Video Teaching and Conferencing Guide

Online Teaching and Learning - Google Classroom

Classroom is the only option which knows which kids belong in your class and can verify who they are. It allows teaching of class groups with almost zero setup.

Classroom meets generally more reliable and are vastly superior when streaming video to the students.

Small meetings & PT Interviews: 1 Presenter, small number of trusted participants

Webex is used for parent teacher interviews because

  • You get a single meeting room, you do not have to jump in an out of meetings, the parents come to you

  • Parents can be directed to a waiting room if they arrive early and cannot jump in unannounced

Watch this mock interview to see how to work with parents remotely


Please conduct a short (even 30 seconds) trial Webex with a colleague and update Webex if it asks. Test sound and video.

Take turns at being the host. This is important as you, and we, need to know now if something has stopped working since last time.


Printable Guide

Use your WebEx personal room - same as we do for online Parent Teacher InterviewsIT can provide support with obtaining the link to send to parents and/or colleagues

Medium Presentations: 6-30 trusted attendees 1-3 Presenters

Use a webex scheduled meeting from Outlook

This generates an individual meeting link and code for each meeting (useful for interviews) so that no one else can join your meeting or interview

Setup via a WebEx plugin in Outlook, available in the Software Center.

IT can assist with installing the plugin and also provide support in creating the scheduled meeting

Large Presentations, Parent info nights: 30+ attendees 1-10 Presenters

Use Webex Webinars.

Only webex Webinars can control participant behaviour - ie lock out all cameras / chat messages.

This allows proper control over presentations and Assemblies, ensuring that only the appropriate people are visible on screen.

Webex events are not created through the webex app, you need to contact IT support at least a week in advance

People who are not part of the 'show' are inherently muted (Audio and Video)

Needs a dedicated 'host' or 'showrunner' to control the meet and bring presenters to stage when needed.

Presenters don't have to be all in the same space - guest speakers can be anywhere in the school or the world.

You will need IT assistance with setup and often running of the meeting - unless you have run one before. There are a lot of options to be set when creating an Event

Printable Guide

Webex Comparison Table

Personal meeting room

Scheduled Meeting

Webex Webinars

  • Easiest option

  • Uses your permanent webex room link - like a phone number people can come back anytime in the future.

  • Closed Room Option - people with the Meeting Room link can join the lobby at any time and see the details of other people in the call

  • Open Room Option - people with the Meeting Room link can join the call at any time

  • Limited Chat Support

  • Individual link for each meeting and can be password protected to prevent uninvited guests or open to all.

  • The link is no longer relevant once the meeting ends - you are not giving out your permanent Web-ex 'phone number'

  • Predefined Breakout Rooms can be configured

  • Other features, interface and options identical to personal room

  • The easiest way to create one is via your outlook calendar, not webex.

  • Assemblies, Parent Information Nights

  • Quite different interface

  • Allows a host role, a person who does not present but makes sure the correct speakers and presentations are on the screen and change at the correct times.

  • The host controls what everyone sees, viewers have limited options.

  • Separate individual links for presenters and attendees.

  • Full Q&A support to allow written questions to be passed off privately to the appropriate panelist - and this can be controlled by the host or a dedicated panelist

  • Chat can be disabled, but questions still allowed. Questions can be publically answered on the fly at your discretion.

  • Attendess (and Panelists if need be) can be polled