I’ve now fully implemented my improved ad-hoc Google+ system for my weekend classes and have found the greatest barrier for entry to be that some students cannot use the net except for clicking on virtual cows and Like buttons.
After having them sign up for Gmail and Google Plus and showing them how I want work to be done for the first couple of classes, I now have a couple of active “Communities” where I post assignments and class announcements, and students ask questions and check their grades. It seems to be working smoothly. I’ve had some inquiries from people who saw my workshop at the conference last month, so it’s been good to experiment with new ideas and functions for this system.
Aaaaaauuuuggghh!! You teach on weekends??? What sort of schedule do you have? Do you at least get two days off in a row?
My university teaching schedule was pretty lax this past term, actually. I was teaching four days a week and off (not actually off, but not teaching) three days in a row. That overlapped with weekend classes that are on a trimester system for a couple weeks, but now weekday classes are finished until the next school year opens at the beginning of June.