Tool Introduction
Google Hangouts creates a seamless way to keep in constant contact with people at work, school, or in a particular group. This "chat" tool allows up to 10 people to hold an audio, message or video chat at a one time. This free tool allows anyone with a phone, tablet, or even computer to access the chat features and doesn't depend on the brand of device either. This can be extremely helpful tool for online classes where each student can stay in contact with people they may never met in real life and who probably doesn't have the same brand phone or computer. Although Apple has made the ability to video chat from devices, it is limited to only chat with other Apple products. Google Hangouts breaks this barrier.
Google Hangouts creates a seamless way to keep in constant contact with people at work, school, or in a particular group. This "chat" tool allows up to 10 people to hold an audio, message or video chat at a one time. This free tool allows anyone with a phone, tablet, or even computer to access the chat features and doesn't depend on the brand of device either. This can be extremely helpful tool for online classes where each student can stay in contact with people they may never met in real life and who probably doesn't have the same brand phone or computer. Although Apple has made the ability to video chat from devices, it is limited to only chat with other Apple products. Google Hangouts breaks this barrier.
Tool Application
This tool is built directly through Google and requires the user to have a Google account. This process is very easy to set up, simply visit https://accounts.google.com/signup and fill in the blanks with your information. This will also automatically sign you up for an email account through Google, which is called "Gmail".
This tool is built directly through Google and requires the user to have a Google account. This process is very easy to set up, simply visit https://accounts.google.com/signup and fill in the blanks with your information. This will also automatically sign you up for an email account through Google, which is called "Gmail".
Now that you've created your own Google Account through what's called Google+ (just a new name to keep from confusing the Google search engine from the rest of the Google products) you are ready to access Google Hangouts. If you are attempting to chat via computer you must go to your Gmail page (login in if you have not already done so). You will notice an area on the lower left hand corner that lists some of your most used contacts. If you don't have any listed there or you're looking to add a new person simply type in their email address or even their phone number (with Google Hangouts you can even call a landline phone anywhere in the world, although there are some international call fees).
Once you've chosen a person/people you'd like to chat with the chat will appear on the right hand side. This views very similar to text messaging. You can send pictures or emojis as well as text chat in this area. On the top of the chat box labeled "College Buddies" in my example picture you will notice two icons on the left hand side, one looks like a video camera and the other like a person with a + next to their head. The person icon allows you or anyone else you've already added to the group to add another person. This is helpful when chatting with more then one or two people. This can also be helpful if you don't have someone's contact information, but someone else in the group does and can add them.
The camera icon allows you to video chat with the people able to in the chat group. Keep in mind that some people, although able to chat, may not be able to video chat because they are not on wifi or in an area or situation that doesn't allow them to. When video chatting with multiple people it is recommended to do so on you computer so you are able to see everyone else's screens in a large enough picture. Doing this on a phone will give you very small screens of everyone else and may not be helpful for what you're doing.
The camera icon allows you to video chat with the people able to in the chat group. Keep in mind that some people, although able to chat, may not be able to video chat because they are not on wifi or in an area or situation that doesn't allow them to. When video chatting with multiple people it is recommended to do so on you computer so you are able to see everyone else's screens in a large enough picture. Doing this on a phone will give you very small screens of everyone else and may not be helpful for what you're doing.
This is an example screen of a Google Hangout video chat on a computer. As you can see in the picture there are many different features to access while chatting and can seem over whelming. Lets start on the bottom left and work our way over to the bottom right side of the features. On the very bottom left corner you can invite other people to you chat group by clicking the icon and typing in their information. The next icon allows you to hold a text chat while still video chatting everyone. This can be helpful when video chatting because you can still hold secondary conversations in the background without interrupting the actual video chat or the person talking. Next icon allows you all to access YouTube together. This can be very helpful, allowing everyone to watch the same video at the same time. The next icon allows you to hide you video in case you need privacy for a few moments or need to walk away and return. The following icon is based on the same idea and allows you to mute your video. Settings is the next icon, and finally the last icon all the way to the right allows you to leave the Google Hangout video chat. This does not end the conversation between everyone, and allows you to enter and exit conversations easily.
In this picture above you can see that this chat actually includes both video chat between a few people and a voice conversation with actual phone lines on two lines. This ability to chat with phone lines and computers/tablets allows anyone in the world with access to a phone or wifi to chat. This is closes the gap for people in different areas, walks of life, and even times zones or countries.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Overall, this tool is extremely helpful and the small disadvantages are far outweighed by the huge advantages to this program. It allows students to chat with teachers, peers to video conference, groups to stay in touch, and can be used at work, school, or home. This program is free and allows anyone with access to a computer, phone or tablet to access it! It also allows different devices to chat, not discriminating against a certain brand. This tool will allow online learning to become even less distant and allow the educator and students to chat and even see each other for the first time!
Objectives
Students will use Google Hangout to conduct a debate on the science topic assigned to them from the teacher, using the rubric provided to develop and guide their conversation.
This objective could be used in any subject, allowing the teaching to hold a student-focused activity and allowing the students to work together, which is more uncommon with online courses
Each student will use Google Hangout to interview a person about their career in science and follow the rubric provided to them to guide their questions and conversation.
This objective could allows students to talk with people who may not be able to have a meeting, or someone that is too far away. It would allow students discuss important information without needing to take time out of their day to commute.
Advantages
- Allows text, audio or video chat between anyone with access to a computer, phone or tablet
- Allows the sharing of pictures, YouTube videos, and files
- Free of charge (unless audio calling a foreign country phone number, which can be paid through your Google + account)
- Easy to access, chat with people, add contacts to, and use
- Allows people to actually see each other while chatting through the use of video
- Allows people with different brand name gear to chat (Apple can talk to Android, etc.)
- Allows for as many conversations as needed and saves all conversations similar to your phone or tablet for easy access later. This allows you to look back at information discussed.
Disadvantages
- At least one person accessing Google Hangouts in the desired group must have access to the internet, even if chatting with landline phones
- Requires anyone interested in chatting to have access to a phone, computer or tablet device
- Could cost money if using the audio chat to phone numbers outside of the US
- Could be attention demanding if the people in the chat group requires you to interact more then what you're able to
Overall, this tool is extremely helpful and the small disadvantages are far outweighed by the huge advantages to this program. It allows students to chat with teachers, peers to video conference, groups to stay in touch, and can be used at work, school, or home. This program is free and allows anyone with access to a computer, phone or tablet to access it! It also allows different devices to chat, not discriminating against a certain brand. This tool will allow online learning to become even less distant and allow the educator and students to chat and even see each other for the first time!
Objectives
Students will use Google Hangout to conduct a debate on the science topic assigned to them from the teacher, using the rubric provided to develop and guide their conversation.
This objective could be used in any subject, allowing the teaching to hold a student-focused activity and allowing the students to work together, which is more uncommon with online courses
Each student will use Google Hangout to interview a person about their career in science and follow the rubric provided to them to guide their questions and conversation.
This objective could allows students to talk with people who may not be able to have a meeting, or someone that is too far away. It would allow students discuss important information without needing to take time out of their day to commute.