Check the time zone and timetables of the partner

Prepare and test your equipment before the meeting - it is good to meet on-line to discuss some points, too.

Plan how to inform the partner in case of sudden changes, when you can’t have the meeting - children get disappointed and lose motivation to prepare

Make sure your students can hear and see the partners well

Make sure your camera shows the appropriate space, the microphone is not too far / some students are shy and do not speak loud enough

Plan the way the students reach the speaker’s stand and leave it.

Decorate your classroom to make a good atmosphere / hang flags, maps, … students’ works

Get students’ permission if you decide to shoot a film during their performance and show in public

Agree with a partner about the subject

Decide what aims you want to reach /take into consideration  language skills, cultural skills, social skills /

Decide about the size of the group of students participating / not too large, better less than 10, so everyone can be involved)

Decide about the age of students participating in the video-conference / the same age makes students more confident /and their language level

Organize school activities preceding your video-conference to prepare students  to talk about the subject related to different language competences / a specific vocabulary, tenses, predict questions and answer…/

Use some visuals - posters, cards, art-works, videos that you prepared with your students

Share some materials for watching before your video-conference - it gives you more time on-line

Plan how you are going to do it - what activities, order of activities, time for each speaker / it is good to let students talk in turns, maximum 2-3 sentences for younger students/

Print any necessary charts, bring stuff which is going to be used one day before

The video conference could be divided in two meetings.  It will provide opportunity for exchange if you plan some manual or other demanding work or double the time.

Document and record, if possible, the video conference - it may help your students to see how they performed and because it is fun to watch it.

Think over the work done together with pupils the days after, to see what was good and what was wrong in the experience.

Take notes if you see you can improve.

Ask students to find possible partners, choose the organization that deals with problems you are interested in

Talk with someone from the organization and explain your point, ask for help to get in touch with the rights person who can participate in a videoconference and is eager to answer children’s questions /it can be a real expert but also a volunteer, employee /

Talk with students to introduce the topic and ask them to find some information about the organization / from leaflets, Internet, … /

Work with students to help them prepare a list of questions

Decide with the guest from the organization the time, the length of the v-c and ask if they can invite children as well

Plan what you will produce as a result of the videoconference / a report, a film, a recording, pictures .../, and prepare children for their role.

Decorate the place with your works connected to the issue, it may be useful and it may help children present their ideas, ask the quest in advance what he/she may need and provide it.

Go back to the experience in a few days and discuss with your children positive and negative aspects of the meeting

Improve