The power (and simplicity) of videoconferencing

I was just chatting with Olaf V about his robotics team.  Turns out there's a team at South Burlington HS doing similar work and their coach and Olaf thought it would be helpful to collaborate. 

Yesterday, they set up a Google Hangout (a videoconferencing app similar to Skype, Facetime, or Zoom) so that the students at each location could see what those at the other location were doing.  There was a webcam at either end, and some students also joined the Hangout with a phone, so they could use it to zoom in on details. Students asked each other questions and were able to help one another out.

Sound complicated? It's not!

• There's no software to install
• Just make a new calendar event or start a chat and you'll have the option to videochat

• You and students can connect on any device-- Chromebook, other laptop or desktop, phone, or tablet
• Plug in the webcam and it works (no drivers to install), or use the built-in in camera on your device.

Trust me-- you can do this! And it makes a difference.  

Olaf reports that the connections students made were powerful-- our kids helped out their South Burlington peers and vice versa.

Let's make even more of these connections-- whether it's the school down the road or somewhere across the world.