Using Technology Tools - Video Conferencing
Up until recently, getting someone to meet with you or talk to your students meant either going on a field trip, or inviting someone physically into your classroom. With the advent of free and easy to use video conferencing tools, it's possible to schedule parent-teacher conferences at dates/times more convenient to you and your parents, or even invite content area experts to speak to and take questions from your students.
You don't have to have an expensive setup in order to conference with others. Your mobile phone, desktop or laptop, or an inexpensive tablet computer and a good Internet connection is all that's needed for two-way education-rich real-time communication.
DitchThatTextbook: Classroom Video Calls. You Can Do This. Here's How (Links to an external site.)
Apple FaceTime
If you have an Apple iPhone, MacBook or iPad, you already have this feature available to you. FaceTime (Links to an external site.) allows two Apple device owners to use their installed camera and microphone and hold a conference with each other.
At this time, FaceTime only allows two connections - the video caller and the person being video called. On either side of a FaceTime video call, there can be a single person or a room full of students, presenting or asking questions.
FaceTime is not available for non-Apple devices, but if you have a personal iPhone, even this can be used to perform the video conference. There are dongles allowing your phone to be connected to an LCD projector, and if you have an Apple TV, it's even easier to wirelessly broadcast video and sound to the big screen.
Google Hangouts
Available on Apple, Windows, or Chromebook machines, or via app on Android and Apple mobile devices. Basically, if your device has a camera and a microphone, you have a Google account and can connect to the Internet, you'll likely be able to use Hangouts for video conferencing.
Unlike FaceTime, Google Hangouts (Links to an external site.) allow far more than just two simultaneous participant connections. You can launch a Video Hangout and invite up to 24 other active participants to join in the discussion. This means a total of 25 viewers/participants, whether the video and audio feed is coming from a single person sitting at a desk, or an entire classroom watching and asking questions.
By connecting your Hangout account to your YouTube account (also available with any Google account,) you can record and archive Hangouts, for future class viewing. This is known as Hangouts Live on Air.
ChannelOne: EdTech Tip: Preparing Students for Google Hangouts (Links to an external site.)
YouTube Live
Like Hangouts, YouTube Live (Links to an external site.) is available to anyone who has a Google account and a good Internet connection. It leverages your YouTube channel, once connected, and allows you to stream video and audio through the channel. It's basically a YouTube video, only broadcast live. It's accessed like any other movie, by visiting the channel or through a direct hyperlink.
YouTube Live is the preferred method of performing recorded video conferences, so expect Hangouts Live on Air to disappear at some point. An added bonus of going this route, is that when the video is completed, is it will be archived on your YouTube channel to use over and over with future students.
Alice Keeler: YouTube Live: Bookmark It (Links to an external site.)
Consider this: As with any other public-facing window into your campus, you will need to make sure your administration is on the same wavelength, and understands how you will vet a content area expert, and ensure proper classroom conduct.
Using Technology Tools - Video Conferencing
Using Technology Tools - Video Conferencing
Up until recently, getting someone to meet with you or talk to your students meant either going on a field trip, or inviting someone physically into your classroom. With the advent of free and easy to use video conferencing tools, it's possible to schedule parent-teacher conferences at dates/times more convenient to you and your parents, or even invite content area experts to speak to and take questions from your students.
You don't have to have an expensive setup in order to conference with others. Your mobile phone, desktop or laptop, or an inexpensive tablet computer and a good Internet connection is all that's needed for two-way education-rich real-time communication.
DitchThatTextbook: Classroom Video Calls. You Can Do This. Here's How (Links to an external site.)
Apple FaceTime
If you have an Apple iPhone, MacBook or iPad, you already have this feature available to you. FaceTime (Links to an external site.) allows two Apple device owners to use their installed camera and microphone and hold a conference with each other.
At this time, FaceTime only allows two connections - the video caller and the person being video called. On either side of a FaceTime video call, there can be a single person or a room full of students, presenting or asking questions.
FaceTime is not available for non-Apple devices, but if you have a personal iPhone, even this can be used to perform the video conference. There are dongles allowing your phone to be connected to an LCD projector, and if you have an Apple TV, it's even easier to wirelessly broadcast video and sound to the big screen.
Google Hangouts
Available on Apple, Windows, or Chromebook machines, or via app on Android and Apple mobile devices. Basically, if your device has a camera and a microphone, you have a Google account and can connect to the Internet, you'll likely be able to use Hangouts for video conferencing.
Unlike FaceTime, Google Hangouts (Links to an external site.) allow far more than just two simultaneous participant connections. You can launch a Video Hangout and invite up to 24 other active participants to join in the discussion. This means a total of 25 viewers/participants, whether the video and audio feed is coming from a single person sitting at a desk, or an entire classroom watching and asking questions.
By connecting your Hangout account to your YouTube account (also available with any Google account,) you can record and archive Hangouts, for future class viewing. This is known as Hangouts Live on Air.
ChannelOne: EdTech Tip: Preparing Students for Google Hangouts (Links to an external site.)
YouTube Live
Like Hangouts, YouTube Live (Links to an external site.) is available to anyone who has a Google account and a good Internet connection. It leverages your YouTube channel, once connected, and allows you to stream video and audio through the channel. It's basically a YouTube video, only broadcast live. It's accessed like any other movie, by visiting the channel or through a direct hyperlink.
YouTube Live is the preferred method of performing recorded video conferences, so expect Hangouts Live on Air to disappear at some point. An added bonus of going this route, is that when the video is completed, is it will be archived on your YouTube channel to use over and over with future students.
Alice Keeler: YouTube Live: Bookmark It (Links to an external site.)
Consider this: As with any other public-facing window into your campus, you will need to make sure your administration is on the same wavelength, and understands how you will vet a content area expert, and ensure proper classroom conduct.