Tips

Before the videoconference

• Prepare the topic: it’s a good idea to contact the teacher of the other school via e-mail. This way both of you can choose the topic and decide what kind of videoconference you want. As it is said before you get better videoconferences when you prepare them with your students, making them to think about questions and answers, etc. Try to set the time for every part of the videoconference. All this previous work will help to get a satisfactory result. Insist your pupils on being polite and respectful.
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• Check the time difference: you have to do it before setting the date and the time of the videoconference when you are planning to videoconference with another country. You have a “universal clock” in this link. To set the time you can use the reference of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
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• Make a connection test: although you think your equipment is working properly, you should make a connection test some days before the videoconference. You won’t need much time. This test can also be a first contact between the teachers. Some times there are unexpected technical problems and it is better to discover them the previous days so that you can have the solutions before the videoconference avoiding possible dissapointments of our students.
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• Prepare the room: after deciding the type of videoconference we must prepare the room according to it. You have to put the desks and chairs in order taking in to account if it is going to be a teacher’s exposition or games between the two groups of students or an interview…
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• Program the camera: if we have professional equipment we will probably be able to set several positions of our camera, as much as we need. This way, during the session you will be able to focus a group or one student quickly as they are taking part. Try not to focus only one student every time. It is better to do a full shot than a close-up. If you move the camera a lot it can distract the students. Avoid backlighting.
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• Microphones: try to put the microphone far from a desk that will be moved or from the papers we are going to use. Don’t place it near the speakers in order to avoid echo. If this happens, diminish the loudness of the speakers.
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• Illumination: try to have enough light in the room and avoid backlighting
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• Know how the equipment works: show the teacher and the students how the equipment works, especially if they are going to use it.
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• Prepare the stuff you are going to use: when you are going to use videos, or photographs or Power Point presentations, they must be ready before starting the videoconference.
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• Identify the students: if you want you can send a map of the classroom with the name of the students.