Video conferencing software
During Covid-19 many providers were delivering learning from a distance and so started using video conferencing/webinar software to create a virtual classroom. But have you thought about how else you can use these tools in adult education? Whether you are already using a video conferencing or just about to get started, here are some ideas to make the most of the software.
1. Deliver classes in adverse situations/conditions
- Continue to deliver classes during Covid-19 or during illnesses
- Continue to deliver when the weather conditions are bad – it snows!
2. Delivering workshops
- Staff development – the ETF has delivered a range of webinars, many of them free. Take a look on the ETF website.
- Marketing – taster sessions for up and coming courses
- Masterclasses
3. Deliver online courses
- Design short online courses that are held entirely in the virtual classroom
- Deliver virtual classroom staff development courses
- Deliver learning straight into people’s homes e.g. online cookery and MFL courses
4. Deliver blended courses
- Create courses that are a mix of face-to-face and virtual classroom
- Create courses that mix online VLE input with class discussions in the virtual classroom.
5. Hold classes across community locations
- Bring a teacher to learners who meet regularly in community groups
- Join groups to a tutor across community locations.
6. Deliver tutorials
- Swap face-to-face tutorials with appointments in the virtual classroom – save learners travel time for very short appointments
- Deliver support tutorials for learners
- Re-engage learners at risk of dropping out.
7. Apprenticeship programmes
- Save travel and time and hold professional discussion meetings with apprentices
- Deliver training to apprentices
- Provide support to apprentices.
8. Meetings
- Stop staff travelling from different sites, save time and money by using the virtual classrooms
- Do you belong to external groups, invite them to use your software to cut travel costs?
9. Interviews
- Hold interviews for new staff
- Provide opportunities for students on job search to practise online interview skills
- Hold induction sessions for new staff.
10. Hold revision sessions
- Hold revision sessions in the run-up to exams as an optional extra for students.
11. Deliver (drop-in) support sessions
- Allow learners across a range of classes to drop in and ask questions during a support session.
12. Bring in outside speakers
- An expert from industry could inspire learners, being busy people they may be more likely to agree to give 30 minutes of their day for free via webinar software then a half-day or day to travel to you.
- International speakers could be invited.
13. Deliver student voice sessions
- Invite learners across programmes to join a student feedback session online.
14. Develop online teacher networks
- Encourage internal staff to hold CPD meetings
- Develop networks of practitioners across providers.
15. Bids
- Support the writing of collaborative bids, through online meetings
- Hold project meetings online
- Hold update meetings online.
Things to think about when thinking about when getting started with virtual classrooms
- What are the constraints when using webinar software?
- How user friendly is it? How easy is it for learners and teachers to use?
- What does it cost? What are the cost savings/benefits?
- Does it require any resources – equipment, software?
- How can you test your ideas, prior to implementing them?
- How do you make new delivery options manageable?
- What happens if the Internet connection fails you? Do you have a backup plan?
Software options
There is a lot of conferencing software available, and more so since 2020 which the demand for online learning increasing. The following are some of the tools currently being used, they all have similar tools such as; shared screen; breakout rooms; and recording.
Zoom – free for 40 minutes (unless only two people logged on) and WebEx for education – free for 50 minutes. If you need longer then just log off and back on again using the same link. They have become very popular in 2020 because of its ease of use.
SKYPE – If you want to run tutorials or have small group meetings then SKYPE can do this easily. Not so good for big groups and SKYPE does not have breakout rooms. One big advantage is that most people are familiar with SKYPE and so the transition is easy.
Google Meet – part of the Google Classroom package. It links up with the other Google tools and has no time limits. However, does require a google account to access. If your organisation has a G Suite for Education then you will need to log in with the credentials provided by your organisation.
Microsoft Teams meetings – part of Microsoft teams package, with many large providers moving to the software this has become very popular. Currently, Team meetings can only be set up if you /your organisation have subscribed to Office 365 Education. You can, however, be invited to a meeting if you don’t have a Teams account. Teams, also link easily to the other Microsoft tools.
Written for HOLEX by Ideas4Learning Limited