Google Hangouts are another video conferencing option available free of charge to all Valpo students, faculty, and staff. You have access by default to Hangouts since you automatically get a Google account. (This is in contrast to WebEx, where you need to request an account in order to initiate video or audio sessions.) Follow these instructions to participate in a Hangouts session with classmates or other Google account users, no matter where in the world any of you may be.
Instructor-Created Hangouts
- Your instructor will create a video call in Google Hangouts and give it a name.
- Sign in to your Google account (any app) with your ValpoNet credentials and visit hangouts.google.com. Click on the video call button.
- Click the plus button next to "Start or join Hangout."
- Enter the name of the Hangout created by your instructor (note: it's case and grammar sensitive) and hit the arrow key.
- You should automatically join the virtual environment. If you’ve never used Hangouts before, you may need to navigate through a couple welcome windows.
- Hangouts will ask you to allow access to your audio and camera source; click "Allow."
- From here, move your cursor to reveal a tools dashboard. You can activate your webcam and mute your microphones just like you do in WebEx.
- For those presenting remotely, you can share your screen (to display a PowerPoint, for example) by clicking the green "ScreenShare" button from your list of production wizard features.
- At the conclusion of your class, you'll leave the video call by clicking on the red telephone icon.
Class Discussions
Someone in your group should be designated "team leader." Team leaders will create the video call in Google Hangouts for other members to join and give the Hangout a name.
- Sign in to your Google account (any app) with your ValpoNet credentials and visit hangouts.google.com. Click on the video call button.
- Click the plus button next to "Start or join Hangout."
Team leaders should create their group meeting by entering the name they want to call it (i.e. NUR799Group) and hitting the arrow key on the far right. Team members will enter the name of the Hangout created by the team leader (note: it's case and grammar sensitive) and hit the arrow key.
- You should automatically join the virtual environment. If you’ve never used Hangouts before, you may need to navigate through a couple welcome windows.
- Hangouts will ask you to allow access to your audio and camera source; click "Allow."
- From here, move your cursor to reveal a tools dashboard. You can activate your webcam and mute your microphones just like you do in WebEx.
- For those presenting remotely, you can share your screen (to display a PowerPoint, for example) by clicking the green "ScreenShare" button from your list of production wizard features.
You'll be asked what you want to share (a specific application or your whole screen) and then prompted to make the sharing live. You can relinquish sharing privileges when you finish.
- At the conclusion of your class, you'll leave the video call by clicking on the red telephone icon.
Google Meet
- When you are logged into Google through a browser, click on the 3x3 Google Application Block in the upper right of your browser then select Meet (it should be listed here, if not, select more and you will see additional Google Apps)
- Click on the Start a new meeting link
- You may need to grant access to Google for microphone and webcam. You can also change these by clicking on the three dots in the video screen
- Choose Settings and then you can change Camera, Microphone, and Speakers options depending on your setup.
- Quality will be automatically chosen based on your camera and microphone.
- Back in the Google Meet main area with the video screen, you will find a URL that can be shared with students
- Additionally, you can create Meets on the fly and add individuals after you start a meeting or copy the info (link provided) to share with others.
- Clicking on the Present Now option at the bottom will allow you to share your entire screen or a window of an open application like Powerpoint, a browser, or Word. You can only have one application window shared at a time.
- When you are done presenting, click on the blue Stop Sharing button in the floating dialog box near the bottom of the shared application or the Stop Presenting button on Google Meet
- If you have more than one screen, that may assist you in presenting - Google Meet on one screen and shared application in the other
Scheduling Google Meet
- You can also schedule a Meet ahead of time if needed by opening your Google Calendar and creating a new event
- Enter into the event details and click on Add Conferencing
- Select Google Meet
- In the Manage Details section, you can find a link to share with your participants as well as a number to call with a PIN in case audio options are not available to the participants on their computer.
- Add Guests by entering their email addresses and click Save
- The scheduled Meet will now appear on their Google Meet home screen
Still need help?
For additional assistance, contact the IT Help Desk.
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