Google Groups

     

Name of the Tool:
Google Groups

URL of the Tool:
https://groups.google.com/

Primary category for this tool:  
Networking/Social Tool

Please describe this tool in your own words:

Google groups is a great place to join or create forums to connect with others around the 

world to discuss similar interests.  You can browse groups and join if the subject matter 

interests you.  Once you join a group, you can choose to receive email updates on new posts 

in the group or you can sign in to google groups to see posts if you prefer to not receive 

emails.  If you do not find a group already created for the subject you are interested in, you 

can create your own.  In creating your own group, there are many advantages.  You can 

decide who can join the group, who can post in the group, and who can see the posts in the 

group.  Google groups is very user friendly and can also be accessed through mobile 

devices.       

What do you need to know before using this tool? 

Google groups is very user friendly.  It could be helpful to understand the workings of a 

discussion forum so that the format makes sense to you.  

What do you need to have before using this tool?

To use Google groups, you must have a computer with access to the internet or a mobile 

device with access to the internet.  

How do you use this tool? Locate or create your own example of an educational resource 

created with this tool and discuss what you found or created.

I utilized Screenr to create a video of using this tool.   In the video, I created a Medical 

Dosimetry Students' Forum that could be used as an educational discussion forum.

Describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment:

Google groups can be used in many different ways in a teaching environment.  Currently, 

our students are communicating between themselves using the social network, Facebook.  

Google groups could be used to create a discussion forum for the students, as well as an 

avenue for announcements by instructors.  Unlike Facebook, instructors can moderate the 

discussions in Google groups.  Students could also be encouraged to search related 

dosimetry topics.  This could help with their networking and job search.  It could get them 

ready for working at a smaller institution and using discussion forums to help solve 

treatment planning, billing, simulation, and other medical dosimetry related problems that 

are commonly encountered.  

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? 

The advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment are: the students are learning 

to troubleshoot some of the commonly encountered problems, they are networking with 

other dosimetrists, and they learn how to communicate in the virtual environment.  A 

disadvantage is that students could possible utilize the tool in getting assistance in their 

competencies.

Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they explore a different 

tool?

I would definitely recommend this tool to other users.  It is very user friendly.