Videoconferencing

Web Tool:

Industry:

Holding a Meeting Using Skype

“Holding a Meeting Using Skype” is an activity that utilizes Skype so that students will gain skills in holding a meeting.

Outcomes:

The learner will be able to:

  • Practice interview skills in an information interview
  • Build oral fluency through group discussions
  • Focus on using the phone to gain information
  • Hold a mock meeting following meeting rules

Preparation:

  • Create meeting agenda and purpose for meeting
    • Review rules for running a meeting
  • Identify language for students to practice while engaging in the activity
  • Discuss how to take notes and summarize the information
  • Divide class into groups of those who are on the other end of the skype call and who are in the classroom

Delivery:

  1. Introduce the activity:
    • Clarify participation expectations
    • Introduce the web tool (see "web tools" for more information)
    • Decide on meeting roles (leader convenes the meeting, meeting facilitator keeps the discussion moving, recorder takes notes, timekeeper remind leader when time is up for an item.) in this videoconferencing project
  2. Brainstorm:
    • Decide purpose for meeting; develop a case scenario
    • Discuss meeting guidelines (example: only one person speaks at a time, stick to agenda and time, etc.)
  3. Hold Skype call:
    • Use a case scenario (in engineering), in pairs, to conduct a meeting based on the problem/topic of that case scenario, using Skype.
    • Role play the meeting and take notes while using the tool
    • Use the notes to prepare a short summary of the meeting
    • Compare notes and review differences in understanding of what happened and what was discussed.
    • Read this example of a possible discussion:
      • Group facilitator: Almir, what do you think? Do you have anything to add to this discussion? Would anyone like to comment on what Almir just said? Are there anymore comments before we move on to the next point?
      • Timekeeper: Let's hear what some others have to say. Perhaps we should go on to the next pint. We have only five minutes left, so let's move on. Excuse me for interrupting, but I need to clarify the last point…
  4. Conclude with one of these ideas:
    • Post summary of the meeting on the class wiki

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) skills addressed by this activity are:

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing