| Address: | Online via video link |
| Website: | https://meet.google.com |
| Accessibility: | Google Meet supports auto-generated live captions |
Attending a Meeting
- Receive the Link: The Group Leader or event organizer will send the Google Meet web link to registered members.
- Click to Join: Shortly before the scheduled start time, click the link provided in your email.
- No Account Needed: You do not need a paid Google account or special software to join from a laptop or desktop computer—it will open directly in your standard web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox).
- Mobile Devices: If you are using an iPad, tablet, or mobile phone, you may be prompted to download the free Google Meet app from your app store before joining.
Useful Features & Accessibility
- Live Captions: Google Meet offers built-in, automated real-time captions. Once in the meeting, click the "CC" (Captions) button at the bottom of your screen to turn on visible text for speech.
- Dial-in Option: If you do not have an internet connection or computer with a webcam, ask the Group Leader if a telephone dial-in number is available for audio-only participation.
Tips for a Smooth Meeting
- Microphone Mute: Please keep your microphone muted when you are not speaking to minimize background noise for others.
- Camera: Turning your camera on is encouraged so other members can see you, but it is optional if you prefer audio only.
- Test in Advance: If you are using Google Meet for the first time, try clicking the link 10–15 minutes early to test your speaker and microphone settings.
Using Google Meet for Your u3a Group
Google Meet is free to use for any u3a group or meeting!
- Direct Booking: Officers and Group Leaders whose primary venue is Google Meet can book sessions directly.
- Booking Requests: Don't have booking access? Just reach out to the Google Meet team with your preferred date, time, and topic, and we'll arrange it for you.
Please note:
- Please use this service for u3a activities only.
- Always get permission from everyone in the room before starting a recording.
Basic guide to Google Meet
Schedule & Join
Important: To schedule a Workspace event, ensure you are logged in with your Workspace account. If you are signed into Chrome with a personal Google account, your meeting will follow personal account restrictions (such as time limits and limited host features). The cleanest way to avoid this in Chrome is to open a new Chrome Profile and sign in directly with your Workspace ID.
Option A: Direct Link
- Go to
meet.google.com. - Click New meeting > Create a meeting for later.
- Copy the link and paste it into an email to your members.
- On meeting day, go to
meet.google.com, paste the link, and click Join.
Option B: Google Calendar
- Go to
calendar.google.com> + Create > Event. - Set title, date, time, and click Add Google Meet video conferencing.
- Add member emails in the Guests panel > Click Save > Send.
- On meeting day, click the calendar event > Join with Google Meet.
| Tool Icon | Feature Name | Description & How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Mute / Unmute | Click to toggle your microphone on or off. Tip: Stay muted when not speaking to eliminate background noise. |
| Camera | Video On / Off | Click to turn your webcam feed on or off. Hovering over the icon opens options to blur or select a virtual background. |
| Captions | Live Captions (cc) | Turns on real-time automated text captions on your screen. Helpful for accessibility or hard-of-hearing members. Hovering over the item enables you to display an emoji. |
| Hand | Raise Hand | Lets participants queue up to speak without talking over others. The host sees a notification listing who raised their hand first. |
| Box with Arrow | Present Now (Screen Share) | Share your screen with the group: • A Tab: Best for video/audio or websites. • A Window: Best for a single document, PDF, or PowerPoint. • Entire Screen: Shows everything on your computer monitor. |
| Chat Bubble | In-Call Chat | Opens a text panel on the right where members can type questions or post links without interrupting the speaker. |
| People Icon | Participant List | Opens a list of everyone in the meeting. Use this panel to mute disruptive participants or manage co-hosts. |
| Red Phone | Leave / End Call | Disconnects you from the room. Hosts can choose End call for everyone to close the room for all attendees. |
Setting Up a No-Host
Using calendar.google.com (Invites & Automation)
Scheduling an Event:
- Go to
calendar.google.comand click + Create > Event. - Add a Title, Date, and Time.
- Click the blue Add Google Meet video conferencing button.
- In the Guests panel on the right, type the email addresses of your group members.
- Click Save, then click Send when prompted to automatically email the invitations and meeting link to all members.
Guests Joining the Meeting:
- Open their web browser and go to
meet.google.com. - Paste your link into the text box and click Join, or click the link directly from your saved notes or email.
- On the Green Room (Preview Screen), verify their camera and microphone are working.
- Click Join now.
Notes
- Invited guests automatically join the meeting. Members not in the invitation but given the link by another method join the waiting room. Thus there must be one guest on the invitation list.
- Invited guests can accept the invitation and creates a note and that note will be reflected in the calendar but they cannot reply to the invitation as the email address of the inviter does not exist. They can use forward to send to a valid address.