Given the nature of videoconferencing and the dependency on so many various aspects being in place, there is no guarentee that a videoconferencing session will be 100% successful. Not even if you followed every single best practice listed.

ITS highly recommends that you have a contingency plan, that we refer to as Plan B, in the event of trouble.

An appropriate Plan B depends on what the goal of the videoconference was.  Currently, we are seeing 2 main uses for Videoconferencing:

1. to enable a conversation between several parties, including video to enhance the experience.
2. to enable a remote group to "attend" a class or presentation.

Naturally, there are grey areas in both of these categories, and instances may be a little of both.  For example, a conversation may include documents or drawings presented by one group to the other groups.  Or during a class, there may be a question and answer period.

Plan B for Conversations

In this case, you want to do everything you can in order to continue to have a conversation.  Here is a list of ways to do this, ordered in decreasing preference.  In some cases, the cause of the failure of the original videoconference may also make some of these other options not viable.

1. Switch to Elluminate (only an option if your internet connection was not the problem)
2. Or Adobe Connect (only an option if your internet connection was not the problem)
3. Or Skype  (only an option if your internet connection was not the problem)
4. Use a phone and teleconference.  A good speaker phone can do wonders and if you have prepared for this properly, everyone will already have a copy of your documents and pictures because you will have emailed them ahead of time.

Plan B for Presentation Delivery

In this case, the real time aspect is not as important as the delivery of the lecture.  What you need is a recording of the lecture.  Again, here is a list of ways to do this, ordered in decreasing preference.

1. Have a Matterhorn unit set to record the class each and every time and make all lecture captures available to all the students. Contact Us for more information.
   
2. Have an Echo360 unit set to record the class each and every time and make all lecture captures available to all the students. Contact Us for more information.
   
3. Switch to Elluminate, and record the session. Make recording available to participants.  Note that you may need at least one other person to connect to this session before it is possible to start recording.  You will also need a working internet connection to Elluminate.com.
4. Switch to Adobe Connect, and record the session. Make recording available to participants.  Note that we may need at least one other person to connect to this session before it is possible to start recording.  We will also need a working internet connection to usask.ca.
5. Record the session with a video camera.  Contact Us to learn more about possible options for distributing the recording.
6. Some VCU manufacturers make available the ability to record a videoconferencing session on a "recording stick". Please contact the manufacturer of your VCU or Contact Us to find out if this feature is available for your VCU

Planning for Plan B

There are things that can be done to maximize the chances of a successful videoconference and things that can be done to minimize the impact of a failure.

Maximizing the chances of a successful video conference

• Test out your videoconference ahead of time.  If possible, involve all of the real presenters and sites and hardware and software.  The more accurately you can simulate the expected situation, the more likely you are to succeed.
• Have backup hardware.
• Have an expert on hand. Contact your local IT unit or Contact Us for more informaiton and availability of staff to assist.

Minimizing the impact of a failure

• Test out your favourite Plan B, and maybe another one too.
• Send out any extra material (powerpoint presentations, documents, photos) ahead of time.