Before your book club meeting:
Download Skype or other videoconferencing software at home, and try it out
with someone you know. While Skype may be the best-known program, it’s certainly
not the only option. Apple’s iChat and Google Video and Voice also offer free
videoconferencing capabilities. The book club and author must use the same
platform, so that needs to be arranged in advance.
If you plan to meet at school, contact your technology coordinator to make
sure you can use the software. Some districts block programs like Skype, and if
that’s the case, you’ll want to see if it’s possible to unblock it for your
program. Test it at school to make sure it works.
Contact the author to arrange your virtual visit. Set a date and time and
decide which videoconferencing program you’ll use and who will initiate the
call.
Once you’ve arranged a time (morning may be best to avoid high Internet
usage), reserve the space where you’ll be having your virtual visit. Make sure
all the necessary equipment is available and working. You’ll need a computer
with a broadband Internet connection, as well as a webcam and microphone. These
can be built in or attached via your computer’s USB ports.
Plan your meeting. How long will it last? Will members gather around a
computer or will the author be projected on a big screen? Where will kids stand
or sit so they can be seen and heard? With adequate preparation, you’ll avoid
confusion and make the most of discussion time. Have kids write questions on
index cards in advance to keep things moving.
Make sure the kids understand that your connection may be lost temporarily
during the chat. It helps to have a plan in place for when that happens.
Whenever I use Skype with my students, they bring their novels, with the
understanding that a lost connection is their signal to start reading while I
get things fixed.
