opened it up to her children to ask
my class questions. One child asked
if we had lunch in our rooms, as he
was able to spot drinks and snacks
on our tables.
On the college side, my students
were able to watch how Hargrove
handled the excitement of her first
graders.
Google Hangouts became beneficial
for both groups in the following ways:
• Elementary students communicated
with a college students using new
technology.
• A college class observed and
communicated with a diverse
population of students without
leaving campus.
• Elementary students were
exposed to higher education.
We used Google Hangouts several
more times throughout Project Engage. It was exciting to use the technology, but it was even better when
my students began to develop new
uses for the equipment.
Hargrove and I presented at a Learning, Teaching, and Innovative Technology Faculty Showcase using Google
Hangouts. We both noticed the excitement and attention it opened up to a
variety of disciplines.
You can use this free tool too simply
by signing up for a Google+ account
and following these steps to start
a Google Hangout:
1. Go to plus.google.com.
2. Go to Google Calendar and
create an event.
3. In the Edit Event mode, select
the option to add a Google
Hangout.
4. Click the link.
5. Save the changes to the event.
6. Click the event.
7. There should now be a Join
Google+ Hangout link. Right-click on it to get the URL address.
8. Send the URL to participants.
—Rebekah Alexander is an assistant professor
at Middle Tennessee State University, USA. She
recently received an Innovative Excellence in
Teaching, Learning, and Technology award. Her
work revolves around problem-based learning
and innovative technologies for the classroom.
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