Skype (or FaceTime or Google Hangout) visits are awesome, here’s how to make sure…

The students got to watch on a bigger screen than this!
A successful Video visit is more of a conversation than a performance. When I come to your school or organization for a live event, I’m there in person. Video energy is completely different than face-to-face.
Advance preparation for a Video visit makes the session more effective.
One to Two weeks before the event
- Make sure the person/teacher in charge is on board. This seems to be obvious, but sometimes teachers are reluctant to share their classroom. If there’s a problem, have them talk with me. I’ll sweet talk them and make it work!
- If the lead teacher hasn’t selected a book (or books) for the event, get in touch ASAP. We always include a free book with an event, and can get physical books and ebooks to you for the teacher to read, and share with the class. Contact beth@transmitjoy.com (Note: We’d love to provide books for the whole class, and can do so in advance at a discount.)
- Talk with the class about the book/story. Read it to them.
- Tell the class about me as an author. (There’s bio info here.)
- Invite the class to check out the Transmit Joy Website: https://transmitjoy.com
- Talk about the story/book
Helping Students create questions:
- Ask the students to pretend they are new authors. What kind of questions would they ask an established author?
- Ask students to create questions about the story or stories they’ve read/heard.
- Discuss what makes a good question:
- No simple yes or no ones
- Discuss taboo questions: how much money do you make? personal questions about age
- Assign students to put four questions in writing for homework.
- Review the questions and vet for repeats, silliness and inappropriateness
- Have students practice asking their questions.
- Students should introduce themselves: “Good morning, Mr. Binder. My name is_____. I would like to know…” (etc.)
This encourages politeness - This also gives you the opportunity to check their volume levels…
- It also gives everyone a chance to speak, since sometimes because of time that won’t happen at the event.
- Students should introduce themselves: “Good morning, Mr. Binder. My name is_____. I would like to know…” (etc.)
The Monday Before the Visit (or at another scheduled time)
- We must be in touch on the phone and for a Video test call before the first event!
- Technology is fickle. Please make sure we have the right information about what you’ve got.
- Contact me for my Skype, FaceTime or Google Hangout ID
- I’ll need your Skype/ID
- We MUST do the Video test call!!!!!!
- Check the audio:
- Can you hear me? Make sure your external speakers are working
- Can I hear you/Students?
- You may need an external microphone
- Check the video: Can you see me? What part of the class can I see?
- If there are students with restricted video/internet privileges, is there a place in the room where they can see the screen, but not be on-camera?
One or two days before the visit
- Explain to class how Skype visits work: I’m a human being, not a television program. I can hear them. I can see them.
- I’ll be doing some talking, some reading, and some storytelling
I wear a headset so they can hear me and I can have my hands free. - I’ll be taking questions and answering them
- And then (time permitting) more talking, reading and storytelling
- Repeat until clock runs out!
- I’ll be doing some talking, some reading, and some storytelling
- Have the class practice asking questions
- Speak loudly
- Speak clearly
- Speak slowly (but not too slow!)
- Be sure to tell them to laugh and clap and have fun!
On the day of the visit
- Try to make sure no fire alarm has been scheduled
- Make sure the classroom doors are closed to minimize noise and distractions
- I’ll call in (or you’ll call in) 1-2 minutes before start time.
- Have a cell phone handy. Once when the outgoing classroom sound didn’t work, I called the teacher’s cell phone, and the students used that as a microphone. It worked pretty well, considering.
- Manage the students who are asking questions — have them line up or know their numbers so that we don’t waste time on those logistics. (I can’t see hands or point to the right person.)
- Be sure to tell them to laugh and clap and have fun!
Thanks to Patricia Cronin of the Incarnation School for this model Skype Call outline