Students of today and the future benefit from incredible learning environments thanks to technology in the classroom. The Australian School Policy and Advisory Guide states that schools must use digital technologies safely and responsibly to enhance student learning, and video conferencing software is one of the best ways to achieve this.
In this article, we outline five ways schools can use video conferencing to enhance the learning experience for their students, promote collaboration and productivity, and tackle common challenges faced by teaching staff.
1. Offering a Greater Curriculum
Staffing shortages and budget limitations can mean many schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, can only offer their students a limited curriculum. Video conferencing software can allow these schools to broaden the scope of subjects they provide for their students.
For example, students in schools without adequate science laboratory facilities can tune into live experiments broadcast by collaborating schools or remote teachers.
2. Connecting With Specialists and Experts
In the same vein, schools can offer their students live communication with subject experts both here and overseas. Video conferencing can empower richer learning experiences such as a live question and answer session with a working historian, for instance.
These ‘guest speaker’ learning experiences can be incredibly valuable for students, who have the opportunity to hear from industry experts from around the world. The traditional method of securing an in-person guest speaker can be a laborious and expensive process for many schools, but those barriers are removed by video conferencing.
3. Virtual Excursions
Off-field excursions have always provided students with an engaging learning experience. Unfortunately for many schools, budget constraints, staffing shortages, compliance headaches and student disabilities can mean these are out of scope.
Video conferencing software can provide students with an opportunity to experience excursion-like experiences from the classroom, by connecting one or two remote staff with a class. Even holidaying staff may be willing to share their relevant overseas experiences with a class via video link.
For students with physical disabilities, for whom off-field excursions can be difficult, connecting via video conferencing in the classroom can be a viable alternative to ensure they feel included in the experience.
4. Collaboration With Other Schools
In student exchange programs, select students are often sent to other schools, either within the country or beyond borders. These programs are a great opportunity for these students to meet new people, learn about different cultures and gain fresh perspectives.
While these programs work well, they’re also expensive. Video conferencing offers students the ability to connect with international schools without leaving their classrooms in Australia. Partner schools can develop mutually beneficial relationships where classes collaborate on projects, share their insights and make social connections all via their home classrooms with video software.
5. For Teacher Productivity
As well as being a productive teaching aid in the classroom, video conferencing technology can be used as a communication tool between teachers, or between school administration and parents.
Whether it’s hosting remote parent-teacher interviews, conducting collaborative lesson planning sessions, or simply providing administrative updates to several staff members at once, video conferencing software like CommuniCloud can be a fantastic tool for educators to drive productivity.
To learn how we at CommuniCloud can assist your school in implementing market-leading video conferencing software in your classrooms, get in touch with us today.
