Course Builder

An adapted excerpt from Google Course Builder

Community tools comparison

This list of online funtionalities refers only to Google features. It is, however, illuminative for other systems.

Technology
Best for...
Pros
Cons
Implementation Tips

Email announcement group
Sending one-way information (like course announcements) to course participants.
Easy, quick way to send out announcement emails.
Students can opt out of receiving email.
Most students are comfortable with email technology.
No way to enroll all students at once; they must individually register.
Emails may be perceived as spam.
See Announcements-only Email List.

Web forum using Google groups
Post course announcements.
Post optional material (background and advanced) for students to access and discuss.
Students apply and display their understanding; debate with each other.
Students share feedback about the course.
Students can answer each others’ questions.
Students can initiate their own discussions.
Course staff can monitor discussions.
Many people are not comfortable with posting information publicly.
Some students find Google Groups UI difficult to navigate.
Determine categories of posts in advance.
Enable the ability to mark threads as duplicates.
See Community Discussion.

Google+ page
Sending one-way information (like announcements) publicly.
Public.
Reaches students when they are on Google+.
Students can reshare posts.
Posts can be edited after the fact.
Google+ does not have a high adoption rate.
Public.

Blog
Post one-way course announcements.
People can choose to follow via email.
Public.
Can edit posts.
Public.

Email help alias
Students ask private questions of course staff.
Students share feedback about the course.
Some students are hesitant to use forums; likely more comfortable with email technology.
Requires course staff to answer emails.
Can end up answering same questions multiple times.
If using Gmail, can set up canned responses to address FAQs.
Can set up an auto-responder directing people to the forum.

Hangouts
Live collaboration between students.
Office hours with course staff.
Live video collaboration.
New technology that not all students will be comfortable with.
Requires participants to have a Google+ account.
Limit of 10 people in a hangout at a given time.
See Online Office Hours.

Hangouts On Air
Live office hours to address student questions.
Can broadcast to the world.
Can collect engagement data easily.
Limited live interaction between students and instructors.
New technology.
Requires Google+ account (or Google+ page) for the instructor.
Helpful to use a Moderator page to sort student questions in advance.
Requires YouTube channel.
See Online Office Hours.

Google Moderator
Students ask questions of course staff.
Most popular questions can be addressed.
Students vote for top questions.
Not well integrated with Hangouts on Air.
Best when used with live events (like Hangouts on Air).
See Online Office Hours.

YouTube Channel
Host all videos; encourage reuse and video responses.
All of your course videos are accessible at one site.

Necessary to have a YouTube channel if you want to do a Hangout on Air.

Technology	Best for...	Pros	Cons	Implementation Tips
Email announcement group	Sending one-way information (like course announcements) to course participants.	Easy, quick way to send out announcement emails. Students can opt out of receiving email. Most students are comfortable with email technology.	No way to enroll all students at once; they must individually register. Emails may be perceived as spam.	See Announcements-only Email List.
Web forum using Google groups	Post course announcements. Post optional material (background and advanced) for students to access and discuss. Students apply and display their understanding; debate with each other. Students share feedback about the course.	Students can answer each others’ questions. Students can initiate their own discussions. Course staff can monitor discussions.	Many people are not comfortable with posting information publicly. Some students find Google Groups UI difficult to navigate.	Determine categories of posts in advance. Enable the ability to mark threads as duplicates. See Community Discussion.
Google+ page	Sending one-way information (like announcements) publicly.	Public. Reaches students when they are on Google+. Students can reshare posts. Posts can be edited after the fact.	Google+ does not have a high adoption rate. Public.
Blog	Post one-way course announcements.	People can choose to follow via email. Public. Can edit posts.	Public.
Email help alias	Students ask private questions of course staff. Students share feedback about the course.	Some students are hesitant to use forums; likely more comfortable with email technology.	Requires course staff to answer emails. Can end up answering same questions multiple times.	If using Gmail, can set up canned responses to address FAQs. Can set up an auto-responder directing people to the forum.
Hangouts	Live collaboration between students. Office hours with course staff.	Live video collaboration.	New technology that not all students will be comfortable with. Requires participants to have a Google+ account. Limit of 10 people in a hangout at a given time.	See Online Office Hours.
Hangouts On Air	Live office hours to address student questions.	Can broadcast to the world. Can collect engagement data easily.	Limited live interaction between students and instructors. New technology.	Requires Google+ account (or Google+ page) for the instructor. Helpful to use a Moderator page to sort student questions in advance. Requires YouTube channel. See Online Office Hours.
Google Moderator	Students ask questions of course staff.	Most popular questions can be addressed. Students vote for top questions.	Not well integrated with Hangouts on Air.	Best when used with live events (like Hangouts on Air). See Online Office Hours.
YouTube Channel	Host all videos; encourage reuse and video responses.	All of your course videos are accessible at one site.		Necessary to have a YouTube channel if you want to do a Hangout on Air.