A reference portal for students, mentors, and ATL in-charges. Data has been filtered & names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Remote mentoring tools

For use by ATL in-charge only: Set-up video conferencing session with remote mentor(s) for conducting remote mentoring sessions with students...

For setting up remote mentoring sessions, lab in-charge, remote mentor and students can use either a remote screen-sharing tool or a remote-desktop tool. The choice between the two depends on whether the remote participants want to only view the remote screen, or also interact with it. Please refer to the differences between the two types of tools below.

Remote Screen-Sharing Tools

With remote screen-sharing, a user can view the entire desktop screen of the remote computer or specific software applications running on the remote computer. However, with only screen-sharing ability, a user cannot take control of the remote computer. Google Hangouts and Skype (for personal use) apps allow screen-sharing of a computer with a remote user's device.

Google Hangouts

Using Google Hangouts, one can not only have a video call with another participant, but also do remote screen-sharing. In the context of remote mentoring, the student can share his/her desktop screen with the remote mentor using Hangouts' screen-sharing option, while having Hangouts video call in parallel. The remote mentor can connect to the session using a Google Hangouts app and view the remote desktop. Google Hangouts can be installed as a Chrome extension from this link:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd?hl=en.

Google Meet

Google Meet is a simple video conferencing tool that can be used from both web browser on a desktop / laptop computer, or by downloading the Google Meet app on your smartphone. You can join a meeting, or schedule a meeting of your own from both web and mobile interfaces. The free version of Google Meet allows for group video calls with up to 100 participants and for a duration of one hour. It also allows screen sharing.

To use Google Meet from your desktop web browser, visit: https://meet.google.com

Skype

Most of us are familiar with Skype for video calling. But, Skype also has a screen-sharing feature that allows one to remotely view someone’s computer screen, though we may not have used it. In the context of remote mentoring, the student can share his/her desktop screen with the remote mentor using Skype screen-sharing option, while having a Skype video call in parallel. The remote mentor can connect to the session using a Skype app and view the remote desktop. Skype for Windows can be downloaded from this link:

https://www.skype.com/en/get-skype.

Remote Desktop Tools

Remote desktop tools not only allow a user to connect to a computer in another location to view that computer's desktop, but also interact with it as if it were local. Therefore, a user can gain control of the remote computer and operate it as if it were a local computer. These tools provide better convenience than simple screen-sharing tools. Chrome Remote Desktop and TeamViewer are examples of remote desktop tools.

Google Remote Desktop

This is a remote desktop tool developed by Google that allows a user to remotely access and control another computer. In fact, it works directly from Chrome web-browser which makes it easier to use. In the context of remote mentoring, the student can share his/her desktop screen with the remote mentor using Chrome Remote Desktop tool, while having Google Hangouts video call in parallel. The remote mentor can connect to the session using Chrome Remote Desktop tool and view/control the remote desktop. Chrome Remote Desktop can be downloaded from this link:

https://remotedesktop.google.com.

Team Viewer

TeamViewer is an advanced software for remote control, desktop sharing, online meetings, web conferencing and file transfer between computers. TeamViewer allows users to remotely access and control desktop of other computers and servers from anywhere, on a 3G or better internet connection. It also supports live video streaming between the two ends. TeamViewer can be downloaded from this link:

https://www.teamviewer.com/en/products/teamviewer.

Zoom

Zoom is an advanced remote video conferencing software tool for group video or audio calls. It allows remote screen sharing, desktop control, text messaging, etc.