Hybrid Learning
August 2020, after a term of online learning we have developed an impressive set of online learning tools, bit now circumstances will force many of us to combine thise with our classroom teaching skills to deliver lessons to both online and face to face learners. Below are tips and suggestions from colleagues:
Jason Perkins presentation during an inset session 28/9/21
Practice is important - try a Google Meet between classrooms, deliberately have someone in another room participating via Meet during a meeting,..
From English (19th Aug)
1. Plan as if the lesson is online. Ensure a clear lesson plan and resources which can be posted on google classroom for your learners whether they are in class or online.
2. Make clear marks on your desk and floor space having tried out where you can best position your laptop to run a google meet whilst delivering to the class who are present. This means that you can always set things up for best image and sound.
3. If playing a video use the 3rd option of a google chrome tab as the quality is significantly improved. Do note you have to stop that once finished but it allows you to access other tabs on your laptop and leave the video playing for both class and online learners.....
4. Remember to press Record. Or have a student involved who will remember! Likewise have a student in contact with an online learner who can signal if they have a question or contribution so you don't have to keep monitoring your screen
5. After recording (remember to press stop!) this will appear in your drive in a folder called Meet Recordings. It is best to rename them as they saved by date and a GMT time. They can then be linked to google classroom for the asynchronous learners to watch when they wake!
6. Facilitate group work by having online learners work together through the google classroom meet code or set up mini meets for groups of students so online learners can work with those able to join lessons real time.
There are some spare devices or ipads with IT if you wish to sign one out - this will be on a week by week basis. That way you can set up a separate device to record and manage the google meet. Your phone may be able to do this also. However, there is limited availability so be able to use your laptop too....
This may be daunting but plenty of faculty time this week allows you to have a practice; split your meeting and try! That way you will know the best angles and can assess sound quality. We did this in English today (thanks Eva and team) and the final recording and live time quality worked pretty well!
From Humanities (20th Aug)
We did a trial too
The run through was invaluable in sorting out so many little things. 'Additional' takeaways/thoughts, or what kinda worked well from ours were...
ALL on Google Meet at beginning to meet and greet - MIKES OFF (unless invited to say hi) - cameras perferably on to say high, but optional
- BUT then students in class SIGN OFF - teacher and remote learners (RLs) AND one nominated buddy in class STAY ON- (We tried in-class students staying on Meet, but this was messy)
Intro to class as normal, clear instructions, objectives. (First part of lesson most important crucial) - RLs 'pin' the teacher on Meet so only focused on this.
Buddy - nominated, on rotation perhaps - to link with remote learners - linking by typing in chat rather than mike. The buddy can offer this support, and alerts teacher if cannot help a remote student,
We trialed groups working together - what's best is RLs together, and the in-class groups. RLs can give feedback to class via Meet/Projector/speakers (camera optional). In class student(s) giving task feedback to class can stand in front of teacher's laptop
Whiteboard CAN work well - if writing and drawing large and clear - especially from laptop on high table - work out your best table position - using markers (as you said) - use blank screen option on remote, so laptop face doesnt interfere - Board pens dark colours work better - lights off in class, at least front or room lights, front blind down.
AUDIO and Feedback
Remember anytime you have multiple devices in the same room participating in the same Google Meet there is a risk of feedback (a whistling noise) to avoid this try to ensure that only one device has the microphone unmuted and volume turned up.
Macbook microphones are quite good at picking up speech even from a distance, but you may find it helpful to use one device for the camera and a second closer device for the microphone and sound.
For important group meetings IT has one Conference meeting system (video, audio and speaker) which can be booked. They will also try to support requests for a second device in a classroom.
Using a second mobile device
Open Google Meet on your laptop from Google classroom, and change the view to spotlight (if you’re showcasing something)
When using a second “mobile” device, turn off speakers and mic on your laptop when using the mobile device (or you get an “echo”)
Open Google Classroom app on your mobile device, click on the video icon top right to launch Google Meet from there and join that meet.
You can then go mobile with that device and have it display on, your computer(and projector) and to students who are on the meet at home.
You can click the 3 dots top right on your device for more camera options etc.
