Give Staff What They’ve Been Waiting for: Video Conference Platforms Built for Teachers!

By Nadav Avni, Chief Marketing Officer at Radix Technologies

For teachers conducting online classes, video conference platforms are indispensable tools. The idea of handling a remote class without seeing and hearing students in their homes is an all but impossible feat. How will educators know which students are paying attention? More importantly, how can they truly engage with students if not for video conferencing software? 

Especially since the pandemic, video conferencing platforms have taken the education market by storm. Bound to home, video conferencing became the only way for students to continue their education. The technology allowed for two-way communication between teachers and students to happen in real-time. And it’s not just one-on-one Facetime anymore. Modern video conferencing software can accommodate entire classrooms or even auditoriums. This means instructors can host classes virtually—and anybody with a smart device and an internet connection can join. 

Problems Encountered With Video Conference Platforms

As expected with any technological shift, the transition from in-person learning to fully online classes didn’t go off without hitches. The primary roadblock during the early days of the pandemic was ensuring a steady and secure connection for all participants. While the majority of school districts already had reliable internet connectivity in schools, many kids’ homes didn’t. In 2019, 95% of three to eighteen-year-old Americans had access to the internet at home. For the remaining 5% of American students, access to remote learning, much less video conferencing platforms, was a problem. 

Another problem with video conference platforms was the speed of adoption. The pandemic didn’t exactly grant school districts and teachers enough time to transition to online learning. Instead, teachers had to completely change their methods while mastering new technology overnight. 

Teachers Need More Than Just Video Conference Platforms

Adding to the instructor’s woes was the need to learn other educational technology tools. Most videoconferencing systems were designed solely for communication purposes. Basic models allowed teachers and students to communicate with each other via audio and video in real-time. In addition, the software also allowed for basic screen sharing and file-sharing. 

However, online teaching requires more than video conferencing. Confidential school student records need a secure filing system that limits their accessibility. Courseware and online learning materials also need storage systems so they can’t be leaked before exams. Though most video conference platforms would want to, they simply cannot accommodate these learning management systems. 

Then, there’s classroom management. How can teachers expect students to remain attentive during online classes? How can teachers help individual students struggling to keep up? What’s stopping kids from playing games or scrolling social media during lessons? 

An Overwhelming Experience for Teachers

Given the requirements and mental stamina required to keep students engaged through a screen, it’s no wonder that teachers experienced higher cases of burnout during COVID-19. Not to mention, teachers also had to tend to their families, both in and out of working hours. The combination of learning new technology on the fly while adapting to new teaching methods and balancing your personal life can be overwhelming, to say the least. This is precisely why instructors need help if they’re going to survive the new era of teaching. 

Furthermore, these educational and technological changes will outlive the pandemic. Educators, parents, and students alike realize the importance of maintaining an online teaching presence. When events preventing students from physically attending classes happen—such as inclement weather, illness, lack of transport, etc—kids can still participate from home. 

As a result, hybrid learning has become the new norm. Teachers just need the right tools to embrace it. 

All-In-One Video Conference Platforms Built for Teachers

By now, school districts should realize that default video conference platforms just aren’t good enough on their own. Especially in a hybrid learning environment, teachers need more than just bare-bones communication software to properly manage their classrooms. What they need is integrated software that combines three distinct educational technology components: video conferencing platforms, a learning management system, and classroom management software.

Video Conferencing Platforms

The video conference application remains a pivotal part of the modern hybrid teaching solution. It serves as the link between class and students who are unable to physically attend. Apart from standard video conference features, this should also seamlessly integrate with the learning management system and classroom management applications. 

Learning Management System 

The learning management system (LMS) should work hand-in-hand with the video conference platform. Its purpose is to provide the class with digital learning modules and materials. The system will also store and manage digital copies of quizzes, exams, and other exercises. In addition, the LMS will also store and update individual student records. 

Classroom Management Software

Classroom management software is essential for maintaining control of the virtual classroom. This application allows teachers to assume control of students’ desktops. They can lock devices to prevent pupils from accessing unauthorized applications, social media, games, and browsers during class. 

Also, classroom management software simulates an instructor’s traditional over-the-shoulder in-person teaching approach. Instead of restricting student participation to a small thumbnail like in typical video conference platforms, this software can easily switch between addressing the entire class and coaching individual students. 

A Teaching Platform Built for Teachers

Integrating all three components into an all-in-one solution provides teachers with an easier, more efficient way to manage the classroom. Instead of learning each program and hoping they cooperate when class time starts, teachers only need to launch a single program. 

An integrated online teaching program also means a smaller learning curve in terms of training and mastering the controls. Focusing less on how to operate the software means more time to devote to students and the lessons at hand. 

Our children are the future—of our families, our countries, and society at large. Investing in their education now paves the way for a better tomorrow, for all of us!