Hangouts

Welcome

Hangouts is Google's web / mobile communications app, integrating video conferencing, live video podcasting, and instant messaging all into one app.

Educational use is a little limited, but there are a few things you might want to try.

Guest Speakers

You could definitely use another app for video conferencing with guest speakers, such as Skype, but Hangouts does the job very well and also allows for up to 10 speakers at once. Recently, my school was supposed to have our Congressman come do a Q&A with senior Government classes (he ended up cancelling at the last minute). In order to 1) allow other classes to watch live and 2) record the conversation, we set up a Google Hangout between the classrooms. We could even have had the other classes watching participate ask questions or even have allowed other schools to participate.

Screencasting

As discussed in the YouTube section of this site, you can use Hangouts to do screencasting. This is especially useful for disseminating directions to your students, especially if they've missed class or if you're doing a flipped classroom. The screencast is broadcast live on YouTube and then saved for later viewing.

Interaction Between Classrooms

Another use for Hangouts is to allow interactions between different classrooms. Your instructional team could have an inter-class debate each period using Hangouts. You could even take it further and discuss between schools in or even outside of your district. Remember that you can have 10 devices connected to a Hangout at once.

Sharing Screens

The ability to share a screen with someone is an invaluable tool for tech support. Why not bring that into the classroom? Students having trouble figuring out how to do something with their computer project in or outside of the classroom can just connect to a hangout with the teacher, allowing them to see how you are doing something while you watch to see what they are doing wrong. It certainly beats running around from desk to desk like a crazy person.