Peer Review

Hangouts on Air

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Reviewed:: Mar 31, 2016 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Google Hangouts on Air allow participants within a Google Hangout video conference to broadcast their content to YouTube as a live feed, and archive the video as a saved product for later viewing.
Type of Material:: Development Tool
Recommended Uses:: Given the versatility of the tool, Google Hangouts on Air could be utilized as a portion of instruction or even as the learning environment in which instruction takes place. Instructors can use Hangouts to have weekly synchronous meetings with online students. Students who are unable to attend can watch the YouTube recording. For face-to-face classes, Hangouts can be used to bring out-of-town guest speakers to class. The recording can be used for future classes/courses where the guest speaker is not available.
Technical Requirements:: Viewers will need to have internet and computer audio. Presenters will need access to a computer microphone or headset, and optionally, a video camera. The instructor must have a Google Plus account and YouTube channel. Headsets or ear buds eliminate echoing.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The learning goals will be determined by the instructor.
Target Student Population:: Hangouts on Air can be use for all students. Younger students will need to have a parent log in for them and participate with them.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: While no prerequisite knowledge is required, experience with designing curriculum or presentational content for emeetings is helpful. Additionally, all presenters will need to be able to operate their unique technical configurations. Instructors should work with their IT staff to learn how to use the technology and practice several times before attempting to record their first Hangout.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: There is no specific learning content offered beyond the information for setup of the tool. Instructors will need to determine the learning content as it relates to the use of Google Hangouts on Air.
Concerns:: None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Though there are no prescribed learning objectives, Hangouts on Air is flexible and malleable enough to be implemented in a panoply of teaching scenarios, making it an effective tool for many disciplines and class assignments. Beyond instructor-facilitated hangouts, students can leverage their Google accounts to create presentations using the tool. Hangouts on Air can be an excellent way to enhance teaching and social presence in an online class by allowing students who would prefer face-to-face interaction to participate in a live meeting with video. Instructors can determine if the recording needs to be watched by those who were unable to attend. If so, a YouTube link can be shared with the class. Educators can use Hangouts on Air for office hours.
Concerns:: Students may not want to be on a video recording so it is good that students have the option of turning their cameras off.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: The current version of Google Hangouts on Air offers a bevy of features for creating and capturing video conferences with the only main requirement as a Google account. In that Google Apps is ubiquitous at most schools, this makes access to Google Hangouts on Air an easy product to adopt. The interface is streamlined and connects to Google Drive and several apps to facilitate collaborative discussions and work.
Concerns:: There is a bit of a learning curve with Google Hangouts on Air, from testing the audio and video, to handling permissions and settings related to the video posting to YouTube as public by default. Though it supports up to 12 live cameras, bandwidth can severely dip well before reaching that number of participants in the session.

Other Issues and Comments:: Google continues to improve Hangouts on Air. Current issues can be worked around for a successful experience that students appreciate.
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