This guide is [loosely adapted, modified from] the "Flexible Plan for Instructional Continuity" from Sacred Heart Preparatory, Atherton, CA (tinyurl.com/instructionalcontinuity). The lead writers are Diana Neebe (@dneebe, dneebe@shschools.org) and Joy Lopez (@technomaven, jlopez@shschools.org).
A synchronous class can take many forms, and a video conference is certainly not the only way. Below are a few tried-and-tested suggestions to get you started if you do choose to get your class together on Google Hangouts.
Determine the length of your class. Holding attention online for over an hour is difficult. Consider this ahead of time.
Login ahead of students and greet them when they enter “class.”
Set up Chat parameters. Use the chat feature as the instructor to catch up late students, nudge students who are not jumping in, ask everyone to respond to a question like you might in class to get a heat check of student understanding.
Call roll to bring the class to order. You can ask them to say here, type here in chat, or take a screenshot of your participants list. You will need attendance records for later, so make sure you do this up front.
Once class begins, work with your class to establish some shared Google Hangouts norms, such as: mute your mic when not speaking, say your name before you participate (sometimes it’s hard to tell who is speaking).
Remind students that the same tech rules apply to a virtual classroom as to the physical classroom. No taking or posting images/video of classmates and instructors to the web or to social media without permission. Students have the ability to screenshot.
Begin your instruction by directing students to your expectations for the week (on MySA or Google Classroom). Show the update that you posted for the class; this should have the outline of the work for the week. Walk students through the update, pointing out where the resources and assignments for that week are located.
Preview your objectives for the virtual class and any expectations you have of them during the call (notes, participation, response online after class, etc.)
Start your presentation, discussion, lesson, etc. Enjoy, for a brief moment, the luxury of teaching in a dress shirt and pajama pants.
About five minutes before ending class, go back to your MySA or Google Classroom page and remind students about the upcoming work for the week. This may seem overly-redundant. Just remember: this will be a monumental shift for students and they will need all the clarity and support they can get.