Have you ever done a Google Hangout?
I know most people are doing the Zoom thing, but my district decided that they'd utilize the programs they already had, especially since the computers that the students use are Chromebooks. It's a little clunky, but we're all learning how to do things in this new reality we find ourselves in.
In Google Hangouts, there is a messaging capability, where users can type in their thoughts. I knew this was there, but I hadn't really thought much about it.
The boys are broken down into two classes: the freshmen and sophomores, and the juniors and seniors.
The frosh/soph class discovered the messaging. And they've been using it.
So, while I'm talking about the biosphere or absolute values, a little dialog box pops up in the bottom right hand corner of all our screens with some random emoji on it. And then another. And then another.
It's very distracting.
Ronan keeps typing in "Massey= *clown emoji*". Then Massey has to retaliate. The poop emoji has made several appearances. So, then Miles (if you remember my summer session posts, he was the "third boy") has to join the fray. And I'm trying to, you know, teach, so I'm not really reading and deciphering. But they think it's all good fun. . .
Sigh.
Half of me wants to find a way to turn off the messaging. The other half of me is thinking this might be a useful way of checking understanding of concepts during lessons.
I should have known the boys would find some way to goof off during class, even from their own homes via a video conference.
Oh, my goodness. I have to laugh, since rascals always find a way. But it would be frustrating to me as teach *or* student. Best wishes on finding the best approach to this.
ReplyDeleteI hit on a solution that has worked all week. I instituted participation points. If they message for something non school related, I deduct a participation point for the day. I only had to use that threat twice.
DeleteNot surprising at all lol!
ReplyDeleteMy little nephews all use Google Hangouts to contact us, and they also love emojis.
ReplyDeleteEmojis are great when one is texting amongst friends. It's the teasing and borderline bullying with them in class that I object to.
DeleteNo surprise there
ReplyDeleteNope. I'm just shocked they didn't figure this out in summer school.
DeleteThat would be distracting! I will have to look into Google Hangout.
ReplyDeleteBetty
It is always the boys who search and find stuff. Wonder what the girls discovered?
ReplyDeleteGirls? What are girls? (The school is all boys, for good or ill.)
DeleteI have used Hangouts, but not for class, which was on Webex and now is on Microsoft's Teams.
ReplyDeleteI think all these platforms have an option for chat.
In the class many students key in in the chat box what they would have otherwise spoken.
I find the chat distracting, and I urge the students to unmute their mikes and speak. That makes the class more interactive as well. So do, some others keeping messaging!
I have used Google Hangouts, but only to chat with my (grown) sons. Never used the emojis. I can imagine how easily school-age boys would get distracted by that! Makes me laugh. Glad you found a solution.
ReplyDeleteIt was funny the first time. They just didn't know when to quit. Of course, the age plays into that as well.
DeleteGoogle Hangouts is a new one on me but then again Zoom was new at one point also. Being that I am not in the working world as much as I once was I miss things like this pretty much.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Hangouts is older. And it's a bit clunky, but it does the job.
DeleteI use Teams with my students, and the chat area can be activated or not. I mean, you can read while teaching, or not, but students can always comment. Hopefuly mine don't use emojis too often. They are supposed to be future teachers, so I guess they are a little more mature ;)).
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like once they started, it turned into a running joke. I can see how that would happen.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all the comments, so someone may have said, but I think you can mute students. My Barbarians use classrooms and during online learning I know the teachers were able to deal with "those" students.
ReplyDelete