Google Meet Breakout Rooms by Robert Hudek

Description

Welcome to the Google Meet Breakout Rooms extension which enhances Google Meet

This extension is written and owned by Robert Hudek, and it is completely FREE for everyone to use and your DATA IS PRIVATE. No data is collected by the developer or sent to any third parties. Please be aware that many full-feature google meet extensions will collect your information and may also send it to third parties, so read their data privacy policies carefully before use. However, this extension does not collect any of your information and does not send it to either the developer or any third parties. In this extension, all your data is stored on your personal computer browser using google provided functions and is NOT hosted on the developer's or any third party's server.

Any FREE gmail account user can use this extension to run meetings and manage breakout rooms for their participants who also have free gmail accounts. You do NOT have to be a Google Classroom user or a Google Suite account user. Google has their own Breakout Rooms functionality which is different and they require purchasing an Enterprise edition. However, my extension is free for everyone to use.

Features: **** Low Memory Option, Nicknames, Status Reports, and Countdown Timer

Now, low memory (RAM) computers can run an unlimited number of breakout rooms
Create and assign breakouts based on Nicknames
New Status Reports to monitor student participation in breakouts
Countdown timer to keep track of time allocated for breakout sessions

1) View all breakout rooms together in Tile or Tab format
2) Single click to move slide between rooms
3) Assign breakouts in either ad hoc or preassigned mode
4) Broadcast audio and video into all of the breakout rooms
5) Customize colors for Meet bottom toolbar
6) Nicknames, Codes or Automatic Meet Links - No need to go to Calendar
7) Basic reports for attendance, breakout groups, participant group assignments, etc
8) Mute and Remove students from all breakouts with single click
9) Export and Import Rooms links as well as the entire Extension data
10) Online help video library
11) Online version release notes
12) Google Classroom integration
13) Low Memory (RAM) computers can manage an unlimited number of breakouts

*** Quickstart for version 17.0 https://youtu.be/R6h9YXri2Mw

*** You do not need the extension Grid Meet (fix) anymore. You can use the normal google meet settings for tiled and move the slider all the way to the right to 49 participants. This is in the Meet on the bottom right hand side (...) choose layout then Tiled.

*** 中文版的說明操作影片 (version 17.3)：https://youtu.be/5oGmIL3pmP4

*** 我製作了影片版本（version 17.3) 後，發現了 Grid Meet (fix) 好像有問題，所以我不建議下載它，要不然能用google meet 本身的功能。用google meet 原本的功能，在設定，變更版面配置，選並排，拉到49人

*** Low Memory (RAM) Option explained in detail https://youtu.be/tKkSSghEyuo

*** If you like the extension, please give the extension a positive rating in the Chrome Store. This extension is completely free and if you find it useful then you may pay me back by giving me an honest five star rating. I greatly appreciate it! If you experience any problems please watch my numerous online tutorials and help videos on my Youtube channel Hudek Tech, or send me an email and ask me for help. My email is [email protected] and I read all my emails.

*** No data or analytics are collected by the developer or any third party. Your extension data, such as meet links and courses, is stored directly on your own computer in the chrome browser using Google provided functions. To copy your data from one computer to another you can use the export/import function within the extension Courses tab and click on the far right hand black button. None of your data is sent to the developer or any third party.

*** In the Low Memory (RAM) Option, you can run an unlimited number of breakouts on a very small computer, such as a Chromebook. Using this option, only one breakout room is displayed at a time and you can use the slider to move between the rooms. However, in this low memory option there are a few things that are not available because only one room is displayed at a time: ability to broadcast , record all the breakouts, and some automation features to close all rooms in one click. But in return, you will be able to run an unlimited number of breakout rooms on a very small computer. There is extensive help documentation on this feature inside the extension itself by clicking on the red Help for this checkbox feature.

*** Please note: Only the teacher needs to have the extension installed. The students may like the extension since they can customize colors and they will also have a speaker button which is missing from regular Google meet. However, the important point is that only the teacher needs to have this installed to run the class with breakouts.

*** I have online help within the extension. Please click on the "?" and you will see a list of how-to's and each has its own associated instructional video

*** I also have online version release notes. Please click on the "here" link in the Meet tab headline message which identifies the current version. The release notes are the easiest and quickest way to learn about new features, known issues, and workarounds if available.

*** You do not need to install a Mute Tab extension because the Speaker button handles this function. However, if you already have a mute tab extension installed you do not have to uninstall it. You can keep that extension but please do not click on the mute tab extension while you are using my extension because it will conflict with my speaker button.

*** If you find that your speaker button behaves unexpectedly it may be due to the limited size of RAM memory on your computer or perhaps due to an external monitor. To verify the source of problem, you can first try it without the external monitor and see if that clears up the problem.
Most teachers say they need 16G RAM to run more than a few number of rooms (10 or so) and 8G RAM appears to be the threshold. If you have only 8G RAM and experience problems then consider using the new (as of version 17.0). In the low memory option you can manage an unlimited number of breakouts but only one rooms is displayed at a time.

*** Please make sure on your settings for Google Meet in the bottom right hand side "...." you select Change Layout/Tiled. This is different from my Tabs/Tiled display format of windows in my extension. Please set the Change Layout to Tiled within Google Meet (bottom right hand side ...)

*** This extension is owned and developed by Robert Hudek. This extension is independent from Google and is not owned by or part of Google or Google Meet. This extension is designed to enhance and extend the functionality of Google Meet.

*** I created a Facebook page, Google Meet Breakout @googlemeetbreakout, to better allow me to communicate with users and solve issues when they arise. If you find a problem please send me a message and I will reply.

*** If you find a problem please do not give up on this app. Please inform me at [email protected] or on the facebook page if you find any issues and I will try my best to reply as soon as I can. It is always helpful if you include a screenshot or detailed description of your scenario so I can more quickly diagnose the issue (for example, if you are using Google Classroom, what steps you took, what were your Rooms, etc. What did you see on the screen, where did things go wrong, etc). Thank you.

*** I have personally used this extension to teach my own classes but there is a little bit of a learning curve, which can be nerve-wracking if you are doing it live in front of a class of 30 students. If you plan to use this extension for your class, please first test it out with your friends or volunteers. Then when you teach it live, please have a back-up plan in place in case things don't go as planned. You can always revert back to the "plain vanilla" Google Meet no worries. All you have to do is just disable my extension. Easy.

*** Any questions? Please email me at [email protected] or contact me on the Facebook page and I will be delighted to chat with you and help you get started. It is my hope that this extension will make your life easier as a teacher and enhance the learning experience for all your students by being able to use breakout sessions in the virtual classroom. As I mentioned above, I am also a teacher and used this for my classes. I'm a big fan of small groups and want to give teachers the tools for breaking the class into small groups for discussion and classroom activities. It is more fun for the students, they are more likely to actively participate, and they learn more by interacting with their classmates putting into practice what they are taught.

Data Privacy:
I have a detailed data privacy section on my web page, but the short version is that I do not copy, transmit or share any of your data with anyone including myself. I also do not use cookies, nor do I drop third party cookies on you.

Warranty and Guarantee:
There is no warranty and there is no guarantee for this extension. I have a
detailed warranty (none) and guarantee (none) description on my web page but the short version is this: By using this Extension, you understand and agree that the Extension is provided "as is" and "as available".

The developer Robert Hudek EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.