Hints and Tips Thread for remote learning

[mineofuselessinformation]

I'll start, but please join in, or ask questions and someone might be able to help out....
These are aimed at Teams:

To stop students starting meetings first, or throwing each other out, schedule the meeting and then click on it in your calendar.
Scroll to the bottom and click meeting options. A page will open where you can select 'Only me' for Who can bypass the lobby?, and 'Only me' for who can present.

You can also stop students from posting gifs etc by clicking Manage Team, then Fun Stuff and turning them off.

In general, I found two screens really helpful so that I could share screen 2 (extended desktop) and drag things across.

I also bought a second webcam and a flexible arm (like that on an angle poise lamp) to use pointing down a at a whiteboard or the desk if I wanted to demonstrate something. You can switch between the two cameras in Teams, so it's a godsend.

I have been teaching video lessons since the start of the first lockdown.

I now ask the children to read our Culture before the start of each session. It cuts down missbehaviour to almost zero.

Here it is, hope it helps.

Hugh

CULTURE FOR VIDEO LESSONS

INTRODUCTION
Video lessons bring additional challenges that classroom lessons do not have.
It is important to set the Culture at the start of each video lesson.
The points should be read by students in turn.

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this lesson is for us to learn together.

1. SUPPORT

By supporting each-other we find we are better able to learn.

1. JOINING-IN

By joining-in and contributing to the lesson, we find we learn the most.

1. BEHAVIOUR

Lessons work best when everyone gives their full attention. We will endeavour to free ourselves from distractions. We will give our full attention to the lesson and make an effort.

1. VIDEO & CONNECTIONS

We will try to find the quietest place to do the lesson. We will switch on video (if at all possible). We will mute if there is background noise.

SUMMARY
Reading the Culture establishes the behaviours that help us learn.
Reading the Culture also establishes that everyone is committed to making an effort.

I do something similar, but verbally.
Just to add to the webcam thing, it's now changed , so you have to go into settings, then device setting to change it - don't forget to swap microphones too!

@mineofuselessinformation

I do something similar, but verbally. Just to add to the webcam thing, it's now changed , so you have to go into settings, then device setting to change it - don't forget to swap microphones too!

Yes, I get the kids to read it out loud - very important.

( sorry, I don't think my first post was very clear ).

Another teams / zoom one:
Do something that involves everyone putting their hand up or equivalent at various points throughout - it stops some of the ones who log on to the lesson then wander off doesn't work for those who say 'I'm just going to feed the ducks' though

Is there a way of mirroring a webcam.

I have a clamp thing for recording down onto the table. It works when I'm recording the screen as I can flip the view horizontally so things aren't backwards.

When I try to use it in Teams this way, it is reversed.

Have you checked a recording?
It might be the right way round in that.
Mine mirrors anyway now, but last lockdown it didn't, so it was disconcerting when I just had to carry, on trusting that the students found see it the right way round!

Does anyone use Google meet? I'm trying to work out how to do breakout rooms.