Google Meet
Here is the Primary School version of the Google Meet Guide. There is a MS/HS version here. I've broken this into two parts, the need to know and the nice to know...
Google Meet Controls
The teacher controls the meeting rather than just being a participant, no equality! So that means that the teacher...
only the teacher (assuming they created the meeting) can mute or remove participants
can remove a participant if they need to.
cannot be removed from the meeting or muted by a student!
better performance with larger groups
Laptops Only
There have been a few updates to Google Meet that are worth noting
Raise hand is available to all participants, no extension installation needed
Change layout; click the 3 dots in the bottom right corner to see a few options, but change layout allows you to adjust the grid view to your heart's content....
Change background - does what it says on the tin!
Whiteboard - opens up a Jamboard to use with your class
Grid View for Students on an iPad
You can't use Grid View on an iPad. Having said that, there is one trick you could do as the presenter to let other people see the grid, even if they are on a phone or tablet. What you can do is turn on grid view for yourself, then share your screen with the other participants, so you share that with your class instead of your face by presenting your screen, now they'll see all their faces (and yours if you tick the box) not just yours....
Click the "Present Now" button in the bottom right corner.
Choose "Window"from the pop-up menu.
Select the window that has your Google Meet screen.
Finally click the "Share" button.
Now the other participants will see your shared screen, which has the gridview turned on, so they will also see the grid... In the Chrome extension there is an option to include your own face in the grid. Don't forget to stop sharing your screen when done by clicking the presentation button again and choosing "Stop presenting".
Need to Know - Invite participants to a Google Meet
Invite Students to a Meeting Now
These Meets are ad hoc, temporary, set up when you need it, just for that meeting....
Go to the Google Apps Grid
Click on Google Meet
Start a meeting
Add a random code (for security don't leave this blank)
Join
Copy the invite link (joining info)
Share that link with students
Nice to Know - Invite participants to a Google Meet with a Calendar Event
Set up a meeting in advance...
These Meets are set up in advance, they can be a one-off, or can be set to repeat, same 'space' same link.
Create a new Calendar Event
Add Conferencing
Invite Students in the Add Guests field
Untick 'Invite Others'
Make the event Private
Set it to repeat when you want, weekly?
Copy the Meeting Link (ID)
Share the link with students, or/and...
send an invite when you save the event
BONUS
These 'Meets' can be reused, so you effectively have one 'room' that kids can meet you in, whether as a whole class, or in groups, or individually.... just like your real classroom! Just send them the link in anyway you like...
Security
You may have heard of 'Zoom bombing', which is one unexpected individuals 'crash' a video conference; checking these settings can avoid this.
Ending the meeting
When you end the meeting you will have the option to 'end this call for everyone?' if you choose 'just leave the call' then the students can stay in the meet chatting afterwards. If you choose 'end the call' the meeting will end and they will be booted out. If they try to rejoin they will get a message saying 'waiting for the host to join'.
Quick Access - Additional Host Control
When you set up your Calendar event you can click the gear wheel (change conference settings) and untick the Quick Access option.
This adds the additional control of stopping students from joining your Google Meet before you do, and boots them out once when you end the meeting.
It also gives you the option of stopping them from using the Meet chat, and/or sharing their screen.
Top Tips
Set up a 'Virtual' Classroom
The Google Meet that you create from a Google Calendar event, effectively acts as a persistent room, think of it as a virtual classroom, similar to your physical classroom, so once students have the location (the link) they can visit at any time, of course (just like your real classroom) you will only be there at certain times.*
So you can literally use it like a virtual classroom whenever you want, same link, same 'room', use it with the whole class or with small groups, just keep using the same link and make sure you're in there when you tell them to be there. This link can be bookmarked just like a webpage, so it's always just a click away, eg https://meet.google.com/abc-defgh-ijk
Settings for a 'Virtual Classroom'
Create a new event in Google Calendar
Open up 'more options'
Set the event to repeat as preferred
Add video conferencing
Set the event to private
Remove the option for students to invite others
Add students, just start typing their surname, and choose their name from the pop up list
Copy the Meeting ID to share, email, bookmark
Save!
If you want to have a meeting with the same group, in the same 'room' at a different time, see below....
Duplicate a Meeting
If you want to use the same 'virtual classroom' at a different time, you can easily just duplicate an existing calendar event, the new event can be a different time but will use the same 'room' (Meeting ID) and will have the same participants.
Breakout Rooms
Alternatively you may wish to create different events with different 'rooms' as 'breakout rooms' for smaller groups.... That would mean creating a new event, and adding a smaller group of students to that event, this would have a separate 'room' but can be repeated in the same way, ie a regular meeting, just with that group.