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Google #Meet live learning via video conference Tip and Hints for KS2 please add your own underneath, pics help. #caschat #primaryrocks #onlinelearning
Try and give notification of lessons that use video conferencing the day before as that will help parents plan shared equipment
Setup your video conference as a link inside a material assignment and make sure it is the first assignment after the topic heading. It helps to train pupils to use classwork rather than the stream to access work.
Schedule the video conference to appear 5 minutes before the session so pupils cannot use it without you being on it.
Login yourself 10 minutes before the session is due to start and 5 minutes before it is scheduled to appear and turn off quick access. You can then turn it back on at the appointed start time.
You might wish to turn off the chat box and screen sharing whilst you are presenting but make sure you turn them back on again afterwards as pupils might need to use this to work with you later on in the lesson.
You can share documents that you want the whole class to see or work on as links via the chat box. There is no need to make pupils access these through Google Classroom if they are an integral part of your instruction or modelling.
Do record the session by using the three dots and the record meeting button. Stop and restart the recording after your intro so you can share intro for absent pupils.
You might wish to adopt a blurred background or picture background especially if your home or school background is distracting. Avoid pictures that are distracting to reduce cognitive load.
Use the tiled layout set to maximum so you can see your pupils. Encourage them to leave their video feeds on if their connection is good. Visual feedback from pupils is helpful and makes teaching online easier
At the end of a video conference make sure all pupils leave before ending the conference so it cannot continue to be used. You may also wish to remove the link material assignment.
If at home do dress appropriately for school. Including fancy dress if you are roleplaying historical characters!
Do remove any child from a video conference who behaves inappropriately. If it is a minor offense give them a warning first. You can remove them via the controls on the people tab. Report this to a year leader or SLT this is one of the reasons we record lessons.
If you are teaching a blended learning class with some pupils at home and some at school turn off your microphone before admonishing pupils in school
In case of serious sound or connection issues ask the class to remain in the video conference and restart your browser and if that does not work restart your computer. The video recording will continue, and a restart will often fix many technical issues. 1/2
In case you cannot get back in get a collegue to enter the conference and end it. Post a message to say what happened most parents and pupils are very understanding of tech problems. 2/2
Do share a list of things to do and those not to do for pupils and parents.
Be honest with parents/pupils is a lesson will be harder to access on some devices.
Work with parents. The head teacher at Ringwood @RingwoodJunior has been great at working with staff, pupils and parents. You can see her work here. https://www.ringwood-junior.hants.sch.uk/parent-forum/
