On a Laptop You Need a Google Account

Your lesson takes place on the Google Meet online meeting platform. Most people have a free Google account. if you have an email ending in gmail.com, for example, then you already have a Google account. If you don't, then they are extremely easy to set up. Simply enter 'how to set up new google account' into Google or YouTube for basic instructions.  In the top right hand corner of your Google page when you are logged in to your Google account there are nine dots forming a square. Click that and you will be taken to Google Apps. Google Meet is in there. You simply click the icon. This link will also take you there. If you are operating from a phone or tablet then simply download the free Google Meet App from your App Store.

 

Joining Your Online Lesson using Google Meet

Your tutor will have set up the online lesson using a lesson link. The link will be sent to your email and begin meet.google.com/ The link will often create a 'Join with Google Meet' button in the body of the email to simply click. 

     Clicking on the link will take you to the lesson. If it doesn't then simply use the link above or type meet.google.com into the address bar of a new tab and you will be taken immediately to the Google Meet Landing page. On that page you will find a box in which to enter your link and click the 'Join' button. 

 

Final Checks Before Entering the Online Lesson

The link will take you to a Google Meet page where you are looking at a video of yourself from your laptop camera. You might need to slip the cover over if the camera has a cover. There will be a 'Join Now' button next to you on the screen but don't panic, you are not in the lesson yet. No one can see you. Before you click the 'Join Now' button, there are a few checks to make. 

     First, check in the top right hand corner of the screen. It indicates there which Google account you are currently logged into. Make sure that it is your account and that you haven't tried to connect to the lesson with another family member's Google account. If it is not your account, simply click 'Switch Account', select your own and log in. 

     Beneath the video of yourself there are three little icons for checking that the computer microphone, headphones and camera are working properly. You can check these easily. Overlaying the video box itself, near the bottom, are two icons - one your Microphone and your for Camera. You can decide now whether or not you want your microphone and/or camera on or off upon initially joining the lesson. Naturally, you will be able to change this once you are in the lesson. There is a third icon containing three stars in the bottom right of the video and clicking on this will allow you to set an Effect on your video like Blur your background.

 

Joining the Online Lesson

Now click 'Join' and you will join the lesson. Often you will see the avatar / picture of your tutor. Usually is it the Upgrade Tutoring logo. A message then appears on the screen: 'Asking to be let in...' and 'You'll join the call when someone lets you in.' You then wait, just like you would for someone to answer a telephone call. You should see your tutor on the screen when they admit you and the lesson can begin. 

 

Google Meet Functions You Can Use in the Lesson

The key online meeting functions you can use in the lesson are indicated by the icons / buttons running along the bottom of your video screen. From left to right...

 

Mute 

You can turn off sound coming from your microphone into the lesson, essentially silencing you. Your sound icon will turn red. You can still be seen in the lesson. Clicking the same button again unmutes you. The arrow next to the button allows you to change microphones, if you have more than one.

 

Camera 

You can turn your camera off by clicking this button. When it is off it will turn red. Your avatar picture or initials will be displayed in the meeting instead. You can still be heard, however. Clicking the same button brings the video being captured by your camera back to the lesson. 

     The arrow next to the button allows you to change cameras, if you have more than one. The arrow also allows you to click on a cog icon for visual Settings, like changing the screen resolution / definition. It also allows you to to click on a portrait icon that takes you to the menu for screen Effects, the most popular one allowing you to Blur your background.

 

Captions 

You can click on the CC button and what is being said in the lesson will appear like subtitles at the bottom of the screen to aid with understanding. 

 

Reactions 

You can press this button to access Emoticons that register a reaction to something happening in the lesson. The emoticon floats to one side of your video from the bottom to the top of the screen.

 

Present Now 

You can click on the 'Present Now' button to share your screen with others in the lesson. This is useful for showing ongoing work to the tutor. Your tutor will tell you if they want you wo  use this button. You will be given the option to share an individual tab (it must be a Chrome tab), a window (containing a different application like Power Point, for example) or your whole screen. The tutor has the ability to grant or deny students access to presenting. 

 

Raise Hand 

You can show that you have a question by clicking the 'Raise Hand' button. The button will turn blue and an indication will appear on the screen that you have a question. This is important because student can't always be seen during a lesson, due to screen sharing. The tutor will acknowledge your question and answer it. Clicking the 'Raise Hand' button will lower the hand and the button will return to its normal colour. 

 

Three Dots 

You can click on this to access a menu that among other things can allow you to change the screen Layout.

 

Leave Call 

You can click on the red telephone button to leave the online session at the end the lesson. It is just like ending a telephone call. Upon pressing the button, you are no longer part of the lesson. Typically the tutor will wait until all students have left before leaving the online session themself, just like in a physical classroom. 

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Other Icons 

You can access several other features on the right hand side of the screen, running again from left to right. The Meeting Details button gives you information about the present meeting, for example the link required to access it. The Show Everyone button displays the list of students and tutors in the online session. The Chat button allows students to write responses to the tutor in a typed conversation that runs down the right hand side of the screen. 

 

 

Don't Panic

If you are experiencing technical difficulties then don't panic. A good start would be to go to the 'Contact' section on the UPGRADE TUTORING website. The link to the website is HERE. You can then use the email address or phone number there to send your tutor a message about your difficulties. If the tutor is experiencing technical difficulties or Google is having problems (this sometimes occurs, as we all know) then they will be doing the same and trying to contact you through email or phone to give you an explanation and further instructions.