Practice
presenting using loud and clear voices (outside voices).
Involve
all students in your classroom. Have groups present different
parts. Jobs could include document camera person, computer
operator, etc.
Assign
a host for your connection. This student will introduce
the class, tell what comes next, and say the good byes
to the other class.
Plan to involve the
other class
Have them introduce
themselves (quick names)
Open ended questions
Ask the other
class to do activities or create something
Possible visuals
Charts and graphs
Student art
Computer presentation
Overheads
Using visuals
Change the visual
or the focus often.
Try not to leave
the audience looking at the document camera for too long.
Show the students or presenter again. People can feel
distanced if they are just looking at visuals and not
people.
Practice the
presentation with the visuals.
Have a backup
plan if you are using a computer presentation (such as
print copies of the presentation)
Use horizontal
or landscape paper or backgrounds using the 4x5 ratio
for TV.
Use blue ink
on a light colored paper or background for easy reading.
For computer
presentations use a dark background with light colored
thick./bold font (yellow text on a blue background is
great). Hint: Give your students an assignment when preparing.
Ask them to watch the news for half an hour and look for
the color of text and backgrounds.
Use large fonts
such as 24 pt or higher.
Leave a 1.5
or more border/margin around the edge of the document.
Be careful
of colors: avoid red/hot pink and green, avoid solid blocks
of white, black or red.
Before the Videoconference:
Preparing the Room
If at all possible,
orient the students to the technology beforehand so that
they are less distracted by it and ready to learn from
the experience.
Preview local
camera and presets for the camera.
Set a preset
to show the whole room and start the videoconference showing
the whole class so both classes know who they are talking
to.
Talk with your
distance learning coordinator to arrange the room the
way you'd like.
Teachers: facilitate
the process and help students be in the right place and
keep on track. Remind students to speak loudly and clearly.
If necessary, take the time to think of questions and
organize them to ask the other class.
Set the camera
so it shows the whole room. If possible for lower elementary
students, have a designated question area close to the
mic and have students move there to ask questions. Set
a preset on the mic area.
Students: Be
knowledgeable about subject. Give presentation. Think
of open-ended questions to ask. Be good listeners.
After the Videoconference
Have the students
write about what they learned and react to/evaluate the
session.
