Periscope, a free iPhone or Android app from Twitter, lets users watch or shoot live streaming video and has a constantly updated list of live streams to browse.
Given its owner, Periscope unsurprisingly requires a Twitter account to use or browse. Broadcasting is extremely easy, users just tap the camera icon at the bottom. Streams can be kept unlisted or public, and then can be saved to an archive. During a user’s live broadcast, audience members can type in comments that the user and other audience members will see at the bottom of the screen. Audience members can “like” the video live, by touching anywhere on the screen to make a heart icon float up that everyone can see. In this way, the live shoot becomes a conversation where the user can interact with the audience watching the show. The app also enables private broadcasts, which let users lock off a broadcast to just a selected few followers. Finished broadcasts can be saved to the user’s camera roll or choose to make the video available for replay, so people who missed it still have a chance to watch. Unfortunately, the replays stay up for only 24 hours after being posted. Periscope broadcasts can be shared on Twitter by tapping the bird icon before broadcasting commences. When the the broadcast is live, a link will be tweeted to Twitter followers. To watch broadcasts, the app displays three featured live streams at the top and a long list of live streams being shot by others in that moment. Users receive a push notification whenever someone they follow in Twitter is broadcasting live and when someone sends an invitation to watch a broadcast. Users can interact with the broadcaster by asking questions and by tapping the screen to send encouraging hearts. Periscope will suggest people to follow based on the user’s Twitter network. Users can always follow new people, or unfollow them if notifications are unwanted. Users can watch breaking news as it happens, view someone’s presentation, or a collaborate with a classroom . Check on Periscope EDU for ideas for using this app in teaching and learning. |
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Getting Started
- Download Periscope app from iTunes.
- Create a or log into your Twitter account.
- Create your Periscope username.
- Find people and watch a broadcast.
- Comment on the live stream and give away hearts. The dialogue box is at the bottom of the broadcast.
- As an option, host your own broadcast to see how it is done. A suggestion is to make the broadcast Private. Another option is to live stream, with permission, a professional learning opportunity featured in your school division
- Once you tap on the Person icon, you can also share the broadcast with your followers. The following steps can be of assistance:
- Tap on the Person icon in the bottom right corner.
- Click on Share the Broadcast.