Google Meet

OTHER TIPS:

Have (or be) a HOST or MODERATOR who can call on others to talk and direct any conversations, or share desktops
Have an AGENDA to keep the meeting progressing
Have a plan to CONCLUDE the meeting

Google Hangouts

https://hangouts.google.com/

Limited to 25 participants
Best for limited chats, voice and video messaging
Features ongoing text histories, plus voice and video chats

Google Meet

https://meet.google.com/

Up to 250 participants
Better for larger group video conferencing and presentations.
Includes screen sharing, and the ability to record sessions
Can be scheduled into a calendar
Only available to host with G.Suite account

WISHLIST

Is there a good, free app that could propose QUESTIONS or TOPICS for a meeting, and let users vote them up or down prior or even during the meeting? There used to be a product called Google Moderator that would do that. Here are some candidates (they all require creating accounts):

QUESTIONS/ISSUES:

Given that there is a policy that Teachers should not be "alone in the room" with a student, HOW can we provide "office hours" or assistance when an individual student arrives for help?
Currently, anyone with the code can "crash" a meeting even if they aren't on a guest list built in Google Calendar. Can you restrict a MEET to ONLY the invited guests.
Can a MEET link be set to expire? Students can access an unsupervised link before or after the host teacher arrives or leaves. Is this a liability issue? Students already use apps like Discord to video meet
When adding students using a Calendar event - there is an asterix indicating that we may not be able to access the student's calendars. Is this something we need B&LT to fix?

BEST PRACTICES

Schedule it as a Google CALENDAR event - turn off the "Guest Permissions" that allow them to INVITE OTHERS
You NEED a host or moderator - someone to direct the flow, introduce and thank participants, CONCLUDE IT when it starts running too long
Post a shared AGENDA, and share it with the participants with comments allowed
1. Assign ONE STUDENT the task of recording notes into the agenda - someone who can touch type
Use COMMENTS to signal that you want to contribute - ie : "Raise your hand"

Sample Agenda:

CommTech Student Video Conference Agenda

April 1 2020

Welcome and Thank you - This will be no longer than 30 minutes
Video Meet Protocols (rules)
1. OCDSB Reference Sheet
2. Recording Video / Notes
3. Concerns - Expectations
What we've been trying to figure out
1. Communication (Attendance)
2. Personal Resources (Internet, Computers)
3. Testing things out - what works? What's not practical?
What's Next
1. Learn from Home Phase2 Starts on Monday - Ministry/OCDSB Expectations
2. Attendance will be taken starting MONDAY
3. Assignments will start being evaluated for grades
Other?

Sample pre-meeting email

1) When you first join the Meet, make sure your mic is muted.

Before you join (give yourself 5 minutes before the meeting starts to make sure you're in) you will see a screen that lets you see your "join settings". You can mute your mic (bottom left) and if you have poor internet, or are in your PJ's and don't want people to make fun of your bed-head, you can kill the video as well (bottom right).

Once your settings are done just click on join meeting. If something is wonky (can't hear, or can't see), then jump back out of meet and rejoin. That seems to fix it.

2) Use the chat features at the right to pose a question

I'll keep checking on the right side of the screen at the "chat" flyout. If you want to ask a question I'll pause occasionally then you can jump in by unmuting your mic (if you're on your phone i think most of you have to swipe up to get the mic/video icons to reappear).

To be clear, this should take <30min. I'll stick around afterwards to answer a few questions.

See you tomorrow at 12:00

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