Video Conferencing
Pacific University provides two online video conferencing technologies that anyone in the Pacific Community can adopt for their teaching:
- Zoom
- Google Hangouts
For more information about these services, please click on the links above. CETCI can also provide guidance on how to best integrate these tools into your teaching. Please contact CETCI (edtech@pacificu.edu) if you would like to discuss any of these services.
Equipment needed
To host or participate in a video conference you will need some basic equipment:
- Video (Camera): In order to share a video of yourself, you will need a computer that is equipped with a functioning video camera. Basic cameras that come built-in with most laptops should be sufficient for most video conferencing applications. If you are using a desktop computer without a webcam, there is a number of affordable portable webcams available on the market, like Logitech HD Webcam C310.
- Audio (Speakers/Microphone): Just as for video, the built-in notebook or computer speakers are usually sufficient. We also recommend using a USB microphone headset, like Logitech USB Mic, which would contribute to sound and voice quality and keep the external sounds in the room out of the conference audio stream.
Some Video Conferencing programs have specific computer specifications and other requirements. Please review them at these links:
Please contact the Technology Help Desk (help@pacificu.edu) and/or CETCI (edtech@pacificu.edu) for the availability of equipment to check out and for help with setting up equipment and your classroom for your meeting sessions.
Zoom
To hold virtual sessions or meetings online, Pacific provides a video conferencing tool called Zoom. Zoom is a live Web conferencing tool that allows to give presentations virtually and hold meetings with many people synchronously from any physical location. It is used to conduct online class sessions and meetings. You may use it for many other purposes as well, like a remote guest speaker in your class, remote synchronous class discussions, lectures, and presentations.
Getting an account is super easy. Go to pacificu.zoom.us and simply log in. An account will automatically will be generated for you. If you need further help please contact us at edtech@pacificu.edu.
Tutorials for Instructors:
- What is Zoom
- Creating a Meeting
- How to Join and Conduct a Meeting
- How to Record a Meeting
- How to Share Your Screen
- How to Find Your Meetings
- How to Use Breakout Rooms
- How to Upload Recordings to Box
Tutorials for Students:
More Information about Zoom:
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is a group video chat tool that comes as a part of Pacific's BoxerApps. It is a very versatile tool that can connect up to 25 people via video call and up to 100 people via chat at once.
The center can also provide guidance on how to best integrate these tools into your teaching. Please contact CETCI (edtech@pacificu.edu) if you would like to speak about any of these services.
Hangouts Documentation:
Hangouts Computer Requirements:
- Mac OS X, Windows, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Chrome, Ubuntu and other Debian based Linux distributions
- Any 2 GHz dual core processor or greater.
- Bandwidth:
- For 1 on 1 connection — a 1 mbps/1 mbps (up/down)
- For group video connectivity — 1 mbps/2 mbps (up/down)
- Download Google Hangout plugin
Starting Google Hangout:
- In order to utilize Hangouts with your Pacific University Boxer apps, you must login with your PUnet ID to myAccount. Click on the Boxer Apps menu tab at the top, then select Talk/Hangouts from the list of applications. If you have never used Hangouts before, you might be asked you to activate your Google + with provided with step-by-step instructions.
- You will be taken to Hangouts dashboard where you can start a simple video call (like in Skype):
- After you click on VIDEO CALL you will be asked to Enter a Hangout name. After you name your Hangout, click on the arrow by the name to start:
- Note: by default the meetings are open to "Pacific University Only," but you can change it to accept people from other institutions as well. After you enter the meeting, click on blue "Invite People" button:
- A pop-up window will open up where you can "Allow" poeple from other than Pacific to join or enter specific people from Pacific University. IMPORTANT: if you inviting specific people you NEED to use PUnetID email (such as yuan3029@pacificu.edu) and NOT aliased email (such as john.doe@pacificu.edu):
- If you click "Allow" the next pop-up window will give you the URL address which you can post in Moodle for your students or share via email with others (must have a Google Account):
You can reuse the link for the session as many times as you need to instead of creating a different hangout every time you need a meeting. - Note: There are a few specifications and limitations of video calls to keep in mind!
- If you originated the Hangout you have to be in that hangout first to "Allow" people to enter (they might be asked to login into their google account first):
- Video calls can have a maximum of 15 participants.
- You need to have a broadband connection to the Internet.
Once the participants join your call you will be able to see them in your hangout:
The hangout control panel at the top allows you to:- invite participants while in the hangout
- mute/un-mute your microphone during the hangout
- turn your camera on and off during the hangout
- control bandwidth usage of the hangout session
- set your computer's audio and video devices for the hangout
- leave the hangout.
The hangout tools on the left (put your cursor over to the left in order to see them) allow you to:
- open Chat window to the right
- share your computer screen with others
- share YouTube video
- have some fun with special effects
You can also share documents from your GoogleDrive by clicking on the GoogleDrive icon at the bottom of the chat panel:
The icon will open a new pop-up window where you can select which document to share:
After you select the document the link to the document and the preview of the document will be displayed in chat window:
The participants will only see the link and not the preview. Do not forget to set proper permissions for Share in GoogleDrive (we recommend "Anyone with the link can view (edit)" depending on what you want to achieve). - If you originated the Hangout you have to be in that hangout first to "Allow" people to enter (they might be asked to login into their google account first):
Participating in a Hangout:
If you received an invitation to participate in a Google Hangout or your instructor posts a link to a Hangout in Moodle simply click on the link to open the session. Hangout window will open. Click on "Join" blue button:
IMPORTANT: You will be asked to give Hangouts permission to run plugins. Click "Allow"
You might also be asked to login to your either PU account or personal Google account in order to access the meeting. Simply enter your login information in the fields provided:
Refer to section above for tools, functions and abilities in Hangouts.