Learn More About Virtual Classroom Software
What is Virtual Classroom Software?
Virtual classroom software enables instructors to deliver distance learning experiences through a combination of video conferencing, collaboration and participation, and assessment features. Educators use this software to provide engaging eLearning experiences, both in real time and through playback recordings for students to access material wherever and whenever. Virtual classroom software can be sold as a standalone product or an integrated feature within a larger platform. It is quickly becoming a must-have tool for educators, allowing them to maximize student learning beyond the physical classroom setting.
What are the Common Features of Virtual Classroom Software?
Video conferencing: Live video allows students and teachers to see each other during the lesson, facilitating more student engagement and opportunities for real-time discussions. A growing number of platforms offer high-definition video and automatically optimize a user’s video and audio for their connection speed to enable users with lower bandwidth connections to participate.
Video encryption and password protection: End-to-end encryption of video feeds ensure privacy and security for users, while passwords limit who can access a class session.
Multimedia presentations: Instructors can upload slides presentations to virtual classroom platforms, then share those slides during a lesson as a visual aid for students. Many platforms also enable instructors to upload audio or video files.
Whiteboards: Digital whiteboards can be used in a variety of ways, such as an instructor looking to demonstrate the steps to solving a math problem or diagram the structure of a single-celled organism. Some products offer interactive whiteboards, enabling the instructor to share the space with students, which offers more opportunities for student participation.
Session recording: For students who can’t make a virtual class or want to review the material again later, professors can save a recording of the session, including video and audio, and post it online for later viewing. Some virtual classroom products offer the option to post directly to the institution’s learning management system or online learning platform.
Live chat: In addition to video and audio communications, a text chat feature makes it possible for participants to quietly ask questions or communicate during a session. Messaging can be either public (visible to the entire room of participants) or private (only between the sender and receiver).
File sharing and storage: File storage functionality enables users to upload a variety of file types, including documents, video, audio, PDFs, and presentations. These files can then be shared with students and may be able to include annotations that add additional context or clarification. Some products offer a cloud-based content library that instructors can use to organize and reuse files or course content from past classes.
Screen sharing: Instructors (and sometimes session participants, with the instructor’s permission) can share their computer screen during a session. This can be useful when an instructor is trying to demonstrate something, such as how to use a piece of software.
Polls and surveys: With live polls and surveys, teachers can ask students a question and instantly see results.
Breakout rooms: If an instructor wants to break up a large class into smaller groups, breakout rooms enable them to split up students for small group projects, discussions, or other learning activities. The instructor can later reconvene the entire class for a larger discussion.
Mobile compatibility: Platforms that are compatible with desktop operating systems, as well as mobile devices, allow students to connect from their device of choice.
Analytics: Virtual classroom software can capture a variety of data about student attendance, engagement, and performance, then compile it into reports or visual dashboards.
Many virtual classroom platforms will also offer the following features:
What are the Benefits of Virtual Classroom Software?
Streamlines delivery of live online learning experiences: Virtual classroom software enables students to engage in so-called synchronous learning experiences or those in which all the students are engaged in learning at the same time. These platforms include live video streaming capabilities, so teachers and instructors can communicate via video and audio during the session. Holding live classes using virtual classroom software means instructors can have real-time discussions with students or change a lesson dynamically based on students’ needs. These actions would not be possible in an asynchronous learning environment, such as an online course that students click through at their own pace. Virtual classrooms combine live video streaming with other teaching tools in a single software product, streamlining the learning process for both teacher and student.
Engages and assesses learners from afar: Engaging students in an online course can be a challenge for teachers, as students may lose interest during the session, such as a lengthy presentation or lecture. Virtual classroom products offer ways for instructors to make the learning more dynamic and more closely replicate the options they have available in a physical classroom. Many tools include digital whiteboards, polling functions, text chat features, and the ability to show videos.
Enables student collaboration online: Peer interactions are a key part of many learning experiences, so virtual classroom software products typically offer ways for instructors to facilitate those conversations. In addition to the video conferencing capabilities that allow students to see and hear each other during discussions, many virtual classroom platforms enable instructors to create virtual breakout rooms where smaller groups of students can meet and collaborate on assignments. Some virtual classroom products also let learners work together on projects using digital whiteboards that can accommodate multiple editors or collaborative coding environments for honing computer programming skills.
Who Uses Virtual Classroom Software?
In general, virtual classroom software users fall into one of two categories, instructors or students. However, there are several contexts in which users can leverage virtual classroom products.
College and university professors: Many virtual classroom platforms are aimed at helping instructors at colleges and universities improve their delivery of online education, including courses that are held either partially or entirely online. Professors can host live online classes to deliver lessons and engage students using a variety of features.
K-12 teachers: While K-12 teachers use virtual classrooms less commonly than higher education instructors, teachers in the primary grades can use these tools to connect with students who are learning remotely. Teachers in K-12 schools where students learn exclusively online can use virtual classroom software to deliver daily lessons. They also might use it to reach students who are out of the classroom temporarily, such as because of an illness.
Students: Once an instructor uses virtual classroom software to launch an online class meeting, students use the platform to join the class, either by downloading the software or via a web browser.
Online tutors: Private businesses that offer tutoring for test preparation, language learning, or other academic subjects can use virtual classrooms to connect with their clients and engage in online tutoring sessions.
Education administrators: Institutional leaders use virtual classrooms in the same way they would leverage the features of video conferencing software, such as holding collaborative meetings on a variety of topics.
Employee trainers: In a business context, virtual classrooms can allow trainers to conduct online training sessions or webinars for groups of employees in disparate locations. Virtual training can also take place in the education industry, allowing teachers to complete professional development sessions from anywhere with an internet connection.
What are the Alternatives to Virtual Classroom Software?
Alternatives to Virtual Classroom software can replace this type of software, either partially or completely:
Video conferencing software: Virtual classroom products incorporate live video streaming, much like video conferencing platforms, which tend to be more business oriented. Video conferencing platforms can be very similar in functionality to virtual classroom software.
Learning management systems (LMS): Some LMS products offer built-in video streaming functionality to host virtual classrooms. Virtual sessions can be scheduled through an LMS and a link to the session can be posted on it. Afterward, recordings can be updated on the LMS for students to access.
Challenges with Virtual Classroom Software
Video and audio performance: A central part of the virtual classroom experience is being able to communicate via live audio and video with other participants, underscoring how crucial it is that a platform provides high-quality, reliable delivery of that data. If the video or audio is constantly cutting out for instructors or students, the lesson will be impossible to follow. While the quality and reliability of video streaming platforms have both improved significantly in recent years, buyers should make sure to demo virtual classroom products under a range of conditions to ensure that the product will perform when it is time to hold class. That includes testing how the platform performs with large numbers of participants or over slower internet connections.
Inadequate internet connectivity for students: Virtual classrooms require a reliable broadband internet connection to function properly. Students who lack reliable internet access could be in for a frustrating experience involving choppy audio and video or frequent disconnections. This so-called digital divide has the potential to exacerbate inequities between students by preventing some students from being able to attend virtual sessions. Instructors who intend to use virtual classroom software have a responsibility to ensure that each student has the necessary resources to access the software.
Which Companies Should Buy Virtual Classroom Software?
Any educational institution that wants to provide remote learning should consider purchasing virtual classroom software. While there are free web conferencing tools that can be used, virtual classroom products are designed to enhance remote learning beyond basic video stream and participation tools. Features such as whiteboards and quizzes allow teachers to engage their students and prevent passive listening during virtual classes.
For online schools or higher education institutions that want to enhance their online course offerings, virtual classroom software can increase the number of prospective students who choose to attend their institution. These tools offer far more flexibility with when and how students can learn.
How to Buy Virtual Classroom Software
Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Virtual Classroom Software
For the most part, virtual classroom products will not differ greatly in features, which should help prospective buyers feel at ease when beginning their search for the right product. Institutions should start their RFI/RFP process by honing in on the current and future needs for their remote learning plan. Buyers must determine what set of features will help teachers feel more empowered to deliver high-quality virtual classes, and ensure they have the tools to limit student interruptions as needed.
Compare Virtual Classroom Software Products
Create a long list
Long lists are created by eliminating the options that do not provide critical functionality. For example, schools should seek out virtual classroom products that offer a predetermined set of must-have features to help teachers deliver quality remote learning experiences. A typical long list should not include more than 10 products unless many options are very similar. In this case, additional details like the geographical presence of the company or its reputation can be used to eliminate vendors.
Create a short list
Short lists are created by reviewing the RFI information received from vendors. Some vendors may decline to participate and respond to RFIs. These vendors are usually eliminated from the selection process. From there, this short list steers the buying decision closer to completion, leaving only a couple of vendors to choose between. This decision is based on small, key factors that fulfill all the requirements and considerations a school or company has for implementing a virtual classroom.
Conduct demos
Demos are a great opportunity for buyers to see how the virtual classroom works. Only the shortlisted vendors are invited to demonstrate their solutions. Demos should be performed live, using the system, and not through slide decks and screenshots. All vendors should follow a predetermined scenario that simulates the business processes of the buyer. Buyers should request to see a walkthrough from the perspective of an instructor and a student to understand how the interface looks for both sides and ensure it is user friendly for everyone. Additionally, request to see various stress tests on the virtual classroom to see how video, audio, and internet connection quality holds up for higher participant sizes. Buyers can then determine what integrations exist for the product to see how it would work with other products in the tech stack.
Selection of Virtual Classroom Software
Choose a selection team
To choose a selection team, decision makers need to involve subject matter experts from all teams that will use the system. For schools, this will likely involve the principal or dean, as well as a select number of teachers who represent the larger faculty's needs. An IT administrator should also be present, to weigh in on technical concerns with specific virtual classroom products.
Negotiation
Negotiation happens between the buyer and the short list of vendors. In some cases, there are only two vendors that make it to this stage, which means that they offer similar products. At this point, the dealbreaker is the price of the product, which can vary based on the discounts offered by each vendor. Buyers should consider upfront costs, both for implementation and ongoing maintenance, and if the virtual classroom is priced per month or year.
Final decision
The final decision should be based on all the information gathered previously.
Virtual Classroom Software Trends
Browser-based connectivity: One hurdle that both students and instructors face in implementing virtual classroom software is getting it up and running. A growing number of products have developed versions of their software that run straight from a web browser. This saves students the hassle of downloading and installing a new piece of software. Others may not be able to install software on their device because they are on a shared computer, lack the administrative permissions necessary to run installation files, or their device is not supported by the software. Virtual classrooms that can run from a browser help students overcome these obstacles, especially when they are trying to juggle other responsibilities and simply want to get to their virtual class quickly.
Blurring the line with video conferencing software: As the quality and reliability of live video streaming has improved, video conferencing software has become increasingly ubiquitous, especially for companies with remote workers. Educational institutions have also adopted popular video conferencing platforms that were originally designed for businesses but now also serve thousands of schools. Many of these video conferencing platforms now go beyond bare-bones live video streaming and have features that mirror many of those of virtual classrooms, such as whiteboards and quizzes or polls. Combined with marketing efforts that pitch many platforms as virtual classrooms, there is more grey area between what is a video conferencing platform and what is a virtual classroom. Buyers should investigate a product’s features to determine whether it has the functionality to create an effective learning environment.
