one of the things I have never liked is being able to take all my music on the go via my Android device.  About a year ago, I got a beta invite to Google Music and have absolutely loved it ever since.  Now that it is open to everyone, you can sync your iTunes music with Google Music, including all your playlists, and have access to all your music whenever you want it.  If your music is on your computer at home, you can still listen to it at your work computer by logging in to Google Music or by downloading the Google Music Desktop App.

6.  Make Phone Calls Through GMail
I have been doing this since Google made this feature available in August of 2010, using my Google Voice phone number.  Since I have a webcam with a built in microphone, it is easy for me to do it.  What I find fun (and really cool), is making phone calls from my iPad using the Talkatone app, that ties directly into my Google Voice account.  Oh, you can also text from the app also !  So if my mobile phone dies, I can still use the iPad to make calls and send texts, as long as I have a WiFi connection.

How do you use technology to increase efficiency in your work and in your personal life? Do you use DropBox, Google Docs, Tungle, Evernote, Google Music and Voice? What other apps are on your computer, tablet, and/or mobile device?

It’s job search season for many folks in Student Affairs and Higher Education.  With the most recent Student Affairs Chat content, an opportunity to guest lecture in a Student Affairs Graduate Class, and recently reviewing resumes for a current opening at Bridgewater State University, I have paid more attention to how people are listing “technology”, “technology skills”, or “computer skills” on their resumes.  I thought it may help some of you out there, looking for a job in Higher Education and Student Affairs, on my own recommendations on how best to list these out.

1.  Remove “Proficient” and/or “Fluent”
By listing “Technology or Computer Skills” in its own section, it is understood by the reader that you feel you are proficient and/or fluent in them. No need to reinforce this

2. List the Most Current VERSION of Software
I often see “Microsoft Office”, “Microsoft Windows”, or “Adobe Photoshop” listed under Technology.  As a Hiring Manager, it would be helpful to see what versions of the software you are currently using to see if there is a campus match in that technology.  Also, knowing the version may make you a potential staff trainer which is needed in many Student Affairs offices today.  Listing the current version helps paint an accurate picture of your software knowledge base beyond the name of it.

3.  List HOW You Use Your Tech Skills
Take your resume to the next level!  Instead of listing out all of these skills, why not also share HOW you use them. Take my “Technology Skills” section for example:

For those hiring managers who are technically savvy, they will appreciate the presentation of your technology skills in this or similar format.  Do not simply list the software and/or hardware you use daily, but show them an understanding of why and how you use them.  For those who are not as technically savvy, this will blow them away  Your “technology skills” section may be a different length, but don’t waste the opportunity to showcase your depth of your experience.  Overall, it will make for great conversation over the phone and/or in-person.

(Side note: When listing Facebook or Twitter pages you have created and/or managed, share a direct link like http://facebook.com/BSUCampusCenter or http://twitter.com/BSUCampusCenter. If you manage multiple ones and need to save space on a line like I did above listing it as “/BSUCampusCenter” is also acceptable.)

4.  Teachable Moments
Like everything else you share on your resume or CV, make sure these are skills that you would feel confident having a conversation about.  In an interview, it would be quite challenging to talk about technology that you did not understand well.  In a recent mock interview, I asked a graduate student about how they share results from a SurveyMonkey.com survey, after he had listed it as a “technology skill.”  His response was that he printed out the results and sent it to folks who needed the information.  After sharing with him that there was an electronic way to do this within SurveyMonkey.com, he looked at me confused and said, “Really?”  I smiled and told him yes and then showed him within the system how to do it.  He was excited to learn about this and was relieved it happened in a mock interview.  I was too

5.  List “Technology Skills” Directly After Your “Experience” Section
This is something that I am currently working on in the latest version of my resume.  Before I had listed “Presentations”, “Professional Associations”, etc. before it, but a colleague of mine pointed out that in 2012, its important to showcase this section earlier as many Higher Education organizations, administrative divisions, and offices are looking for candidates with these skills.  List them sooner for greater visibility and attention.

Random Notes:
- List your Twitter Handle and Blog / E-Portfolio URL in your contact information if you have space.  Otherwise, list them in your Technology Section.
- If you have ever received any technology certifications (e.g. A+, PMI, MCSD, etc.), list them under your Education Section.
- If you are a web or graphic designer, list your referencing websites under your Experience Section.
- If Technology is part of your job description, list those referencing technology pages or publications under that respective Experience Section.

Whether you are job searching or not, take some time to update or add this section to your resume.  You just never know what section(s) of your resume will help you stand out, but I am willing to bet that a solid “Technology” section won’t hurt.

How do you list “Technology” on your resume? What advice do you have to those looking to update or add this section on their resume?

Yesterday, my friend and higher ed web colleague Mike Petroff, launched FollowEDU with a big splash! I’m very excited about this launch for what it means for those of us in Higher Education who are active on Twitter.

According to the FollowEDU ‘About’ page: “FollowEDU is a searchable directory of Twitter users in Higher Ed. It allows users to Sign In via Twitter and create an account, list their profile under Interests within higher ed, schools, companies, and more. FollowEDU was created by Mike Petroff and was designed and built in collaboration with Stamats Catchfire.”

The launch of this site is timely.  With more and more of Higher Education professionals connecting and engaging on Twitter, FollowEDU easily facilitates connections.  As Student Affairs professionals, this directory will allow us to branch outside our areas and connect with others in Higher Ed who may provide us with alternative views for a broader perspective.  While Twitter lists have helped with this, FollowEDU simplifies the search process.

To all my colleagues and friends in Higher Education, please help Mike out and join the FollowEDU community by:

1.  Logging into FollowEDU.com and sign in using Twitter.
2.  Completely fill out your profile by filling out your interests, hashtags, etc.
3.  Follow @WhotoFollowEDU on Twitter and tweet them with additional suggestions (e.g. additional interests, hashtags, etc.), suggested user interface updates and features, any challenges you are experiencing with FollowEDU, etc.
4.  Encourage others in Higher Education to join this new online community on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, and/or LinkedIn.

Kudos to Mike and the folks at Stamats Catchfire on this endeavor.  I admire your hard work, passion, and follow through!  Thanks for providing this network to help connect all of us who work in Higher Education!

What are your initial takes on FollowEDU? How will you use this new Higher Ed online community?

Almost two years ago, I wrote a post called “Teaching Twitter to Higher Education Colleagues” as a way to help people understand the self-proclaimed “information network.”  Surprisingly, it continues to be my most viewed post with (15,000+)!  From the feedback I’ve gotten, many folks felt that it helped simplify Twitter and get them thinking about it NOT with a “Facebook” brain.  Since then, Twitter has changed its user-interface twice, once this past summer and once again this past week, which has garnered many different opinions as it slowly rolls out! Today, I wanted to share some thoughts on the new interface and why I think that there are no longer any excuses why anyone who works in Higher Education shouldn’t be on Twitter connecting with students and colleagues alike.

Overview

1.  New Twitter Looks … Familiar
If anyone has ever told you, “Twitter is way too complicated” or “I just don’t get it”, they will be quite pleased with Twitter’s new user interface because it feels like Facebook, Google Plus, and LinkedIn.  By making it “look and feel” familiar, new users may not feel as intimidated as they start using Twitter.  This is a smart move on Twitter’s part as they continue to grow and find ways to monetize their product.  Truthfully, I didn’t like the new interface that much when I first saw it, but I realized quickly that this wasn’t targeted for me, it was targeted for new and future users.

2.  Twitter Lexicon is Simplified
Home: The home screen is simplified to include what’s important to the general user: Profile Overview, Tweet Box, Twitter Timeline, Suggestions on Who to Follow, and current trends.  What’s more is how you experience on Twitter via the web will be the same as you experience on the Twitter  via mobile apps.  The new Twitter app for Android and iPhone has even built in multiple account support to lure you away from apps like Seesmic, Osfoora, Plume, etc.  Again, this is done to simplify and grow consistency for the new user.  Conversations, pictures, and videos are all part of each “tweet” by simply clicking on it within the Twitter timeline.  You may have also noticed that Twitter accounts, links, and hashtags are colored grey, while everything else in the Tweet is in black. I suspect this is to help new users still read and understand the tweet content without getting confused with some of Twitter’s other lexicon. Oh, and kudos to Twitter for using a birdhouse for the “home” icon

For advanced users or those who still want to view multiple Twitter columns/feeds, “Twitter Pro” is being connected to long time favorite, Tweetdeck which is still  available after Twitter purchased it last May.

Connect: The old “mentions” and subsequent “activity” tab has been replaced with the more appropriate “connect” link which houses all the tweets that contain your Twitter username as well as anyone interacting with your tweets via retweets, replies, tweets that have been ‘favorited’, what ‘Lists’ you have been added to, and who your new followers are.  This centralizes all the Twitter connection pieces quite nicely and focuses your Twitter experience on THE CONVERSATION.  I am disappointed that the numbers associated with Lists have now gone away and are now less important in this iteration of Twitter.

Discover: Twitter promotes the new “Discover” link as “Simplicity Meets Serendipity.” I’m not sure how much I believe this description of the revamped “hashtag,” but certainly this is Twitter’s way of centralizing trending “stories”, twitter follower activities, who to follow, and what categories are trending, beyond topics. I can see new users finding this section interesting as they build their follower base and lurk versus engage.

3. Revamped Twitter Profiles
The new layout of your Twitter profile puts more emphasis on describing who you are, making your picture, bio, and website front and center.  Everything else is streamlined, making the experience a bit more intuitive for users of all levels.  The old twitter profile focused more on the Tweets.  While these are important, Twitter recognizes that the Tweets are only as important as the person sending them.  On Twitter, trust is built between users by building a profile that does a good job describing one’s interests and who they are looking to connect with. I do wish that DMs and Lists were still easily accessible, but now they are located one click away under the profile icon. My guess is that Twitter wants to direct more of the conversation public versus via direct message.

4.  Embed Tweets Anywhere, Easier

As someone who likes to share content from Twitter, this new feature makes it easier to do so. By clicking on a specific tweet in your Twitter timeline, you will notice a “details” link which takes you its specific URL.  From here, click on the “embed this tweet” link and it gives you choices on how (e.g. via email, webpage, blog, etc.)

The neat thing is that embedding tweets now allow for real time interaction without having to leave your webpage or blog. So if you embed a tweet, you can now reply, retweet, or favorite the tweet right from it (very cool!)

Twitter also took a step forward in Twitter button development. Now, you can create buttons for your blog or website that easily helps people Tweet a link, follow you, share hashtag conversations, and mention you in a Tweet with a single click.

Implications for Higher Education

1.  Call to Action: Share Your Twitter Story with a Friend or Colleague
With “New, New Twitter” being more “familiar” and easier to understand and with more Higher Education colleagues on it, now is the time to join, lurk, and engage.  If you have been on Twitter for a while, encourage others around you to create an account and jump in.  Support them through their initial learning curve, which should now be minimal, especially if they are used to other online networks.  Breakdown negative stereotypes about about Twitter by showing them how incredibly useful and powerful it can be by sharing your Twitter story and what made you go, “I get it now!”

2.  Use Twitter Beyond Conferences
This year, during professional conferences, I noticed an unbelievable spike in new Higher Education Twitter users.  Unfortunately, after the conferences were over, most of those new “Tweeps” no longer engaged in conversations.  Encourage those who are new-er to Twitter to reengage and find people and/or topics they really want to learn more about.  Suggest Twitter as a “personalized Google/Bing search” where answers to questions are human responses as opposed to search engine automated, page-ranked responses. If they have a smartphone, encourage them to download a Twitter app and continue their participation on the go

3.  Find a Use for Twitter in Your Next Department Program, Academic Class, or Current Service
If you haven’t used Twitter yet for your administrative or academic area, find a way to do so.  The best way to broaden one’s understanding is to implement Twitter however you can. Some ways to do this are:
a.  Creating Hashtags for Campus Conversations, Classes, or Services (e.g. #bsulife, #comm240, #bsucommutes)
b.  Gather Data Using Twtpoll (e.g. Halloween Costume Contest)
c.  Share Pictures and Videos from Events
d. Provide timely customer service and solicit feedback for future events.
e.  … and many more (just ask Student Affairs Chat!)

4.  Encourage Your Students To Join and Engage in Twitter
If the students in your area are not on Twitter, encourage them to join once you are well acclimated.  Teach them how to use it for professional networking and centralizing news/other information important to them, as their natural inclination will be to use it like Facebook.  If they are already on Twitter, connect with them (follow them, mention them in tweets, add them to lists, etc.) and if their Tweets are “protected,” engage in conversation with them as to why (e.g. for class, for personal reasons, etc.) In either way, its a great way to start Digital Identity conversations, which we must do more of in 2012.

What do you think of “new, new Twitter” and how will you use it to engage students, staff, and faculty alike?