Technology
Learning new skills is exciting – for adults as well as youth.
There are many options:
- Zoom
- Google Hangouts
- Or whatever else you choose to use
Zoom
Across Scouts Victoria, Zoom has quickly become the standard for meetings across a range of formations, including weekly Section meetings, as well as Group Councils, District meetings and more.
Zoom costs US$14.99 (about AU$25) a month for a Group to set up an account for the weeks or months ahead.
Check https://zoom.us/pricing
But the free version would also be adequate if your meetings are less than 40 minutes:
- You can host up to 100 participants (that’s a big Joey Mob)
- Unlimited 1-to-1 meetings
- 40-minute limit on group meetings
- Unlimited number of meetings
You can meet through Zoom by phone, iPad, laptop, desktop.
To join a Zoom meeting, you don’t need to have Zoom installed on your computer.
However, if you’re the host, you’ll need to download and install the software package.
The host sets up the meeting, and the invitation list.
The host needs to be familiar with many options available, such as muting all speakers, or allowing one to speak, letting us share their screen (eg a PL or Leader) or being the only one to share screen:
- For those who would like more assistance with using Zoom, we’re creating a Leaders Guide to Zooming. But here are some tips …
We need to be aware of how to use the equipment safely, just like everything is we do in Scouting.
Here are some ideas of things to think about when running a Zoom meeting. For more information, include specific instructions, check out our Leaders Guide to Zooming.
Some functions to check out:
- Use the password function to avoid unexpected people joining you.
- Use the waiting room, so you only let Scouting people in.
- Set screen share to “host only”
- Disable “join before the host”. It’s a bit like letting the kids into the hall before you arrive!
- You could disable the chat function, including private chat between participants
- Share the work: the host Leader can make a fellow Leader a ‘co-host’ so they can help manage muting and the supervision of the room. Just like at the hall, they can help with sharing content when appropriate. It also means, if you use “break out rooms”, Leaders can move between “rooms” just like you do in the hall to check in on Patrols or Sixes.
Also:
- Be aware anyone could be recording your meeting, without permission.
- For younger sections, send meeting invitations to parents. For older sections, send to both parents and youth.
- Remember you are always visible.
‐ Don’t eat or drink anything you wouldn’t eat or drink in the hall.
‐ Keep your background blurred.
Leaders are learners too:
- Understand some Leaders and youth members will be better at this than others - allow time for everyone to learn
- Look after yourself as Leaders too – this is a new world for you, ask to visit other Groups to learn and share your experiences (as travel isn’t required this should be easier to do)
- Enable Leaders to share their experiences good and bad – learn by doing!
Idea
Leaders can’t run their Zoom meeting from the hall.
But you can use photos inside your hall as your virtual background in Zoom.
Leaders are actually supporting the program from their homes but it looks like they’re in the hall as normal.
Source: Scouting at Home - Manual
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