During the first few weeks of online instruction, teachers have been investigating new ways to share content with their students. By using Google Meet, teachers are able to provide online synchronous instruction for their lessons. There are several ways teachers can deliver content during a Google Meet live session. I have included some of the most popular instructional delivery options that teachers are currently using in their online classes. This post will be updated as more options become available!
Option 1: Google Meet with Reflector Teacher
Reflector Teacher is a fantastic piece of software that helps teachers screencast a device to show students annotations or examples added onto presentations. The best part about this software is that you can try it FREE for seven days! So if you do not like it or find it useful for your class, you never have to make the purchase. It has been extremely useful for my online learning class, so I spent the one time payment of $17.99 for the software. I found that it was an excellent price for the capabilities it gives your computer. The software is available for Mac and Microsoft products.
Quick steps for Reflector Teacher
Step 1. Go to the reflector teacher software website.
Step 2. Download the trial software for your computer. (Make sure your computer has bluetooth)
Step 3. Once you have added the software to your computer, grab an iPad and open the screen-casting options. You should now be able to select your computer from the screen-cast list.
Step 4. Once you have selected your computer, a message will pop up on your computer. Click allow and then move around your iPad to get the screen connected.
Step 5. Present your Google Meet and minimize your screens so you can see students’ faces and your iPad display.
Option 2: Google Meet with Whiteboard.Fi
Whiteboard.fi is a fantastic collaborative website that allows each student to receive their own digital whiteboard. You can see each students’ whiteboard at the same time. They can also see your digital whiteboard if they click on “toggle teacher whiteboard.” You can add documents onto your whiteboard to work out problems or annotate. This is a great tool to use during Google Meet live sessions. The writing may be messy with a mouse, so I recommend students who have trouble with the digital writing to use the text box option. If you want to use an option where all students can write on the same whiteboard, then I recommend using Google Jamboard instead of Whiteboard.fi!
Option 3: Google Meet Annotate Chrome Extension
Google Meet Annotate Extension was recently pushed out by Denis Sheeran! This tool allows you to draw on your screen! Share your screen with your students. Make sure you have all documents pulled up that you want to use during the session. After you click on the Google Meet Annotate Chrome extension, a menu bar will pop up with annotation tools. When you are done annotating the screen, hit the FINISH button! Writing with a mouse can be difficult, but it is a good option if you do not have an Apple Pencil or digital writing tool.
Option 4: Google Meet with Two Devices
If you join a Google Meet on two devices, you can present from one device and see the student view from your other device. Make sure you turn the volume down ALL the way on your second device. If you do not, they you will hear a consistent ECHO of your voice! Also, make sure you mute one of your devices so students aren’t hearing your voice from two different devices. Then, share your screen on your device that you can write on. Pull up presentations on the notability app and you can annotate any presentation or work out examples. Check out my post on notability for more information!
Option 5: Google Meet with Classroom Whiteboard
The good old-fashioned white board! Just start a Google Meet on a hand held device. If you are using an iPad or iPhone, make sure you click “switch camera” in the top right. If you do not switch the camera then it will still be facing the front. Once you switch the camera you can begin working out examples from print-outs!
I will continue to add more to this post once more synchronous instruction options become available! Which one is your favorite to use? Reach out and let me know!
Saved By the Beldin 