How to Use Google Hangouts for your life group
To lead a video small group using google hangouts, you will need the following:
— The video, either as a DVD (you’ll also need a DVD player) or online. Abingdon Press has made The Walk available through their new streaming platform, Amplify Media during this season.
— A computer, cell phone or internet-connected tablet with a camera
–A stable internet Connection
Make sure you have emails for each person. Ideally these will already be connected to a google account. If your members don’t have a google account, they can follow these instructions to create one: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/googleaccount/creating-a-google-account/1/
Before you start your first video call
1. Make sure you have emails for each person. Ideally these will already be connected to a google account.
2. Check the system requirements for Hangouts.
3. Connect a camera, microphone, and speakers to your computer. Make sure they have the latest software.
4. When asked to use your computer’s camera and microphone, click Allow.
Important: You might need to turn on permissions for your camera and microphone in your computer’s system settings.
When it’s time to start your call:
1. Open hangouts.google.com or on the sidebar in Gmail.
2. Select a person from the Hangouts list or search for their name or email address. When you find the person you want, click their name. You can also check multiple people to start a group video call.
3. Click Video call 
.
4. When you’re done, click End call 
.
It can sometimes be easier to share a link with everyone for the call. Below are instructions to invite people using a link.
1. Open hangouts.google.com or on the sidebar in Gmail.
2. Click Video call .
3. When the video call window opens, you should get this box:
4. Click “Copy link to share .”
5. To invite people to the call, click the link to copy it. Then, paste the link into emails, chats, or somewhere else. To join a call, users will need to sign in. Anyone with the link will be able to join the call.
Download the hangouts app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.talk&hl=en_US
Start a video call
1. Open the Hangouts app .
2. At the bottom right, tap Compose .
3. Tap New Video Call.
4. Type and select the names of people you want to invite to your video call.
5. Tap Video call .
6. When you’re done, tap End call .
Start a video call
1. Open the Hangouts app 
.
2. At the bottom, tap Contacts 
.
3. Type a person’s name, and select them from the search results.
4. Tap Video call.
5. Optional: On your iPad, you can start a video call by opening a Hangouts conversation and swiping from right to left.
6. When you’re done, tap End call 
.
Add people by sharing a link
1. In the video call window, tap the screen.
2. At the top, tap Add people 
.
3. At the bottom, tap Share link.
4. Select an app. To join a call, users will need to sign in. Anyone with the link will be able to join the call.
Now that you’re on the call there 2 ways to share the video.
Before sharing the video, recommend that everyone mute themselves by pressing the microphone
After you’re on the call and everyone is ready, simply turn your device toward the television and hit play on the DVD.
When you’re done, redirect the video to yourself.
Access the videos online through Amplify Media.
These instructions are adapted from: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-share-screen-on-google-hangouts
1. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Select “Share Screen.”
3. Click on how you want to share your screen — you can either share the entire screen, which is the default option, or you can toggle over to the application window section of the pop-up to select individual windows to share with video participants.
4. Click “Share.”
5. Play the video as you normally would play a video on your computer.
6. When you are done, switch back to camera by hitting the “Stop” button.
