Video Conferencing Guidelines

Here are some best practices for video conferencing with your class and instructors:

• Remember you are live (on camera or phone). Video and phone conferencing allow you to take advantage of facial expressions, inflection, and tone of voice. Remember to think before you respond to make your thoughts and ideas clear and coherent to the participants.
  
  
• Adhere to the same standards of behavior during the video or phone conferencing session that you would follow if you were meeting in a face-to-face classroom environment. Remain professional in your communication with participants.
  
  
• Be mindful of all participants. Allow other participants time and opportunities to contribute to the discussion and share their ideas with the group.
  
  
• Remember that the connections of participants will vary. Some participants may have to participate without video and will not have the ability to see content in the session.
  • Describe any visual information for those participants.
  • When possible share presentation files and relevant information with the class via email or in your LMS (Blackboard/Moodle) before the session to help those with limited internet connections gain access to the content.
  • Have speakers identify themselves to the class before speaking.
    
    
• Video and phone conferencing provide synchronous opportunities to share knowledge. It is important to consider opinions from other participants who are engaged in the video and phone conferencing session. Strive for a fairly equal balance among the participants.
  
  
• Be mindful of your tone and expressions during the video and phone conferencing session. This is not an anonymous session. Your voice and video are viewed and heard by all who are participating in the chat session.
  
  
• Share your expertise and knowledge. Be an active contributor during the video and phone conferencing session.
  
  
• Respect the context of the video conferencing session. Keep video conferencing sessions within the context of the conversation. If the session is recorded do not post isolated comments that may be taken out of context. Synchronous discussions take on a life of their own; therefore, it is important to keep conversations in context. 
  
  
• Be forgiving of mistakes during the video/phone conferencing session. Video/Phone conferencing is a new communication platform for many people. There are bound to be technical glitches; be patient with the participants during the session.

Reference:
(N.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from
https://jolt.merlot.org/vol8no4/gautreau_1212.pdf