Muhammad Farooq: How to use Google Meet for Online classes: Step by Step Tutorial for Teachers and Students

Popular Video Conferencing Apps

Due to ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic teachers and students around the globe are using different video conferencing apps for online classes. A bunch of video conferencing apps are there but some of the most popular apps are:

Zoom
Google Meet
Microsoft Teams
Cisco Webex
Skype Meet Now

This tutorial provides

Google Meet

Google Meet is a type of video conferencing App. It is the new version of both Google Hangouts and Google Chat. It was initially released in 2017. Directly accessible on PC using website meet.googl.com and its app is available for both Android phone an iPhone. Initially Google launched it as a commercial service but later made it available for free users as well. These days, during Covid-19 pandemic it is the top competitor for the Zoom.

Zoom VS Google Meet

Currently, Zoom and Google Meet are most widely used. Both have awesome features. Lets compare basic features of both apps.

1. Desktop App

Unlike Zoom, Google Meet is not available in desktop app. But its app is available for iPhone and Android.

2. Downloads on Playstore

Currently zoom app is downloaded 100 M+ times, while Google Meet is 50 M+ times on playstore.

3. Time limit

Video call made through Google Meet currently has 24 hours time limit upto September 30, 2020, While Zoom has 40 time limit.

4. Participants

Zoom supports 100 participants, while Google Meet supports 250 participants for video calling.

5. Security

Unlike zoom, Google meet provides end-to-end encryption on all call. That's why Meet is more secure than zoom.

6. Recording

Zoom allows to record meeting in MP4 format and can be stored locally on computer. But Google Meet doesn't support recording feature.

7. Participants on screen

Zoom allows 49 participants on main screen while Google Meet allows 16.

8. Screen Sharing

Both Zoom and Google Meet support screen sharing with participants.

9. Virtual Background

Unlike Meet, Zoom provides this awesome feature in which the host display an image or video on his own choice during meeting as a background.

10. Real-Time Captions

Unlike Zoom, Google Meet provides real time speech to text conversion in English language shared on screen during meeting.

Quick Comparisons of Both Apps

S. No	Feature	Google Meet	Zoom
1	Desktop App	No	Yes
2	Downloads	50 M+	100 M+
3	Time Limit	120 mins	40 mins
4	Participants	250	100
5	Security	Yes	No
6	Recording	No	Yes
7	Participants on screen	16	49
8	Screen Sharing	Yes	Yes
9	Virtual Background	No	Yes
10	Real-Time Capitations	Yes	No

Why Google Meet?

Both apps have their own features for video calling, but Meet has some preference over Zoom, like:

1. Integration

It is integrated with other Google products such as Gmail and Google Calendar.

2. Convenience

Directly accessible through Gmail account, No need to install software. Even new meeting can be started from the Gmail inbox.

3. Background Noise

Google has roll out background noise during meeting.

4. Real-Time captions

Real-time speech to text conversion on screen shared with all participants, is a unique feature of Meet.

5. Interface

It has a simple and user friendly interface to use and understand.

6. Inviting participants

Inviting participants through sharing joining link is very easy and one step process. Copy the joining link and share.

7. Screen Sharing

Meet allows the host to share the entire screen with the participants. Which enables host to share any file on screen during meeting.

Step by Step Teachers Guide

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1. Open Google chrome browser and click on dotted button next to images.

2. Click on the Meet in the drop down menu.

3. Click on your Name(Gmail ID) to access Google account.

4. Enter you Password and Click Next button.

3. Click on Start a meeting button to enter into new meeting.

4. Click on the Join now button.

5. Click on Copy joining info to copy the joining link to invite students to the meeting by sharing link with them using any messenger.

6. The Google Meet window will be opened.

Step by Step Students Guide

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1.Shared link

Click the joining link shared by the teacher.

2. Join Meeting

Click Join now button.

3. Approval from the teacher

As the student click on the join now button, request is send to the teacher to admit you in the meeting. As the teacher click the Admit option meeting window is opened to that student.

4. Mute mice

It should be noticed that during the meeting every student should mute his/her mice to listen clearly to the teacher. When student wanna ask something, then he/she should unmute the mice.

Main Features

Some of the main features of Google Meet are:

1. Inviting Students

Click Meeting detail to copy the joining link and share with the student to join the meeting. The student have to sign in into Google account to join meeting.

2. Audio Streaming

Click the Microphone button to mute or unmute the audio streaming.

3. Leave Meeting

Click the red Phone button to close the meeting.

4. Live video streaming

Click the Camera button to on or off video streaming.

5. Captions

Click on Turn on captions to start speech to text conversion on screen in English language . To stop captioning click on Turn off captions.

6. Screen sharing

The most import feature for teachers to share screen with the students.

Click on the Present button and then on your entire screen option.

2. Click on the appeared screen and then click the Share button. Now your entire screen is shared with the students. You can share any file with the students on the shared screen.