Google Meet and Chat - Student Guide
Q. What is Google Meet? A. Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that allows you to continue face to face learning with your teacher and class remotely. Your teachers can share presentations with you, giving opportunities to listen and chat as a class so you don’t miss any important information.
Q. What is Google Chat? A. Google Chat is an online messaging tool that lets you contact your teacher and other students. It allows you to private message or group chat (as a study group) so you can discuss course topics, revision and projects.
Google Meet - your virtual lessons
Your teacher may use Google Meet to hold your classes online and will share with you where to find the joining information. This could be on your course Classroom or Calendar.
We are using Google Meet as: ● Your teacher can share their screen, presentations and to demo tools and tasks ● The teacher can record the session and add it to your course Classroom or Drive so you don’t miss anything ● It lets the teacher manage the class easier e.g. by muting mics or removing students ● Even if you don’t have a webcam and mic you can still join in the lesson using the built-in chat facility (you will need speaker or headphones or turn on captions)
Virtual Classroom Rules:
● Google Chat & Google Meet should only be used for communications with people in the college ● All instructions should be listened to and read carefully ● Deadlines still exist and must be met promptly ● Sit in an appropriate location for learning - we know this might be difficult but try and find a quiet location or wear headphones. Please do not join a call from your bed as this will not help your learning. ● You should dress and behave appropriately and will be removed from the call if you do not comply. This will be followed up with disciplinary action. Please do not smoke, vape or eat whilst on camera.
Please be aware: ● Lessons may be recorded and shared in Google Classroom so students can refer back to them - these will not be distributed publicly and will only be used as a learning resource. ● All cases of bullying and harassment are unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action. Extreme cases will be reported to the appropriate authority ● All chats are recorded in the admin controls and can be accessed should evidence be needed
Accessing Google Chat & Google Meet1?
Q. How do I access Google Meet? A. Your tutor will share a link to a Google Meet which you should click on at the time of your lesson. You might find the link in Google Classroom, Google Calendar or the Google Meet app. Ask your tutor if you’re not sure where the link has been posted.
Q. How do I access Google Chat? A. You can access Google Chat from the ‘Waffle’ menu in the top right of the window when you are signed in to your College Google Account.
Q. It’s asking me to login with Google. What are my details? A. Login to Google with your student email address:
How to start a Chat message and group
Q. How do I message someone? A. To send a message in Chat, click the person or group’s name on the left of the screen. Type in the box at the bottom of the chat and press Enter to send the message.
Q. How do I video Chat (Meet) with someone? A. Students can’t start their own Google Meets at this time, but your tutor can set you up with a Meet link if you need to do group work.
Q. What do I do if I don’t have a webcam or mic? A. You can still join, but you’ll need to use the Chat feature if you need to say something. Alternatively, you can install the app on your phone which does have a webcam & mic.
Q. It is asking me to write my name before joining. Why? A. If it is asking you to do this then you are not logged in. In the top right hand corner it will say ‘Sign in’ - click this and sign in with your Google account.
Q. It is telling me to install an add on. Why? A. You are probably not using Google Chrome Browser. Try opening Google Chrome browser and trying again. If you have questions or need to raise concerns whilst online please contact your teacher or safeguarding team at [email protected], or use the KEEP SAFE button
As well as these routes for Childline - for support reporting back to the college, UK Safer Internet Centre - to report and remove harmful here are some additional online content practical support sites: CEOP - for advice on making a report about online abuse
1 To use these apps you need to be logged into your college Google account i.e.