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It seems odd to consider meeting your Kenyon students through an online video chat - until you consider winter weather, cold and flu season, or the various other reasons you might not be able to meet in person. This article suggests some benefits and hurdles to videoconferencing with students.

We're seeing increasing interest in video communication for class purposes, from bringing in guest lecturers or co-teachers, to connecting Kenyon students with other students around the globe, to coping with weather or illness. This is a good 2-page rundown of the idea from EDUCAUSE.

Google Hangouts is part of our Google Apps suite, but you might want to investigate some of these other platforms as well in preparing for winter weather or other factors which might keep you from campus.

A useful description of a class survey and steps which can help more students be comfortable with their cameras on more often. The suggested techniques include a discussion of setting norms and addressing distractions, which could be useful for face-to-face classes as well.

Terrific thoughts about a first day of class over videoconference. It's interesting to me how many of these are basically digital translations of techniques which work well in physical classrooms too.