Getting Ready

How Do I Set Up a Virtual Speaker?

A year ago we would have introduced Google Hangouts and Google Meets and talked about how to use those. Since you are attending this meeting, you are somewhat familiar with this technology. Take a look at this link to find more great tips about how to set up a Google Hangout or Meet.

There are a lot of things to think about when you host a guest speaker in person or virtually. I have listed some different questions to ask here:

Will students be free to ask questions? Will they enter those questions in the chat area? How will I include students who are at home?

Do I have all the technology I need? Have I given the guest speaker the link to the session?

Where will students sit? Will they be at their desks with their own Chromebook? Will they be watching a projection?

There are so many ways to situate your students during the guest speaker. The most important thing is that you think about your the physical layout of the room and your students before the big day arrives. Take a look at 3 different scenarios I came up with for placement of students during a guest speaker's appearance.

You have students sit at their desks with everything cleared off so they can focus on the guest speaker. Students who are not physically in class can join remotely and turn off their cameras so they aren't a distraction. If you use this set up, you may want to have a camera on a tripod facing your class so that the speaker can see your students and they can ask questions.

You have students at their desks with their Chromebooks watching on their own screens. They can ask questions in the chat area. Students who are at home could follow the same procedure.

Maybe you have a great speaker and you would like several classes to hear the presentation. Give each teacher the link to the Google Hangout and it can be projected to each class. Students at home could also access the link.

Equipment You May Need

Webcamera
Tripod-or steady place for webcam
Google Hangout link to send to speaker

Checklist--Am I Ready?

Have you made the Google Hangout/Meet link?
Have you given that link to your guest speaker and any distance learning students?
Have you talked with your students about appropriate behavior during the guest speaker's appearance?
Have you given the students background about the guest speaker?
Do you have an introduction for the guest speaker?
Have you had your students write questions to ask the guest speaker?

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