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.

Videoconferencing Tools

Some of us are old enough to remember actually dialing telephones (that only reached as far as the cord would stretch).  As well as busy signals and having to call back because people didn't have answering machines.  Back then, adding video to a phone call was an exciting idea, but it took the tech world some time to get there.

Well, times have surely changed.  There are now many ways to videoconference.  The educational applications are many; you can invite guest speakers to connect from their location, hold discussions with classrooms around the world, facilitate distance learning, and more.

Here are some tools that you can use, with a brief discussion of each (note that these apps are frequently updated, so you may find different functionality in the most recent version).

First off, here's what all of these apps support:

• Sharing your screen, so other participants can see a presentation or document, etc.
• Multiple participants
• Ability to mute audio and/or video
• Ability to participate by phone
• Chat/text messaging 

Skype

This was the first well-known application for computers It requires installing software on your Windows of Mac device.  If you're on a Chromebook, consider a different application at this point. Users need to have a Microsoft account (Skype is now owned by Microsoft). 

Google Hangout/Meet

Works in the browser, so it's great for Chromebooks as well as Windows and Mac.  Detects who's speaking, changing the video focus to that person. You can invite people who don't have Google accounts.

GoToMeeting, Cisco WebEx, Adobe Connect...

These are popular apps in the business world.  They requires downloading software or installing a Chrome extension.  Free versions are limited. You may be invited to one of these by an organization or business, but I would not recommend using this for your class.

There are many other computer-based applications, as well, but I would start with either Google or Skype.

One thing I have found using these tools for distance learning is that they allow students to participate in the mode with which they are most comfortable.  Some like to broadcast video, others audio only, and others by text.  

What's this about G Suite?

In case your were wondering... G suite is the new name for Google Apps (Docs, GMail, Calendar, Drive, etc.).   Same tools, new name. Time to add a new tag to the blog!

Vermont Google Educator Group HOA

Dear teachers.

Wondering what an HOA is?  It stands for "Hangout On Air," which is a video chat session (similar to Skype) that is streamed live.  Typically, a panel discusses a topic in the hangout while others watch the discussion, optionally posting questions for the panelists.  This afternoon, there will be a Hangout On Air hosted by the Vermont Google Educator Group all about using Google Classroom.  If you're been wondering about Google Classroom, here's a chance to hear about it from Vermont educators.

So, now you might ask what the Vt Google Educator Group is.  As more schools in Vermont use Google applications extensively, this group (Google Plus Community) has been formed to support their use.  Check it out here.

Speaking of Google Plus, if you used your cvuhs.org account for Google +, there isn't an easy way to transfer posts, etc to your cssu.org account (you can, however, download the data from the old account-- just no way to upload it to the new one).  I'm just starting from scratch again, adding people to my circles and re-joining communities.

And if you're not sure what Google Plus is all about, here's an older post from a workshop.

Please let  me know if you have any questions.